The Retama Gun Club, Inc., is a Texas Not-for-profit organization. We have a board of
directors, a checking account and carry insurance. The Retama Gun Club (RGC) sets the rules
and regulations. We lease the range property from Bentsen Palm Development.
The range is actually in the Rio Grande flood plain and cannot be developed. As a result, with
excess rainfalls the range will flood as the water levels increase/decrease.
Who can shoot at the range? RGC allows owners and renters at Retama Village and Bentsen
Palm Village RV Resort to shoot at the range. Law Enforcement Officers are also allowed to
shot. This includes Border Patrol and Mission Police.
Who cannot shoot at the range? The range is private. The general public is not permitted to
shoot here. If they do not have a range badge you can politely ask them to leave. If trespassers
refuse to leave, you can call 911.
Family members and friends of range members may shoot as a guest for a 10-day period,
following the viewing of our safety video. The LEO’s family members and friends are NOT
permitted to shoot.
Why do I have to pay to shoot there? You are not paying to shoot, you are paying an annual
fee to MAINTAIN the gun range. Your maintenance fee pays for the paper targets, steel targets,
target stands, shooting benches, porta potty, the on-line calendar and email subscriptions, the
name badges, and so on. Our range may be considered one of the better equipped outdoor
shooting facilities — especially for the fee charge.
RGC offers some of the most diversified shooting opportunities available. We offer free classes
and training, and shooting events throughout the season. We welcome volunteers to offer their
expertise for further expansion.
Who pays? Everyone pays. No exceptions. The maintenance fee is about the same cost as 100
rounds of center fire ammo. Our annual fee is about the same as two trips to a public gun
range.
Who holds the maintenance money? Pat Stewart is the RGC treasurer. She prepares a monthly
cash flow report in season.
Who gets paid? People who provide Pat a receipt for supplies get reimbursed. Purchases need
pre-approval. All the labor at the range is volunteer. No one gets paid for his time.
Why do I have to watch the safety video every year? Our number one goal is to provide a safe
shooting environment at the range. You do not want to shoot next to a person who carelessly
handles a gun. You do not want to be that careless person. We have not had an accidental
discharge at the range that we are aware of. We have very safe shooters. Thirty minutes of safety
training a year is not too much to ask. Everyone watches the video every year. No exceptions.
How many people shoot at the range? We send out approximately 200 addresses. A safe guess
is about 150 shooters use the range.
Who mows the grass? The Rhodes crew mows the large areas of grass with their tractor
mower. If we are lucky, they mow around the target stands with their lawn mowers. Volunteers
mow and use a weed eater from time to time. To volunteer contact Niles Deden.
What NRA certifications are available? The past several years we have done the NRA Pistol and
Small bore Rifle Qualification. These qualifications will be available next season.
What NRA classes are available? Bonnie Fogg is a certified NRA Pistol and Rifle instructor. She
does an excellent class for new pistol shooters. The cost is $50.
What’s the Sunshade on the far west side about? This sunshade is for pistols, shooting steel
plates. There are two stages of steel plates set on metal posts. Each stage has four white plates
and one red/stop plate. Shooting the steel challenge is a timed event which is excellent for
developing eye and hand coordination. There is a group who practice shooting the steel, and in
the RGV there are monthly groups who compete.
Is there a Range committee or management group? How can I volunteer? With all the
shooting opportunities available at the range, we always need people to organize and
coordinate activities. For example, we need an individual or a group of people to handle the
pistol steel. They would coordinate practice times and shooting dates – pretty simple, and we
will help get you started.
Where do I check on range activities? The gun range calendar contains all our activities. Check
it often, many activities are last minute – based on weather. Bonnie Fogg updates the gun
range calendar. Talk to her to post an event.
When does the range offer shotgun shooting? The range has an organized clay target shoot on
Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am. The shotgun shooting does not affect other range activities that
morning.
When is the range open for shooting? The range is open seven days a week, during daylight
hours.
The Rhodes mowing crew mows our fields, their time is limited. When they arrive shooters are
asked to stop shooting and allow the crew to mow.
Is the range ever closed? Yes, the range is closed occasionally for safety reasons if there are
other activities close by. Notice is posted when the range is closed. A white flag is raised when
the range is closed.
What is the purpose of the orange flag? Please raise the orange flag when you come to the
range and lower the flag if no one is at the range when you leave. The purpose of the flag is to
notify Border Patrol agents and others in the vicinity that the range is in use.
What about helicopters? Border Patrol helicopters fly along the river and over the range on a
daily basis. Please call a cease fire when aircraft are down range.
What is the location of the gun range? The Border Patrol and 911 operators know the gun
range as “Hardwick Farms”. GPS coordinates are posted.
The nearest intersection is Old Military Road and Inspiration Road. Refer to the BP tower at
Inspiration.
What is in the orange bag in Mabel (Storage Container)? The orange bag contains a trauma kit for gun shot
wounds. The box does not contain band aides for minor cuts. If there is an accident contact a
board member asap.
For more info:
All activities can be found on the calendar. RANGE CALENDAR.
Updated 10/2020