1970 – 1980
The current club was restarted back in 1972 under the name “Ashcroft Fish and Game Club”. The club developed an indoor range where the Millennium Park now sits across from the Ashcroft Motel. The range was housed inside the old Tomato Factory. In those days shooting was limited to rifle and pistol disciplines which lasted for several years until the building was torn down.
The executive of the day including current President Ken Brown and Vern Bouck got to work searching for a new venue eventually setting up a new range at the top of the hill on Highway 97c on the right hand side where Desert Hills Farm now grows produce. This provided opportunity for shooting rifles and trap which used the bank towards the Bonaparte River as a back stop. This location worked for approx. 5 year.
1980 – 1990
In 1983 the RCMP approached the club and asked the club to relocate again as the facility was too close to Highway 97c. After an exhaustive search, an agreement was formed with the Ashcroft Indian Band and the lease was signed moving the club yet again. The year was 1983 and the annual lease was just $400 per year but included clauses to increase the lease amount every year.
1990 – Present
In an effort to reduce costs, in 1989 the club again began looking for an alternate facility. Upon visiting the government offices in Kamloops and using the expertise of a club member who conveniently was a lawyer, the process to negotiate a lease from the provincial government commenced. The land that the club now uses on Campbell Hill by the Cache Creek Airport was secured.
At this time the club remained with the original name, “The Ashcroft Fish & Game Association”. The Executive of the day decided the name should be changed to better reflect the Club as it as no longer operated in Ashcroft. The name was changed to “The South Cariboo Sportsman Association”.
In 2017 the devastating Elephant Hill Wildfire erupted just a few kilometers west of the club facilities and quickly swept up the mountainside destroying several buildings at the Cache Creek Airport and much of the Range facilities. Fortunately, the clubhouse survived. The Rifle Range Building and Pistol Facilities were not spared. In 2018 and again in 2019, due to the lack of vegetation remaining on the surrounding hillside flooding and mudslides did further damage wiping out roads and burying sections in mud. Through the creative solutions of the executive, members and generous vendors near and far the club continues to thrive with more than 150 members and rebuilding efforts continue.
2019
With the help of club executives and volunteers, the pistol range building was partially completed. 2021 will see a new concrete floor installed and proper shooting bases installed at 7, 10- and 15-yard distances.
2020
A raffle was launched with the goal of raising funds to rebuild a new rifle range facility. With completion of the raffle on Dec. 15, 2020 the rifle range facilities will be fully funded and allow the building of the new facility.
2021
The 2021 Raffle was another great success. Funds will go towards improvements to the range, archery in particular which was sidetracked in 2021 due to covid.
2022
Future Plans - Work on a 2022 Raffle has begun, stay tuned for the announcements, some great prizes are in the works.