The Vancouver Gun Club

What The Vancouver Gun Club does

The Vancouver Gun Club is a private, non-profit member-based shotgun sports club operating on 40 acres at 7340 Sidaway Rd, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 1925, the club has a 100-year heritage as BC's premier clay target shooting facility and operates the only year-round International Trap (Bunker) range in Canada. It serves recreational shooters, competitive sports shooters, hunters, families, junior shooters, and women through structured introductory programs (Guns & Roses, FUNdamentals), competing in disciplines including American Trap, International Trap, Skeet/International Skeet, Sporting Clays, and 5-Stand. The club draws members from across the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island and hosts provincial and national championships (BCTA, CTA, PITA, ATA, NSCA, FITASC). Leadership is provided by an elected Board of Directors, with President Dennis Zentner (member since 1986) and Vice President Jerry Broten (member since 1977) as long-tenured anchors.

The club's core product is multi-discipline clay target shooting, supported by the TargetTag RFID payment system (by LongRange LLC) that allows members to load monetary value onto membership cards and tap readers at target-throwing machines to dispense targets across all venues. It also runs a Wild Apricot-powered membership management platform with online registration and Google Calendar integration for event scheduling. The only significant technical integration is RFID-based payment processing; the club does not offer rental firearms and operates as a bring-your-own shotgun facility.

Revenue is generated through seven streams: annual memberships (tiered: Individual $375, Family $650, Senior $325, Junior $150, Student $325), day passes ($25 plus target costs), usage-based target sales (members $10-$11 per 25+2 targets, non-members $15), firearms safety courses (CFSC/PAL: Non-Restricted $180, Restricted $100, Combined $280), hunting courses (CORE: $170), event registrations (Dirty Bird $200, West Coast 400 $150 deposit, Boxing Day 3-Bird $90), and merchandise/consumables (reclaimed lead shot, VGC merchandise, safety glasses, ammunition). Distribution is primarily direct on-site at the pro shop/cashier, with online membership and event registration via Wild Apricot and group course instruction available at client venues. The club is currently fundraising approximately $1.5M for a new clubhouse.

Name

The Vancouver Gun Club

Legal name

The Vancouver Gun Club

Website

https://vancouvergunclub.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Vancouver Gun Club is a 100-year-old, non-profit member-based shotgun sports club on 40 acres in Richmond, BC, operating the only year-round International Trap range in Canada across five shooting disciplines. It serves recreational shooters, competitive shooters, hunters, families, juniors, and women via memberships, day passes, certified firearms and hunting courses, and competitive events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual memberships (April 1 - March 31) with tiered pricing based on membership type (Individual, Family, Senior, Junior, Student). Memberships step down in price each quarter. Includes photo membership card, liability insurance, access to all venues, discounted targets, and access to volunteer opportunities for free targets.
2. Day Pass Sales: Non-members pay a $25 day pass fee plus target costs. Day pass holders must pay a $200 deposit and provide a credit card, which is released upon return of the card and payment of target usage.
3. Target Sales (TargetTag System): Revenue from clay target sales at various venues. Members pay discounted rates while non-members pay higher rates. Sporting clays charged per target (44¢ members, 60¢ non-members), while trap/skeet/5-stand charged per round of 25+2 targets.
4. Firearms Safety Courses (PAL/CFSC): Canadian Firearms Safety Course (Non-Restricted, Restricted, and Combined PAL courses) offered on weekends. Non-Restricted $180, Restricted $100, Combined $280 (plus GST). Taught by certified instructors Mike, Stavros, Marc, and Tara.
5. Hunting Courses (CORE): Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Education (CORE) course for BC hunting license eligibility. Two-day course at $170 including tests and GST. Also offers combined PAL & RPAL courses.
6. Event Registrations: Registration fees for fun shoots, competitions, and special events. Events like the Dirty Bird Shoot ($200 for 200 targets), West Coast 400 ($150 deposit), Boxing Day 3-Bird Shoot ($90 for 126 birds), and Guns & Roses programs ($100-125).
7. Merchandise and Consumables: Reclaimed lead shot sales, VGC merchandise with member discounts, eye protection ($5 for safety glasses), and ammunition sales (with junior discount on ammunition).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Vancouver Gun Club operates a 40-acre shotgun sports facility in Richmond, BC, providing access to five clay target shooting disciplines (American Trap, International Trap/Bunker, Skeet, Sporting Clays, and 5-Stand). It sells annual memberships, day passes, clay targets via an RFID payment system, firearms safety (PAL) and hunting (CORE) courses, introductory programs (Guns & Roses, FUNdamentals), a Junior Program, and hosts competitive and recreational shooting events.

