SPORTSMEN'S CLUBS

The Muzzle Loaders had their first annual meet in 1932 at the St. Louis Park Sportsmen Shooting Range. This meet lasted until at least 1947.

The Sportsman’s Club was organized in March 1945 with 46 charter members. Their goal was the conservation of wildlife to ensure better hunting and fishing in the future. In 1946 the club supported an effort to restore Bass Lake, but physical and legal obstacles killed the effort.

In 1947 the group met at the Village Hall. That year there was trap shooting at the Minneapolis Golf Club. John Schaefer was president of the Sportsman’s Club.

In 1948 [1946], the Sportsman’s Club [Mr. Schafer] established a shooting range at the abandoned Landers-Morrison-Christenson gravel pit, between Aquila and Texas.

In 1956-62 the St. Louis Park Sportsman’s Club met at Ronnie’s Café - Blake Road And Excelsior Ave. in Hopkins.

In 1965, Sun Newspapers started sponsoring the Sportsman’s Club, which was not specific to St. Louis Park. Meetings were chock-a-block with sports celebrities like Bud Grant. Meetings were open to the “adult male public” only.

By 1975 it was the West Suburban Sportsmen’s Club, and meetings were open to the public. The March 1, 1976 meeting was emceed by Halsey Hall.

In December 1946, John Bird held field trials for the Hennepin County Amateur Retriever Club.

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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.