The Byron Sportsmen and Conservation Club was founded in 1983 on land located five miles northwest of Byron, just across the Olmsted-Dodge County line. Since its founding, the Club has grown to approximately 118 acres through the purchase of adjacent properties. Key activities include rifle, pistol, shotgun, and archery shooting as well as camping, hiking, fishing, and social gatherings. The Club is open year-round, with access controlled by members using a unique PIN number to control the automatic front gate.
We work the land we use — habitat improvement, conservation, river restoration, and youth conservation programming.
Safe, well-maintained shooting and archery facilities. Trained range officers. Rules that members write and members keep.
Banquets, family-friendly events, work days, and a culture that's been passed down for over four decades.
The Byron Sportsmen and Conservation Club holds its first meeting, attended by 26 people. Romeo Tlougan and Don DeBlieck are the founders; Jim Bitterman serves as the club's first president.
A 60-acre farm purchased from Bob Kobel becomes the club's headquarters, establishing the grounds five miles northwest of Byron near the Olmsted-Dodge County line.
A camp for the Boy Scouts is built along the river and continues to be available for use by club members, Scouts, and other groups.
The shed that once sheltered cattle is converted into the clubhouse through the efforts of member volunteers. The result is a beautiful clubhouse with a kitchen, knotty-pine porch, and fieldstone fireplace in the main meeting room.
Sporting clays are started at the club with the purchase of manual traps, launching what would become one of the club's most popular ongoing programs.
The 4-bench pistol range is completed. A state-of-the-art 300-yard rifle range with six shooting stations is built by club members.
Erosion on the banks of the Zumbro River on the west side of the property is abated with completion of the Riverbank Restoration Project.
Forty-five acres adjacent to the north property line is purchased, bringing the club to a total of 117.59 acres. A large machine shed is built with the help of club members and the Olmsted County Sentence to Serve crew.
The archery range featuring a 20-foot tower is completed on the west side of the club property.
The club's first annual pheasant hunt is held in January at Pheasantview Game Farm in Goodhue. Twenty-two members attended and harvested 78 pheasants.
The club's first free youth shoot is held, with approximately 50 youth from surrounding communities attending. It has grown into the club's largest annual community event.
A brand-new Kubota tractor is purchased for club use, supporting grounds maintenance and conservation work.
BSCC is a Minnesota nonprofit. A volunteer board of directors runs the club day to day — president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and the chairs of membership, ranges, grounds, and events. Bylaws and policies are voted on by the membership.