West Shore Practical Shooters

Sometime during the 1930s, a collection of men from the West Shore area got together to discuss ways to keep from losing a sport they enjoyed - hunting in the Central Pennsylvania area. Growing populations and the spread of urban areas had begun to reduce the wide expanses of farmland in the West Shore region, and hunters were finding it increasingly difficult to find land to hunt. These men formed a loose association with each other with the goal of developing relationships with current landowners and farmers to secure hunting rights. They also acquired a piece of farmland of their own; managed and maintained through dues and their collective efforts.

In 1954 this group incorporated as a not-for-profit under the name West Shore Sportsmen's Association. At that time, WSSA only owned the one piece of farmland, and met in fire halls or member's homes to hold meetings. Dues were spent to maintain the farm, and to stock it with game birds and rabbits which they released on the land to hunt. Membership numbers totaled around 400 for the first decade. The personality of the club during this time was that of a collection of outdoorsmen and its mission focused on hunting and conservation.

WSSA had no established shooting ranges on that farmland. In 1956 the Board approached the NRA with the interest of becoming an NRA-affiliated club. James Dee, NRA spokesperson responded, "there is no point in NRA affiliation if we are not a shooting organization." Within two years WSSA acquired our current property, and the farmland was sold off a few years afterwards. In 1958 the clubhouse was completed, and the membership finally had its own building to hold meetings.

During the 50s and 60s the membership developed some formal shooting ranges on the property. A path for the 100 yard rifle range was cleared. Two trap houses were also erected behind the clubhouse