Fish and game club remains a hidden gem

Nestled into 72 rustic acres of wood, field and water in Lawrence Township is a place where a person can practice shooting, learn archery or cast a fishing line. The North Lawrence Fish and Game Club is a hidden gem, offering these activities and more to those of all ages, genders and interests.

According to President Jerry Durieux, despite the club’s low profile, it is known as one of Ohio’s premier shooting and outdoors clubs. “Our members live from as far as Cleveland to right next door,” he said. “You can’t find another club that offers all that we do.”

Along with Durieux, three other officers and a board of directors oversee the member-run, 63-year-old club. During the COVID-19 pandemic, members appreciate the club more than ever for the human interaction and the escape into nature.

Longtime member Jack Shroyer has been especially grateful for the organization in recent months. “It’s a place I can go to get out of the house,” he said.

The NLFGC boasts the nation’s third-largest trapshooting club, hosts national events and is home to two Trapshooting Hall of Fame shooters. The five-stand range features a lighted shooting area, is open to the public and utilizes 200,000 clay pigeons annually. Guns are provided, or participants may bring their own.

Shooting at the club involves other firearms including pistols, rifles and black-powder muzzle loaders. The rifle range is among the largest at 220 yards. Hunter safety and concealed carry classes are offered, and all instructors are National Rifle Association certified. Eye and ear protection are required for all shooting activities.

“Safety is top priority here. We’ve never had an accident,” Durieux said.

The club features an archery range with 3-D targets and an elevated shooting stand. Youth archery instruction including use of equipment is offered free of charge. All youth activities are open to those grade 5-12. Durieux believes the club’s benefits to youth are important in this day of rampant focus on devices and social media.

“When kids are learning shooting or archery, verbal communication and eye contact are required,” Durieux said. “There’s no getting around that.”

Scholastic Action Pistol youth matches follow United States Practical Shooting Association rules and scoring. Bull’s-eye targets are used, as opposed to human forms, which Durieux believes would send the wrong message to children.

“We believe it’s extremely important that kids learn gun safety,” Durieux said. “Regardless of parents’ beliefs about guns, their kids likely will encounter a gun at some point at a friend’s house or wherever. It’s imperative they know how to safely handle it.”

Club instructors help youth prepare for — and accompany them to — regional, state and national shooting competitions. College recruiters attend these events, so scholarships are often offered.

The club’s 650 members can angle for bass, catfish and other fish in the 10-acre lake, then fry them up at their nearby campsite where they have parked their camper or pitched their tent. The lake is stocked annually, three aerators maintain its quality, and watercraft — from kayaks to electric-powered boats — are welcome.

The clubhouse hosts monthly member meetings and is a place for enjoying a Friday night game of euchre or a Sunday breakfast. Many members are military veterans, and Durieux believes their sense of camaraderie is amplified at the club.

Shroyer is a loyal fixture on the premises, stopping by at all hours to take care of whatever needs done and devoting countless hours to trapshooting events. “I’m retired; I live alone,” he said. “I love being around the people. Trapshooters are some of the nicest people around.”

During Durieux’s five years with the organization, he has witnessed enormous pride in the club. Members volunteer to mow or to paint the various structures at the well-maintained facility, and it isn’t uncommon to hear the buzzing of multiple chainsaws after a storm.

The club hosts several annual events including shooting invitationals, leagues and turkey shoots with banquets, trophies and prizes following. During the winter, indoor youth archery and pellet gun training are offered.

At Youth Outdoor Day, held each June in partnership with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and open to the public, 100-125 youth are treated to a sampling of all the shooting disciplines, a good lunch and a little fishing.

The NLFGC allows nearby Troop 1933 of The Boy Scouts of America to camp on the grounds. “They also utilize the lake for earning their fishing badges,” Durieux said. “And they help us out with trash clean-up or clearing branches.”

The club closely monitors comings and goings. Each member must sign in upon arrival and indicate in which activity they will participate.

“Shooting is structured. People can feel safe here,” Durieux said. “Members go through orientation, so they know the rules.”

Although some events were canceled this year due to the pandemic, the club remains open by virtue of its mostly outdoors offerings. Precautions have been implemented including masks, social distancing guidelines and sanitizing.

On a recent day, a warm breeze nudged at the cocoon of trees encircling the NLFGC. A distant train whistle competed with singing birds. It seems a contradiction that a place involving shooting feels so tranquil.

“We want people to enjoy nature, and we’re family-oriented,” Durieux said. “When someone joins, their family joins at no additional cost.”

Memberships at the North Lawrence Fish and Game Club are available in regular, senior and young adult (age 18-26). The club is located at 15325 Lawmont St. NW in North Lawrence.

For more information call 330-832-2411, email nlfgoffice@gmail.com or visit the website at www.nlfg.org/ or their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NLFGC/.