Brant Rod & Gun Club

The Brant Rod & Gun Club’s history dates back to 1937, when a group of sportsmen began meeting in Eagle Place, with activities including: shooting sports, fishing, tree-planting and story telling. In the 1940’s the meetings were moved to Holmedale and the idea of an annual Sportsman Show was launched. These annual shows took place first at the Armouries, then the Civic Center and now they are presently being held at our clubhouse. Our club’s ‘home’, situated on 54 acres, was purchased in the mid-1950’s, with the very first club-house being located in a renovated barn. It was then that the members became actively involved in fighting pollution in the Grand River Watershed.

Mr Clare Savage was club president in 1958, and by then the club was in full swing planting trees on the property. The trout pond located on Landon Creek had already been dug. The club was also very interested in safe gun handling and this time honoured interest still holds true today. With activities such as steak fries, corn roasts, and turkey suppers, a Ladies Auxiliary was formed by wives of the members. With the Ladies Auxiliary sponsoring the many social events, financial benefits to the club came by way of; a kitchen, bathrooms, and many other smaller projects. In the summer of 1962 the mortgage to the club was paid-off and burned in a ceremonial gathering with a steak fry to commemorate it by. The Ladies Auxiliary had donated $600 towards the payment of the mortgage discharge.

Besides stream improvement and tree planting, the club had been a supplier of full grown pheasants for the Township. Mr. Joe Waller & Frank Tomlin had accumulated a great variety of geese, ducks and pheasants. Their efforts, with the help of others, while at times was discouraging, it had been ultimately rewarding.

The club’s trap and skeet had been an active project ever since the park was purchased. Mr. William Bonney, was one of the instigators, in having flood lights installed on the skeet range, making it to the club’s understanding, the second such range in Ontario. A fire destroyed the club-house on March 7, 1970 and a new facility was built. This was all done with volunteer help. On September 12th, 1975 the club held a grand opening of the new beautiful club-house you see today. September 12, 2000 heralded the 25th anniversary of the grand opening of the new club house. The lower club room contains a pool-table, dart boards a dance floor and a bar. The upper floor contains a hall that can seat 200 people for: meetings, seminars, wedding receptions, dinners and other such events. The upper inside and outside balconies provides a fine view of the trout pond and campgrounds.

In 1950 a Committee “Clean up the Grand River” was formed. 1960 was the official opening of the Modern Day Sewage Disposal plant which was without a doubt instigated by this committee. The club was also interested in safe gun handling and continues to provide education for hunters on today with several volunteers. The trap range is open two days a week and also used by the Brant County Youth Shooting Sports Association mentored by the BRGC and the Boss Gobblers chapter of NWTF of Brant/Oxford. Non-restricted and restricted firearms licence courses are still being offered today and registration is always to capacity.

A fire destroyed the club-house on March 7, 1970 and a new facility was built. We have continued to work with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Earth Week Events Committee and the MNR which works with our hatchery. November 2012 we celebrated 75 years in conservation with a dinner , a picture of today’s members, planted a time capsule and held an open house. Tours showing the fish hatchery, campgrounds, trap range and beautiful clubhouse were provided.



Our Club consists of over 200 members. The Brant Rod & Gun Club boasts numerous activities to keep its members occupied. Naturally with having two creeks running through the Club grounds fishing is actively pursued by many.

We also have:

• banquet services/facilities
• an annual Sportsman Show
• an Archery Range set up for enthusiasts of that sport
• a Trap Range that is active on Wednesday nights and Sundays

The Club is also involved with local sports and social teams. Guides and other youth groups have sleep-overs on our campgrounds and enjoy tours of our fish hatchery.

We are actively involved in:
tree planting, stream-bank rehabilitation and wood lot management.

Bursary awards are given to students in a conservation related post-secondary program, in addition cash donations are awarded to charities and other good causes.

We always welcome visitors to our Club and we are accepting new membership applications.