Circa 1999, Dick Miles, Royce Hughes and Jeff Gustason met at Hughes Electric in Murphy to discuss the need for a public shooting range. At the time, there was no place in Cherokee County, NC where the public could safely enjoy the shooting sports. The three men were avid shooters of sporting clays, and they hoped having a range would give them and others close proximity to a place to practice their favored shooting sport. Unfortunately, like today, land values were high for an isolated area where a range might be constructed.
Some years before, the local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation had approached the United States Forestry Service (USFS) to secure an agreement to build a shooting range on forestry service land. Forestry Service officials were open to the idea; however, they stipulated the club must be responsible for financing, constructing and performing all maintenance and upkeep of the range. The National Wild Turkey Federation chapter opted not to pursue the project any further.
Clearing Forestry Service land for the shooting range construction.
Building the flooring for the range pavilion.
Over time, Miles, Hughes and Gustason’s group began to grow, and from this assembly was born the Mountain Country Rod & Gun Club.
Still seeking to create a public range, the MCR&GC approached the USFS with an offer to accept the deal originally declined by local Wild Turkey Federation members. Their overture was met with approval, with the understanding the range must be built and operated pursuant to USFS rules. To the chagrin of the club’s founders, the shooting of sporting clays would not be allowed under those rules. The USFS’s stipulations were accepted, and plans for the development and construction of the Panther Top Shooting Range soon began.
The USFS expected the project would cost the club around $100,000.00. Using private money, and the volunteer assistance of those with construction capabilities, the range was completed for $30,000.00. The first donation toward construction received by the club came in the amount of $2,000.00 from the National Rifle Association. The local chapter of National Wild Turkey Foundation donated substantially to the project as well.
Construction of the shooting range pavilion.
Dedication of the new range occurred on August 20, 2005. It had taken six months to complete. At the time, the MCR&GC consisted of about 30 members. A crowd of around 200 attended the ceremony. Given the limited parking available, attendees were brought in via loaned passenger vans.
Since that time, the MCR&GC has continuously maintained the Panther Top range. It is the USFS’s position that if the range is not properly maintained to their standards, it will be closed. As the only public range in the area, it’s vital the club’s work continue if citizens are to have a shooting range available to everyone.
The Panther Top Shooting Range today.
Not content to merely be a social club where members share common interest in angling and the shooting sports, the Mountain Country Rod and Gun Club sought to use its assets to expand public access to those very interests. Accordingly, over the years, MCR&GC members have represented the club while assisting with events like the Scott Hogsed Youth Day, USFS Handicap Fishing, the Fourth of July Fishing Derby, related Boy Scouts events, placement of fish attractors in local lakes, placement of nesting boxes in duck habitats and trash cleanup of lakes and area streams. The club has also donated funds to other worthwhile endeavors such as local school shooting team competitions.
For full and part-time residents of Cherokee County, as well as those in surrounding communities, the Mountain Country Rod & Gun Club offers an opportunity to support the continued operations of the Panther Top Shooting Range, and to meet and socialize with others who share these common pastimes. Annual memberships are just $30 which covers every family member in the household.
Visit the Join page and join online today. We meet on the third Tuesday of each month. See our meeting information page for further details. We look forward to welcoming you!