Pennsylvania: Philipsburg Rod and Gun Club Grand Re-Opening

As of July 24, the Philipsburg Rod and Gun Club has resumed operations and will have an open-house grand re-opening on Labor Day, September 5.  More details will be released in the near future. 

Located at Black Moshannon State Park, the Philipsburg Rod and Gun Club was closed for trap shooting five years ago because the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) had concerns that there might be elevated levels of lead that could be damaging the environment at the Park.  The club commissioned Baker Engineering to perform an all-encompassing study to determine the extent of any alleged lead contamination.  To help resolve this issue, the club hired professionals in the shooting range management field and consulted with the NRA, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the Western Pa. Conservancy, the Interstate Technology Regulatory Commission and several lead recovery recycling firms. 

The Philipsburg Rod and Gun Club worked closely with the DCNR to guarantee that the Commonwealth, Black Moshannon State Park, the club itself and the environment in general would be protected from any environmental hazards resulting from the operation of a sportsmen’s club.  In short, no expense or effort was spared to protect the environment for future generations. 

The club would not have arrived at this point without the support and management expertise of state Representatives Matt Gabler (R-75), Kerry Benninghoff (R-171), Scott Hutchinson (R-64);  state Senators John Wozniak (D-35) and John Eichelberger (R-30); DCNR Secretary Richard Allan; and U.S. Congressman Glenn Thompson (R-PA5) and their staff.  Their hands-on guidance guaranteed the perpetuation of environmentally compatible shooting sports in Pennsylvania and sets a precedent for shooting sports management nationwide.  The club will have a positive impact for many generations to come.