Our Antwerp Chamber of Commerce spotlight for May is the Antwerp Conservation Club at 17814 Road
53, Antwerp, OH.
The Conservation Club is a non-profit organization which was organized for charitable and educational
purposes, as well as the conservation of wildlife and its habitat, and for the betterment of the
community. This is a club whose interests are in conservation and the shooting sports on the Rifle
Range, Pistol Range, Bow Range and Trap Range.
Gary Mabis is the current Club President. The club began back in the 1950’s with a small group of men
that had an interest in hunting and conservation. Early club meetings were held at the old American
Legion hall which is currently where the Right Turn driving school is on South Main Street where they
also held wild game dinners. The club moved in the 1980’s to their current location between Antwerp
and Hicksville on 22 acres that had been purchased in the 1950’s. The current clubhouse was built in
2006.
The club is very active and they are best known for their well-maintained ranges and facility. They
promote, sponsor and hold several youth and adult classes. Classes include: ladies introduction to
firearms, youth firearms training, deer butchering, turkey butchering, meat processing and more.
These programs draw people from across the state. Most active members, however, live in Northwest Ohio and Northeast Indiana. Their membership numbers 450-500 members and they have had people from as far away as California join the club. When the group is choosing which educational programs they would like to sponsor they think about what they would have liked to have someone teach them in their younger years.
The club has a close relationship with the Ohio Division of Natural Resources- Division of Wildlife section
which helps to support many of their education programs. Membership in the club is very
affordable for an individual and/or family to have access to such a wide variety of programs and a safe
range to shoot. Basic membership fees are $35 for a single membership and $50 for a family. Programs
also include hunter education, youth day, monthly pistol matches, and trap shoots.
The club sets aside time to have fun. They host an annual Easter Egg hunt each spring open to the
public. This year they had 71 kids hunting eggs on the beautiful acreage. They have a grand 4th of July
celebration and they also sponsor a club social event that is all open to the public once a month on the
2nd Wednesday. This includes games, card games, hot dogs, ham sandwiches and a great evening to
spend with friends.
Several of the more active members have been given unusual nick names such as Putz, Mud Slide, Sugar
and Honey. Each nick name has an entertaining story behind it and they are happy to share it with you.
There are no secrets. If you visit the Club, make sure to ask for one of these club members by their nick
name.
When someone walks into the Club, they can expect a smile and a welcome to the Antwerp
Conservation Club. Membership gives you access to all of the programs and ranges. The club is proud
to give back to the community. They offer two $400 scholarships each year to students in the Antwerp,
Hicksville, Wayne Trace, Paulding, Fairview and Woodburn high schools.
The hall is also available for rental for parties. It holds 90 people and an application can be found on the
Antwerp Conservation Club website. It includes a full kitchen and plenty of tables and chairs.
Events include a 22 Cal. Pistol Shoot the 3rd Sunday of April and May. Noon sign
up and shooting is from 1pm-4pm. There is a $5 match fee and eye protection is required as well as 50
rounds of ammo minimum needed. Targets include 8” steel plates, arcade style targets, water balloons
and many others. Trap shoots are on the 3rd Sunday May through October.
IDPA Pistol Matches are held the 1st Sunday of the month May thru October. June 5th is a Ladies
Introduction to firearms from 9am-3pm and on June 19th from 8am to noon will be Youth fishing day as
part of Ohio’s free fishing days June 19th and 20th. Residents of Ohio can fish without a license on those
two days as a chance to experience Ohio’s fishing opportunities.
Check out the club’s website for more information and membership application. Follow them on
Facebook at Antwerp Conservation Club Antwerp, Ohio, Visit the website calendar at
antwerpconservationclub.com or watch for ads in the West Bend News about upcoming events and
schedule. Memberships can be purchased several ways- by filling out the application form
on the website and mailing it in, by coming to a meeting or an event, or may be purchased at the
following businesses: The Ammo Can in Hicksville Ohio, McDougall Firearms in Antwerp Ohio or at
Paulding ACE Hardware in Paulding Ohio.
Club meetings are on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 7:00 P.M.
The Antwerp Chamber of Commerce is pleased to have the Antwerp Conservation Club partnering with us in the Antwerp Community.
