United Northern Sportsmen

Club Overview

Welcome to the United Northern Sportsmen Conservation Club.  Organized in 1946 by a group of thirteen outdoor enthusiasts, over the years, we have grown to a membership of over 1400.  A short twenty-five mile drive up the Rice Lake Road from downtown Duluth just past the Island Lake Inn will bring you to our clubhouse and facilities.  Located on the shores of beautiful Island Lake, we are a private club with a number of attractive outdoor amenities for the enjoyment of our members.  They include four shooting ranges one each for rifles, pistols, archery and shotguns, a 37 site campground, lakeside picnic area, concrete boat launch, docking, and, of course, a swimming area.

One of our organization goals is to support the conservation and wise use of Minnesota’s natural resources.  Many of our efforts and activities center around youth and encouraging them to become aware of and involved in what the outdoors has to offer.  In addition, we are a club that contributes to the local community by supporting and donating to worthwhile outdoor activities.  At our facilities, each year we sponsor a youth fishing class in June, a summer youth outdoor field day in August, the deer hunter rifle sight-in during the fall, and our winter ice fishing contest.  These events are open to the public.

Joining United Northern Sportsmen offers something for anyone interested in the outdoors.  And it offers to those inclined the opportunity to volunteer their time and talents to help put on events and to maintain our facility.

Range Rules

Always be alert for people, pets, and wildlife downrange.

Report unsafe behavior to 218-721-4843 or the campground host when available.

• Ranges are open 8:00 am to 1/2 hr. before sunset. All ranges are closed on Mondays.
• Children under the age of 18 years of age must be with a parent or legal guardian member at all times on all shooting ranges and archery areas.
• Eye and Ear protection is required for all people on the range.
• All firearms are unloaded and cased when not on the firing line. Remove guns from their cases pointing down range on the benches provided. Always keep muzzles pointed down range.
• DO NOT touch firearms when people are down range.
• Loaded firearms shall not be left unattended at any time.
• All shooting is to be controlled and aimed at targets straight down range only. NO EXCEPTIONS.
• No one is allowed in front of the firing line while firing at the rifle range.
• All firearm actions must be open unless aiming and shooting.
• NO ALCOHOL OR FDA CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES shall be used prior to or during range use.
• Paper targets only. No metal, wood, glass, exploding targets, or plastic material.
• Only UNS authorized metal gongs can be used on the 200- and 300-yard ranges.
• Only clay pigeons can be used on the trap range.
• Targets shall only be placed in the target holders at the backstop. All targets are placed at the BOTTOM of the back stop – NOT AT THE TOP.
• Anyone not shooting or spotting must remain behind shooting range divider when range is active.
• Centerfire rifles, black-powder arms, shotguns, or handguns larger than 45 caliber are prohibited on the pistol range.
• Fully automatic firearms, and trigger activators, bump stocks, or machine gun conversion kits are prohibited as per State of Minnesota Law MS609.67
• Remove all targets when it’s safe and you are done shooting.
• Pick up your spent brass and put in the buckets on the ranges.
• Pick up your trash and take it with you.