Rules and Regulations

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Our Mission: To conserve, maintain, protect, and restore the soil, forest, water, and other natural resources of the United States and other lands; to promote means and opportunities for the education of the public with respect to such resources and their enjoyment and wholesome utilization.

The Izaak Walton League of America – Roanoke Valley Chapter is a private, nonprofit organization with national affiliation whose property belongs to its members for the enjoyment of each and their guests.  Members are expected to adhere to and enforce all rules and regulations which have been established by the Chapter’s Officers and Board of Directors to protect themselves, guests, and chapter property.

General Rules:

  1. Members are expected to maintain control of their gate keycard. Members cannot lend his or her gate keycard to anyone, including family members. You must have your Membership card and gate keycard with you at all times while on chapter property. If gate keycard is lost, contact Chapter Secretary for a replacement. New gate keycard will cost $20.00.
  2. No intentional and willful destruction of chapter property.  This is meant to include all tangible property both naturally occurring and placed there by the membership.  All tangible properties belong to the Membership at large and are in place for your convenience and enjoyment. Guests of Members will be held to this same high standard. Be considerate and protect Chapter property.
  3.  All trash and other material must be carried off the property and areas cleaned for the next group of members to use. “Pack out what you pack in.”
  4. Hunting is prohibited on Chapter property to the general membership unless they belong to the Willow Run Hunt Club. If a member is interested in joining the Chapter’s hunt club, Willow Run Hunt Club, contact Chapter Secretary.
  5. No camping is allowed on the property at any time.
  6. The consumption of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs is prohibited on Chapter property at all times by members and guests.  Members and guests cannot come onto the property under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This is a zero tolerance policy.
  7. If a Member violates any of the above rules (#1 through #6), or subsequent Membership Guidelines, Fishing, Guests, or Shooting Range Rules, the Chapter Board will convene to investigate rule(s) violation(s), and if deemed, terminate the membership of the offending Member. If a Member violates any Federal, State or Local laws while on Chapter property, criminal prosecution will be pursued.
  8. As a Member, you have the right and the responsibility to ask anyone on Chapter property you do not know to show his or her membership card. This is a protective measure and Members who are asked should not be offended by such a request.
  9. Annual membership dues are due by Jan.1 of the year (no partial dues will be accepted).  After January 15th, your membership will expire unless you pay the initiation fee of $50.00 to reinstate your membership prior to the membership cap being met.

General Membership Guidelines:

  1. Members must comply with all Chapter Rules & Regulations. Members must also inform their guests about expected conduct, range rules, and report any rule violations and criminal activity on the property to the Chapter Officers and the police if warranted.
  2. Members are expected to be helpful, courteous and respectful toward others at all times while on the property.  Aggressive, disrespectful or dangerous actions toward others will not be tolerated.
  3. The Chapter’s property has neighbors around its perimeter.  Members and guests must be respectful of these neighbors.
  4. Members are expected to immediately contact Chapter officers if they find property damage, natural or manmade, while on Chapter property.  Chapter officers’ contact numbers can be found at the bottom of Chapter newsletters or Members can send an email to: roanokevalleyiwla@gmail.com. 
  5. If a Member wishes to participate in shooting activities, he/she must have no physical, mental or emotional impairments that would interfere with his ability to operate firearms safely and he/she must have had the range safety course given by the Chapter.
  6. Members are encouraged to participate in all Chapter functions; Membership meetings, property workdays, Adopt-a-Highway cleanups, and the annual Members Cookout and Kid’s Outdoor Competition.
  7. To become a Chapter Member, you must be over the age of 18.
  8. Members must sign that they have read and understand the Rules and Regulations in order for their gate keycard to be activated.  These signed documents will be kept on record for the duration of their membership.
  9. Lake Activities: (Fishing, Swimming, and Boating)
  10. Rod and reel fishing only. Maximum of two (2) poles per person.
  11. All bass over 12 inches in length shall be returned to the lake.
  12. All bream, sun perch, blue gill, catfish can be kept if desired.
  13. Live minnows are not allowed to be used as bait.
  14. Swimming is allowed. Children swimming must be supervised by an adult.  Swim at own risk.
  15. Be courteous when using boats. Boat occupants are encouraged to wear a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device (PFDs) or have PFDs in the boat with them, one per occupant, when boating on the lake. The Chapter does not provide PFDs.  Boat at own risk.
  16. Secure all boating equipment after use.
  17. Guests:
  18. Each member is responsible for the conduct of his/her guest(s) and for seeing that all Rules and Regulations of the chapter are followed.
  19. No guest will be allowed on chapter property without a card-carrying member.  Children are considered to be guests of the member/parent.
  20. Any group of ten (10) or more guests of a single Member using Chapter property must receive prior approval from the President at least five days before the date of the visit. (Special restrictions apply to shooting range. See Shooting Range Rules below.) Members are expected to inform their guests of Chapter Rules.
  21. Chapter Officers and Board Members:
  22. Officers and Board Members of the Chapter are members like you who have been elected (Officers), asked to serve (Board Members) for a short period of time, normally three years.  Then other members will be elected/ solicited to take their place.  Help Officers and Board Members carry out their assigned duties and responsibilities.  Someday you might be one. If you are interested in taking an active role in Chapter management, please contact a Chapter Officer.