Product overview

The Vancouver Gun Club operates BC's premier clay target shooting facility with 100-year heritage. The club offers four core shooting disciplines across 40 acres: American Trap (12 fields), International Trap/Bunker (2 fields), Skeet/International Skeet (2 fields), Sporting Clays, and 5-Stand. Revenue is generated through memberships (Individual, Family, Senior, Junior, Student), day passes ($25 plus target costs), and the TargetTag RFID payment system for target purchases. The club delivers educational programs including Guns & Roses (women's introductory program), FUNdamentals of Shotgun Shooting, Canadian Firearms Safety Course (PAL), CORE Hunting Course, and a Junior Program. Event programming includes competitions like the Dirty Bird Shoot, West Coast 400, Tri-City West Coast League Championship, Meat Shoot, and Boxing Day 3-Bird Shoot. The facility includes a clubhouse with commercial kitchen, bathrooms with showers, covered BBQ area, and RV parking with utilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Club Memberships Annual memberships (April 1 - March 31) with tiered pricing by type: Individual ($375 Apr 1), Family ($650), Senior ($325), Junior ($150), Student ($325), each stepping down each quarter. Includes photo membership card, liability insurance, venue access, discounted targets, volunteer opportunities for free targets, and merchandise discounts.
• Day Passes Non-member access to all VGC venues with a $25 base fee plus target costs. Requires $200 deposit and credit card hold and a mandatory safety orientation and exam for each visit. Provides an entry point for non-members to try the facility before committing to membership.
• TargetTag RFID Target Purchases Clay target purchases via the TargetTag RFID payment system at trap, skeet, bunker, 5-Stand, and sporting clays venues. Members load monetary value onto their membership card and tap readers to dispense targets; sporting clays requires the card to be left inserted during shooting. Members pay $10–$11 per 25+2 targets (or 44¢ per sporting clays target) vs $15 / 60¢ for non-members; juniors pay $7.50 / 30¢.
• Clay Target Shooting Facilities Access to five shotgun shooting disciplines across 40 acres in Richmond, BC: American Trap (12 fields), International Trap/Bunker (2 fields), Skeet/International Skeet (2 fields), Sporting Clays course, and 5-Stand. Year-round operation including the only year-round International Trap range in Canada. Bring-your-own shotgun only (no rental firearms, no rifles or handguns).
• Guns & Roses Program Women's-only introductory shotgun shooting program offering Fundamentals/Guns & Roses instruction, women-specific firearms, and a safe, friendly learning environment. Includes 50 targets, shells, and firearm use. Pricing $100 for VGC members, $125 for non-members. Over 200 women on mailing list with 5 Level 1 instructors.
• FUNdamentals of Shotgun Shooting Introductory shotgun course open to men, women, and juniors (10+). Taught in squads of 5 by Level 1 instructors with guns and ammunition provided. Teaches safe shotgun handling, loading, unloading, aiming, and moving target shooting for beginners before committing to membership.
• Canadian Firearms Safety Course (PAL) Government-required Canadian Firearms Safety Course for the Possession and Acquisition License (PAL). Covers Non-Restricted ($180 + GST), Restricted ($100 + GST), and Combined ($280 + GST) firearms training with 300+ PowerPoint slides and hands-on practical exams. Taught by certified instructors Mike, Stavros, Marc, and Tara.
• CORE Hunting Course Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Education (CORE) course required for BC hunting license eligibility. Two-day weekend course ($170 including tests and GST) covers wildlife conservation, hunting regulations, outdoor safety, firearms safety, and animal/bird identification. Combined PAL & RPAL courses also offered.
• Junior Program Youth shooting program for VGC members under 18. Includes free targets, ammunition discounts, instruction, and access to loaner shotguns. Requires parental consent, monthly practice attendance (6-month commitment), and POL license or CFSC enrollment. Focused on safe firearms use, sportsmanship, discipline, and ethical behavior.
• Reclaimed Lead Shot Sale Sale of reclaimed lead shot for reloaders, along with VGC merchandise (member discounts), eye protection (safety glasses for $5), and ammunition sales with junior discounts. Contact office or email for pricing and availability.
• Competitive and Fun Shoot Events Recurring competitive and recreational shooting events including the Dirty Bird Shoot ($200 for 200 targets), West Coast 400 (three-day sporting clays), Tri-City West Coast League Championship ($100), Meat Shoot, and Boxing Day 3-Bird Shoot ($90 for 126 birds). Drives member engagement and new customer acquisition.

