Gate #2 Info

Set in the natural terrain North of the Twin Cities, our beautiful shotgun range is open to the public from April through Mid October. We have 6 Trap Fields, 2 Skeet Fields, a Five Stand Layout, and a Sporting Clays Course. Heated Five Stand is also available in the Winter.

Throughout the year, we offer ATA and NSCA shoots. Please Check the calendar for dates.

 Public hours: 

We are currently closed for public shotgun but will return on January 6th for heated 5-stand and sporting clays.

Please check the Calendar to confirm dates and times, as they are subject to change.

Gate 2

Gate #2 Activities

Trap is the oldest shotgun shooting sport in America. Trapshooting derives its name from the device, called a trap, which throws clay targets into the air. Participants shoot at the clay targets thrown from a trap house located in front of the shooter. The trap rotates in a random sequence, presenting the shooter with a variety of going away shots, angling to the right, left and flying straightaway.

Trap is usually shot in squads of five shooters. A round of trap consists of 25 targets per shooter. A trap field has five positions, or stations, numbered consecutively from left to right. Five clay targets, sometimes referred to as “birds,” are thrown for each shooter at each position, with one shot being fired at each bird. After firing five rounds in rotation, each squad member moves one station to his right, with the shooter on station five moving over to station one.

Descriptions provided by NSSF

Skeet uses the same clay targets as trap. Two trap houses are required in skeet-a “high house” at the left of the field and a “low house” at the right. Both traps throw targets at fixed angles. High-house targets start at a point about 10 feet above the ground, moving to the shooter’s right. Low-house targets move in the opposite direction starting from a point about three feet off the ground.

Skeet is usually shot in squads of five shooters. A skeet field has eight positions, or stations, seven of which are numbered consecutively from left to right in a semi-circle around the field. Station eight is located in the center, almost directly between the trap houses, offering very challenging-and very exciting-targets.

A round of skeet consists of 25 targets. Some stations offer single targets, others doubles. There are 16 single targets, two from each station. A round also includes eight shots at four double-targets from stations 1, 2, 6 and 7. The first target missed is repeated; the repeat target is called “the optional.” If no miss occurs in the round of 24 shots, the optional is taken as a single target; usually shot from station eight.

Descriptions provided by NSSF

Sporting clays is a challenging clay target game designed to simulate a variety of field-shooting situations. On a sporting clays course, shooters are presented with a wide variety of targets that duplicate the flight path of game birds, such as flushing, crossing, incoming and other angling shots.

Courses are laid out in natural surroundings and typically include five or more shooting stations. Like golf, shooters move from one station to the next to complete the course. At any station, targets may be thrown as singles, simultaneous pairs, following pairs (one target right after the other) or report pairs (the second target launched at the sound of the gun being fired at the first). To further challenge shooters, target size may vary from the standard trap/skeet clay bird to the smaller “midi” and “mini” targets, or a flat disc-shaped “battue” target. There are also “rabbit” targets, special clay disks that are thrown on edge to roll and skitter unpredictably across the ground.

Sporting clays allows for either a pre-mounted or low gun approach, and a full round usually consists of 50 or 100 targets (depending on the number of stations), with several targets normally thrown at each station.

Descriptions provided by NSSF

5-Stand is a compressed version of sporting clays. Designed for the small form factor, it became a staple for many clubs with limited space. The sport uses between six and Eight Traps (throwers); each trap is set in various locations to throw different types of targets, typically a 25-bird game. The shooter will move through five stations shooting five targets per station. A Typical menu will consist of a single and two pairs. A pair can be thrown as a true pair of two targets at the same time or a Report pair; the shooter calls the first bird, and the second is sent on the gun’s report.

While many take winter as a cue to stay inside, it is actually the perfect back drop for some exotic sporting clays. The heated 5-Stand at Forest Lake Sportsmen’s Club is the perfect excuse to round up some buddies, breath some crisp air, and keep your wing shooting skills sharp. Everyone from the novice to the advanced clay shooter will find a challenge just outside the windows of the heated 5-Stand Trailer.

Our leagues are offered in the early spring and held throughout the Summer.

For more information and sign-ups, please contact the clubhouse.

Our current league Offerings are

Trap League

The Trap League starts in April and runs for 20 weeks.

  •  16-Yard Trap League

Combo League

The Combo League starts in April and runs for 18 weeks.

The teams compete in the following venues:

  • 16-Yard Trap – 6 weeks
  • Skeet – 6 Weeks
  • 5-Stand Sporting Clays – 6 weeks.

Sporting Clays 

The Sporting clays league Is a 10-week league shot at your pace over 15 weeks.

  • Team Size is 5 People Max 3 people Minimum.

Youth Leagues 

We offer youth leagues during the summer months, Starting after the completion of the high school season.  Done on an individual basis

10-Week Trap

  • Shot at your pace. The top 8 weeks are scored

10-Week Sporting Clays

  • Shot at your pace. The top 8 weeks are scored

Gate #2 Events

Access to Gate #2 is available to non members during posted public hours and available to members during club shooting hours.  There are also many private and public events held here that non members may participate in.  For all upcoming Forest Lake Sportsmen’s Club events please see our calendar located here.