North America Grand Prix Finale North America Cup - Sporting - United States (June 2012)

The Minnesota Horse & Hunt Club is a premier 600-acre outdoor recreation and shotgun sports facility nestled in the scenic countryside of Prior Lake, Minnesota. Established in 1985, the club holds a historic status as one of the very first venues in the United States to introduce the game of sporting clays to the public. Operating year-round, this highly acclaimed destination seamlessly blends professional-grade shooting ranges with top-tier hospitality, making it equally inviting to novice shooters, elite competitors, corporate groups, and families seeking a unique outdoor experience.

At the heart of the club's clay target offerings are six diverse sporting clay courses designed to replicate realistic field hunting scenarios through more than 120 distinct target presentations. These courses are fully automated with ProMatic launchers, giving shooters the flexibility of self-service target controls to progress at their own comfortable pace. To accommodate the challenging Midwestern winters, the facility features three custom 5-stand setups with heated, enclosed shooting structures, ensuring that the sport can be thoroughly enjoyed even during the coldest months.

Key Clay Shooting Disciplines

• Sporting Clays: Six world-class courses presenting a wide variety of target trajectories mimicking real game birds.

• Trap & Skeet: Four trap fields and two skeet fields providing a rhythmic challenge to refine swing and timing.

• FITASC Course: A highly technical, international-style 25-shot course meant to push experienced competitors to their limits.

• Heated 5-Stand: Three stands equipped with infrared heaters for cold-weather shooting.

• Cosmic Clays: An exclusive glow-in-the-dark nighttime shooting experience featuring vibrant neon lights and glowing clays (available November through March).

Beyond clay target sports, the club manages a variety of multi-discipline shooting facilities and pristine hunting grounds. Members of the club gain exclusive access to a state-of-the-art outdoor rifle and pistol range for fine-tuning precision firearms, as well as ten managed upland bird fields. For archery enthusiasts, the club features a 16-lane target archery range with shooting distances from 20 to 60 yards, alongside a seasonal 3D walking course that simulates hunting-style shots in a natural forest setting.

Additional Multi-Discipline Facilities

• Archery Range: 16-lane target range (20–60 yards) and a seasonal 3D walking trail.

• Rifle & Pistol Ranges: Fully equipped outdoor shooting lanes reserved exclusively for club members.

• Upland Bird Hunting: Hundreds of acres of managed fields for wingshooting and pointer/flusher hunting.

The club places a strong emphasis on education and professional coaching, accommodating all experience levels from first-time shooters to master-class athletes. Beginners can book the signature "Intro to Clays" package, which provides a certified instructor, gun rental, ammunition, and target clays to build initial confidence safely. Private coaching is delivered by nationally recognized instructors, such as Kate Ahnstrom of the Paragon School of Sporting and Chad Roberts, a Master Class shooter and co-host of The Dead Pair Podcast. For those looking for structured competition, the club hosts one of the largest sporting clay leagues in the nation, applying a custom handicap formula to ensure fair play.

Complementing its world-class shooting facilities, the Minnesota Horse & Hunt Club is a celebrated destination for dining, lodging, and private events, hosting over 300 gatherings annually. Trigger's Bar & Restaurant, directed by Executive Chef Andy Shrader, serves highly-rated wild game-inspired cuisine, signature scratch-made sauces, and a legendary weekend prime rib dinner. For overnight visitors, the club offers rustic, comfortable cabins including the spacious Hunters Lodge (sleeping up to 16) and the cozy Alaskan and Upland Suites, complete with stone fireplaces and outdoor grilling stations. The picturesque property is also a highly sought-after venue for corporate team-building retreats and weddings, offering flexible indoor banquet spaces and a large outdoor pavilion that can host up to 300 guests.