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• LTC AdventuresminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024LTC Adventures was a sponsor for the 2024 International Trap BC Provincials held at Vancouver Gun Club. Contributed to the success of this provincial championship competition.
• Italian Sporting GoodscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017Italian Sporting Goods has been a sponsor of the Guns & Roses women's program since its inception in 2017. They provide sponsorship for Guns & Roses events and have also sponsored major competitions including the 2024 International Trap BC Provincials and 2024 International Skeet BC Provincials. Italian Sporting Goods hosts the annual FUNDSHOOT event at VGC with proceeds going to the club's building fund for the new clubhouse.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Sporting Clays Canada / Canadian Sporting Clays Association: Governing body for competitive sporting clays in Canada. Ecosystem peer to VGC, which regularly hosts sanctioned NSCA and FITASC events and depends on the association for competitor pipelines and rule frameworks.
• Canadian Shooting Sports Association (CSSA): National industry association for Canadian shooting sports. Not a direct competitor but ecosystem-relevant to VGC as the primary advocacy and member-services body for the Canadian shooting sports community the club depends on.
• TargetTag (LongRange LLC): Vendor of the RFID-based clay target payment system VGC uses across all of its venues. Comparable as a technology supplier whose product is integral to VGC's day-to-day operations.

Broad incumbents

• Calgary Shooting Centre: Larger commercial indoor/outdoor shooting facility in Alberta offering a wider range of firearm services including rentals, retail, and training. Comparable on Canadian shooting-sports customer base and training offerings but operates a broader, more commercially diversified model rather than a shotgun-only member club.
• The Shooting Edge (Calgary): Commercial multi-discipline Canadian shooting facility with retail, training, and range access. Comparable as a Canadian shooting-sports destination serving recreational and competitive shooters, but with a broader commercial footprint rather than a member-club structure.

Direct peers

• Silverdale Gun Club: BC shotgun sports club focused on trap, skeet, and sporting clays. Comparable as a regional member-based shotgun facility serving BC competitive and recreational shooters with similar discipline mix and event calendar.
• Delta Rod & Gun Club: BC shotgun and firearms club located in the Lower Mainland. Closely comparable to VGC as a regional member-based shooting facility offering trap, skeet, and sporting clays with similar membership tiers, day-pass access, and event programming.
• Burnaby Rod and Gun Club: Long-established BC shotgun and rifle club serving the Lower Mainland. Directly comparable as a member-based shooting sports facility in the same metro region, offering multiple disciplines, training courses, and event programming to a similar recreational and competitive shooting membership base.
• Pitt Meadows Rod and Gun Club: Lower Mainland BC member-based shooting club offering multiple disciplines. Comparable on member-based business model, regional catchment, and shotgun sport focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-vancouver-gun-club

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Vancouver Gun Club