Shooting Range Rules:

  1. All Members are required to attend a Chapter Range Safety Course before they can use the shooting range. A “Range Safety Badge” will be issued after completion of the course and the badge must be worn or visible when using the shooting range. If badge is lost, contact Chapter Secretary by email: roanokevalleyiwla@gmail.com
  2. Shoot at own risk and comply with all Federal, State, and Local laws relating to possession and use of firearms.
  3. No reckless, unsafe and inappropriate use of or handling of a firearm.  Shooting is allowed only at the shooting range and in the down-range direction. 
  4. Every Chapter member on the firing line is a Range Officer, except in the case of organized matches that have an appointed Range Officer. It shall be the Range Officers (Chapter members) responsibility to ensure all Range Rules are observed at all times.
  5. It is the responsibility of the Range Officer as well as all persons on the firing line to ensure that all persons are wearing proper hearing and eye protection before permission to commence firing, “Range Hot”, is called.
  6. Before anyone can proceed down range, after “Range Cold” must be called, the Range Officer and all persons on the firing line must ensure that all firearms are safe; magazines removed, chambers empty, actions open, safeties on, and firearms placed on benches. No handling of firearms while persons are down range.
  7. When behind the fire benches, all firearms must be unloaded and cased, if uncased, the firearm must be unloaded and the action must be open.
  8. NO RANDOM SHOOTING. NO SHOOTING INTO THE AIR. Firing must be directed into the target areas. Shotguns loaded with fine shot may be fired into the air down range at appropriate targets provided that all rules of safety and considerations of other shooters are observed.
  9. No glass bottle or ceramic plate shooting. Clay pigeons are permitted. No shooting at rocks or any other material likely to cause a ricochet.
  10. No shooting at steel targets closer than 25 yards with a handgun.
  11. No shooting at steel targets closer than 75 yards with high-power center-fire rifle.
  12. No tracer, armor piercing or incendiary ammunition.
  13. Shooters are responsible for policing their brass, hulls, cleaning patches, targets and any other trash before leaving the range.
  14. The shooting range will be closed from time to time for Chapter matches, maintenance, workdays, or other organized activities. Members will receive advance notice of range closings by email.
  15. The range is closed each Sunday until after the noon hour.  The range is closed from dusk until dawn each day. 
  16. Guest Rules:
    1. There can only be a maximum of three (3) guests with a Chapter member on the range at any time, excluding family members with Chapter member.
    1. Each member is responsible for guests brought to the range, their range safety, and their appropriate handling of firearms.
    1. If a member wants to bring more than three (3) guests to the range, he or she must obtain prior permission from the Chapter Board.
  17. Any Member who violates or permits a guest to violate Shooting Range Rules will be dismissed from the Chapter. Any violations of the Law will be reported to the appropriate authority for prosecution. Any member who witnesses a Shooting Range Rule violation should report the violation to a Chapter Officer or Board Member, along with the offender’s name, license plate number, and the time the violation was committed.
  18. Members are expected to abided by these Rules to ensure your safety and the safety of your fellow shooters.