In 1949, a group of sportsmen decided to form the Westfield Sportsman’s Club – a place of natural beauty, where they could shoot while keeping the land – nearly 400 acres of woods, including a spring-fed pond – as a nature conservancy.
Close to 75 years later, the club continues to thrive as a place where members can fish, practice the sport of archery, or gun sports, or simply take a walk in the woods and over a creek. No hunting is allowed on the land – it is used strictly for sport.
The Westfield Sportsman’s Club has one of the largest field archery courses (28-30 lanes) in Massachusetts, according to Erin Harris, the club’s president. She noted that the archery course and the shooting area are on separate sides of the land.
Of note is the club’s Black Powder range – one of only four in Massachusetts that hosts events. A Black Powder gun, explained Erin, is a primitive firearm, a specialty rifle used in Musket matches.
Other shooting competitions held at the club include trap and skeet, handgun competition, and Modern American Rifle Series – precision shooting, low caliber competition
As the club’s first female president, Erin started a shooting club for women, “It’s like a book club, but without the wine or the books,” she quipped.
The popular Youth Fishing Derby is held in April. It is open to the public – anyone under 15 can fish for the day and prizes are awarded. The pond, stocked with trout every year, is also home to bass, Pumpkinseed, bullfrogs and turtles, Erin noted.
The all-volunteer organization is open year-round. The membership year is from October 1- September 30, however memberships are available any time of year.
WESTFIELD SPORTSMAN’S CLUB
95 Furrowtown Rd. 413-562-0771
westfieldsportsmansclub.com
