Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of the most commonly asked questions. Don't see your question here? Give us a call or shoot us an email, a staff member will be happy to help.
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01
Safety & rules
This is a live-fire range. The rules are posted, they're enforced, and they exist so everyone goes home the way they arrived.
You must be experienced in shotgun shooting, able to handle a shotgun safely, and familiar with and willing to comply with our range rules. We're uncompromising about this, and we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
Two, maximum, at any time. Always. Guns are carried with actions open and empty, and are not loaded until you're in the station and ready to shoot.
No alcoholic beverages are allowed in the shooting areas, and no consumption of alcohol or any substance is allowed before shooting. Refreshments after your round are available in the Pro Shop.
Our staff on the grounds. They're there to assist and answer questions, and to approach and correct anyone violating a safety rule. If one speaks to you, don't be offended. The same standard applies to everybody, every day.
Do not approach trap equipment for any reason, and do not go downrange. Notify our staff and we will get it fixed.
We're a shotgun facility for general shooting. There's no walk-on handgun or rifle shooting. Handgun shooting happens only inside a scheduled class with an authorized instructor, and those classes are open to the public. The property also hosts the Coyote Valley Cowboys' SASS Cowboy Action range. Their match and practice days are on the Cowboy Range Calendar.
If you're looking for general rifle and pistol shooting, the closest facility is Santa Clara Field Sports Park, about 4 miles north across Highway 101. Their number is (408) 463-0652.
02
New to shooting
The most common questions from people who've never done this before. Short version: you're welcome here, and you don't need to own anything.
Yes. There's a safe and welcoming option for every experience level. You'll come in one of three ways: book our Introductory Package (groups of three or more), book private instruction (one or two shooters), or come alongside an experienced shooter who accepts responsibility for your supervision, subject to staff approval at check-in.
What you can't do is turn up alone having never shot and walk the course by yourself. That requires shotgun experience.
No. Shotgun rental is included in the Introductory Package, and we rent shotguns at the Pro Shop the rest of the time. You must be 21 or older to rent.
No. We sell shells at the Pro Shop in 12 and 20 gauge. On the Introductory Package your ammunition is already included.
You walk a course through the hills, stopping at stations. At each one a machine throws a clay disc through the air and you try to break it with a shotgun. We have twenty stations to explore, no two alike.
If you're experienced, yes. The course is first come, first served. If you're new, book private instruction, which is designed for one or two first-time shooters. The Introductory Package needs a minimum of three participants.
With coaching, many first-time shooters begin breaking targets during their first round.
Shot before but you're having a hard time hitting clays? Book a private lesson or Introductory Package for some extra guidance.
03
Your visit & booking
Experienced shooters: no. The main course, skeet and trap are first come, first served.
Guided experiences: yes. Book at least seven days in advance, and you can book online here. Weekend slots fill fast.
Closed Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday to Friday, 9:00 to 5:00. Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 to 5:00. Check the calendar before you travel, as we occasionally host events that close the grounds.
1000 San Bruno Avenue, Morgan Hill, in the foothills off Santa Teresa Boulevard, west of Highway 101, between Cochrane Road and Bailey Avenue. San Bruno Avenue dead-ends into our front gate, and then it's a mile-long private drive up to the parking lot. Keep going. You're in the right place.
Dress as though you're going on a hike, because effectively you are. Closed-toe walking shoes are the important one, as the course has elevation changes, loose gravel and dirt. We also strongly recommend a hat and long sleeves as protection from target fragments.
Yes, and so does everyone with you. Participants and observers sign an Agreement and Release from Liability before anyone steps foot on the course. Sign it online before you arrive, or at the kiosk inside our Pro Shop.
- ■ 12 and up: old enough for the Introductory Package.
- ■ 12 and under: private lessons are the way to start.
- ■ Under 18: must be on the range with an experienced adult, with a waiver signed by a parent or guardian.
- ■ 18 with a current hunting license: may shoot here.
- ■ 21 and over: required to rent a shotgun from us.
All children must have a waiver signed by their parent or guardian. Need a waiver? Find a link here.
Yes. Non-shooting companions are welcome. They sign the same waiver, and eye and ear protection is required for observers too.
