Club dues, help my study

[LostNation_Larry]

I am on the board at my local sportsmans club and we are reviewing the annual dues. I need help from people who belong to other clubs. How is this bowhunting related?  The club is where we practice 3D.

At our club we have several activities, including archery, shotgun, a rifle range, and cowboy action shooting. To keep the club going the volunteers put in many hours of free labor, their only reward being the joy of watching people participate in the activities.

We currently charge a flat rate membership dues, no matter who you are or what you do in the club. I know that many clubs give a discount for hours worked. I am looking for input from those of you who belong to such a club.

How are your dues structured? How does your system work? What do you like about it? What don't you like about it? How would you structure the dues if you were in charge?

Thanks for your input.

[joevan125]

I would charge enough to cover all of the clubs expensives and most of the time the people who volunteer really love what there doing and could care less if they are rewarded for there efforts. Of course some have to do volunteer work because they may not have the funds to pay there dues.

I am the so called president of our hunting club and our lease, house rent, field planting, and all the other expensives comes to about $23,000 a year. The lease dues come up in july and its $17,600 so we have to have that money at that time. Some of the guys go ahead and give me enough to cover the full years expensives and some just for the lease.

People like us that are passionate about our sport dont care to fork out some extra dough as long as it betters what ever it is we are crying to accomplish. Me and my buddies spend many hours doing improvements to our land and cabin and no one has EVER ask for anything in return.

[BEN]

Our local sportman's club charges a flat membership fee of $35 a year. This includes the whole family.

All volunteer labor takes care of mowing , 3D range upkeep, kitchen help during shoots, etc....

There is an additional $35 a year if you want a campsite on grounds, which YOU are required to keep mowed, etc......

Our club is very well maintained and we have a core of volunteers who put in a lot of hours; the archery league members do most of the 3D work it seems. The league is an extra charge, but you not required to join to shoot the target range. It is just for those who want to shoot for a little friendly competion all summer and then get together for a steak dinner at the end!!

hope this helps............
Ben

[LostNation_Larry]

We currently charge $75 per year plus there are activity fees if you shoot trap or shoot the 3D course.  I know there are clubs which charge a reduced fee if you volunteer 20 hours per year or something like that.  I am looking for ideas from other clubs.

[Terry Green]

TTT

[lpcjon2]

Our club charges a flat membership fee,But you are required to show up on work weekends (4-times a year spaced before the season and after)and you have to volunteer at least for two days of a shoot(can be broken up) and if you do not you will be charged $25. for each missed day(work weekend or volunteer day).This is the way we keep from raising the dues and if you are late with the dues you get a $25.charge, this keeps out the rif-raf and people who just want to use the club and abuse it.In the club you have full access all year and we have our own bunks and full kitchen,bath,ranges, and all the amenities of a home.It's the same no matter what type of hunting you do.You eat and crap the same if you bowhunt or gun hunt.So the price is the same.

[BobW]

dang it, just typed for 15 minutes, and hit "go" instead of "add reply".  Not sure if I will try again... here is a quick summary

My Archery Club: $45/ year and 10 hours.  Sucks people can buy their way out (discount ahead, or penalty after).  Lots of opportunities for hours with structured work parties, and always access to equipment to work on your own.  Good facility.  3-d, field archery, bag targets on a hunter course, lighted practice range.  Free use of clubhouse.  Travel leagues for those interested.  Hosts a few shoots a year of various types.

My Gun Club: $55/ year, no work requirements.  Range, skeet, trap, fishing pond, bar.  Hosts socials, cards, leagues, local competition, and fund raisers. $1.00 to use the rifle range each time, no idea of trap and skeet fees.  Its as active as you want it to be for you.

[Paul Mattson]

Club dues here are $35.00.  Leaque Trap is $25.00 per team, $8.00 per person per shoot 14 wks.   Archery Leaque $5.00 per person per shoot 18 wks.  Rifle range Free to members.

Practice trap $3.00 per 25 birds.  No mandatory work.

[swampbuck]

We have an anual fee and they main club is currently discussing manditory work hrs.

Not sure how it's going to work but they should also have an option to pay more for a no work due's since many just won't work.In some respects clubs kinda suck as a few do the work for many to enjoy but from what I've seen thats the norm

[newtradgreenwood]

Just joined a trad only club with a nice 3D range in a wooded area outside of city limits.  $135 per year.  "Sweat" dollars are granted for dues for those with financial need like being unemployed.

[blind one]

Our club is archery only. Its $35.00 a year for the family. If you help on shoot weekends,set up, concession, mowing etc.. You get to shoot that tournament for free. If you dont help out its $20.00 for the shoot.....Roy

[No-sage]

My archery club is $20 per year for the family.

There is a work requirement or you pay an additional $20.

This was the first year of the penalty for not meeting the work requirement.  We will be imposing the fee's for next years memberships.  From what I see so far, we're going to loose a bunch of members.

[Brook Trout]

I belong to two

The first is $20 a year, but only $5 if you do a work party.  They also charge a $5 range fee and $5 to shoot 3d archery.  They do quite a few other fund raisers throughout the year.

The second charges $50 a year.  There is a $10 free shooting slot that can be punched out on the membership card.  This is used for skeet, sporting clays, cowboy action,etc.  There is no fee on rifle or pistol ranges.  They have free indoor archery, no 3d.  They also rent the clubhouse out for parties occasionally.

Both clubs have fairly decent size tracts of land open to hunting.

[gregg dudley]

The local archery club is $135 per year and unlimited access to the range (permanently set up 3D).  THe local gun club is $200 the first year and $100 a year after that.  Our trad organization (TBOF) is strictly fee based for participation with no seperate membership required.

[RunsUpRiver]

Very good survey!
I'll look up my local club's dues

Dean

[Steve O]

Our archery only club is $100/year and you can work off 25 hours at $1/hour.  Members pay discounted rates at any shoot/function we have and it gives access to all the outdoor ranges.  There is also a $25 first year fee.

We have 44 acres.  As a bonus for the volunteers, for every 25 hours you work during the year, you get a ticket in the hat to hunt the club ground for a week.  Two members/week during bow season.  We get a lot more help now than we used to  

[Dave Pagel]

I belong to two clubs.  One is $55/year, but you get a $10 discount if you put in work hours.  The other is $100/year and requires 10 hours of volunteer time from each member.

Dave

[BobCo 1965]

Ours is a family membership. $55 per year with a minimum 10 hours work required.

There are discounts for individuals traveling over a certain distance.

[Mint]

My Club is $300 a year for a family membership and you get $50 off for each workday or shoot you work. Being on western long island having 22 acres of beautiful hardwoods in the middle of the "concrete jungle" is a godsend. Members shoot all the shoots for free and we have a permanent 28 target 3D course set up, a 28 target muzzy stump course and a 28 target field course. Members can use the club 365 days a year. The reason the dues are so high is that we pay close to $30,000 in real estate taxes every year but on the plus side the members own the property.

[LostNation_Larry]

Thanks everyone.  The input is GREAT!

One question to those who discount for work hours: How do you keep track?  Is there a person who records it?  Do you have cards to punch?  How is it done?