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About us...
The Purgatory Falls Fish & Game Club was founded in March 1947 by Arthur Hazen, who served as the club's first president. The club was noted for its many conservation projects and community services, including the continuous stocking of a local pond for "kids only" fishing. A parcel of property on Upton Road was donated to the club by Joe Carleton, and a berm was constructed providing a forty yard shooting range. The range was not only available for club activities, but for local hunters to sight in their deer rifles. Interest faded in the early 1960s and club activities dropped dramatically.
In March of 1975, fifteen area sportsmen resurrected the organization by writing up a new charter, a new set of by-laws, and affiliating with the NRA. Charlie Trow, who had been an original member, assumed the position of club president. The first order of business was to reclaim the shooting range, which had long been overgrown. The eastern side of the property was cleared and graded, the 40 yard berm was rebuilt, and a 100 yard berm constructed using recycled tires and sand. The club has continuously made additions and improvements over the years, and has steadily grown to its present day membership of 106 members.
Club activities have included Turkey Shoots, firearms classes for women, kids shoots, family picnics, NH State Hunter Education courses, hunter sight-in days, black powder shoots, and informal shotgun events. The club has also organized conservation projects, club champion shoots, pot-luck suppers, provided support for Boy Scout shooting programs, and has participated in southern N.H. gallery pistol matches since 1979. As a service to the town, the Mont Vernon Police Department has use of our range for firearms training and qualification. In 1981 the club ran its first NRA-sanctioned Silhouette shoot, an event that is run 6 times each year to this day, including the N.H. State Champion Silhouette matches in July.
In June of 2004, the club began a major upgrade to the range, with plans to refurbish all the berms to increase safety, addition of a pistol range for target shooting and falling plates, grading and landscaping, and reconstruction of the firing line. In 2009, the range got an official new address: 16 Upton Road.
The club meets on the third Thursday of each month at the Mont Vernon fire station. Meetings start at 7:30, and are open to interested parties. Applications for membership may be obtained by attending a club meeting, visiting us at a club event, or by writing to:
Purgatory Falls Fish & Game Club
PO Box 73
Mont Vernon, NH 03057