Want to ride in style? Or maybe walking the course isn't as easy as it used to be. We've got you covered with golf cart rentals to help you get around comfortably.
Have your own cart? Feel free to bring it. We have trailer parking available, and storage options may be available. Reach out to our team to learn more.
Yes. Friendly, well-behaved dogs are welcome, hunting breeds especially, as long as they're leashed at all times. They can't come inside the clubhouse. And the most important rule of all: the manager gets to pet every dog.
Groups of any size are welcome, but for the best experience, we recommend groups of 5 to 6. This keeps everyone engaged, moving, and shooting.
We are open rain or shine. We do close in extreme heat, severe rain or lightning. Note that shotgun rental rates double in the rain. Call ahead if conditions look uncertain.
04
Guns & ammunition
What you can bring, what we provide, and the specs worth checking before you load the car.
A modern shotgun with a fixed butt stock and a barrel of at least 22 inches. Sporting guns, not short-barrel home-defense types.
- ■ No 10 gauge
- ■ No pistol grips
- ■ No tactical firearms
- ■ No clip-fed magazines
The manager on duty may reject any firearm. If you're unsure about yours, call us before you drive down.
We use 2¾ inch shells with 7½, 8, or 9 shot only.
No 3 inch shells, slugs, or hunting loads over 1300 fps. Heavier loads travel farther downrange and can cause injury.
Bringing your own ammunition? Please check with the Pro Shop before heading out.
Not in our rental guns. Only factory-new ammunition may be used in those. In your own shotgun, your ammunition must still meet all our other requirements.
Yes. Ask at the Pro Shop, and note that you must be 21 or older to rent. Rental is included at no extra charge on the Introductory Package. Rental rates double in the rain.
05
Lessons
Call our instructor coordinator on (408) 778-3600.
A lesson is all about improving your game, with one on one coaching focused on your technique and helping you break more targets. The Introductory Package is a fun, guided experience for groups of three or more, with everything included for a great day at the range.
One helps you shoot better. The other helps you discover how much fun sporting clays can be!
Bringing your own ammunition? Please check with the Pro Shop before heading out.
06
Pro Shop & transfers
We're a licensed FFL dealer with a full sporting clays course attached.
Beretta, Browning, Benelli and Staccato, on the rack rather than in a catalogue. And if it's legal in California, we can order it.
Yes. We offer demo sessions of 25 shots on selected new guns, out on the course rather than mounted in a shop. Ask at the Pro Shop for what's available that day.
Long guns only, no handguns of any kind. A handgun shipped here will be refused. For a long gun shipped from another dealer, email us for the current transfer fee, plus California sales and excise tax on the value of the firearm.
Email us before anything ships. The gun must be shipped by an FFL dealer, never by USPS, with the DOJ verification approval number written on the outside of the box.
We pay cash for some firearms. Bring yours in and we'll take a look. We no longer offer consignment sales.
The card that operates our automated throwers and counts every target you release. Grab one at the Pro Shop, shoot your round, then hand it back and settle up for the targets you threw. A lost Clay Card carries a replacement fee, so keep it in a zipped pocket.
07
Groups & events
From five guests to two hundred and fifty. Corporate days, celebrations and fundraisers.
Yes. We accommodate private events from small groups of five to gatherings of up to 250 guests, with private instructors, unlimited clays, catered lunch and a private event space depending on the package. Email info@coyoteclays.com with your group size, a rough date, and what the day is for.
Three of them, each built for a group of five with additional guests at a per person rate: Classic Clays, the Premier Sporting Experience, and the Ultimate Range Day. Email info@coyoteclays.com for current pricing. Tax and gratuity aren't included.
No, and that's rather the point. Almost nobody arriving has done this before, so everyone starts in the same place. Instructors mean no experience is assumed of anyone in your group.
Yes. We host tournaments and fundraisers with customizable packages and event coordination. Tell us your format and your fundraising target and we'll build the day around them.
For groups of 26 or more, email info@coyoteclays.com rather than booking online. It's the fastest route in.
Just ask us.
Northern California's premier public shotgun sports facility, set in a private valley twenty minutes south of San Jose. Sporting clays, skeet, trap and 5-Stand — open to the public, no membership required.