You’re driving down a gravel road in Prior Lake, past the standard suburban sprawl, and suddenly you hit 600 acres of what feels like a time machine back to an old-school English manor. That's the Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club. It isn’t just some suburban shooting range where you stand in a lane and pop off rounds at a paper target. Honestly, it’s a whole ecosystem. People call it "the club," but it’s basically a massive playground for anyone who wants to pretend they’re a refined country gentleman or a serious outdoorsman for the afternoon.
The place started back in 1985. Bill Stevens had this vision of creating a space that bridged the gap between a rugged hunting trip and a high-end social club. It worked. Today, it’s one of the premier sporting clay destinations in the Midwest, but it has this weird, wonderful mix of muddy boots and fine dining that you don’t really see anywhere else in the Twin Cities metro.
The Reality of Sporting Clays on 600 Acres
Most people come here for the sporting clays. If you’ve never done it, think of it like golf with a shotgun. You walk a trail—often through thick woods or rolling hills—and stop at different stations. At each one, mechanical traps launch clay disks at different angles. Some fly like a duck landing in water; others roll along the ground like a rabbit.
It’s hard. Like, really hard.
The Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club takes pride in its course design. They have five different sporting clay courses. That’s a lot. They change the "throw" of the targets constantly so that even the members who show up every Tuesday morning don't get bored. You might find yourself shooting over a pond one minute and then aiming into a tight gap in the hardwoods the next. It keeps you humble.
One thing that surprises people is the scale. You aren't cramped. You can spend two hours out on the "High Drive" course and barely see another group if the timing is right. It’s that sense of isolation that makes it feel like a true escape from the 35W traffic just a few miles away.
More Than Just a Gun Club
Let’s talk about the "Horse" part of the name. It’s not just a branding exercise. The equestrian side of the club is substantial. They have miles of groomed trails that wind through the same 600 acres used for hunting. It’s a strange harmony. You’d think the horses and the gunfire wouldn't mix, but they’ve been doing this for decades; the horses are seasoned professionals.
They offer boarding, which is a huge deal for local riders who want access to private trails without having to haul their trailers to a state park every weekend. The indoor and outdoor arenas are massive. If you've ever tried to exercise a horse during a Minnesota January, you know that a heated indoor arena is basically a gift from the gods.
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Then there’s the hunting. This is a licensed shooting preserve.
In Minnesota, the wild pheasant population can be... finicky. At the Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club, they release birds—pheasants, chukar, and quail—into managed fields. Critics sometimes call this "canned hunting," but for the guy who works 60 hours a week and has a young bird dog that needs practice, it’s an essential resource. You get a guaranteed "flush." You get to see your dog work. The season here also runs much longer than the standard state-regulated seasons, usually from September all the way through March. When the rest of the state is hunkered down, people are still out in the fields here in orange vests.
The Lodge and the "Hunt Club" Vibe
You walk into the pavilion or the main lodge and the first thing you notice is the taxidermy. It’s everywhere. Massive elk heads, pheasants in mid-flight, bears. It smells like woodsmoke and gun oil.
The restaurant, Morgan’s on the Hill, is actually decent. It’s not just "concession stand" food. We're talking about wild game specials, thick steaks, and a bar that feels like it belongs in a Northwoods cabin from the 1940s. It’s a popular spot for weddings, which sounds crazy until you see the hilltop views. You’ll see a bride in a white dress taking photos in one field while, half a mile away, someone is working a Lab through a marsh. It’s a vibe.
Membership vs. Public Access
A common misconception is that you have to be a high-society member to set foot on the property. Not true.
While it is a private club with various membership tiers—ranging from individual sporting memberships to full-blown corporate packages—the public can actually access a lot of it. You can pay "daily" rates for sporting clays or eat at the restaurant.
Why bother with membership then? * Discounted rounds: If you shoot more than once a month, the math starts to favor the membership pretty quickly.
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- The Locker Room: There’s a specific culture in the member areas. It’s where the real networking happens.
- Priority Fields: During the height of pheasant season, members get the best fields at the best times.
Honestly, the membership is about community. It’s a bunch of people who obsess over over-under shotguns and the quality of their dog’s pointing.
The Events That Define the Place
If you want to see the club at its most chaotic and fun, you show up for the big events. The "Game Fair" isn't held here (that's usually at Armstrong's in Anoka), but the Horse and Hunt holds its own massive shoots and charity events.
The National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) sanctioned shoots bring in the "pros." These guys show up with shotguns that cost more than a mid-sized sedan. Watching them hit a 40-yard crosser in high wind is a lesson in physics and hand-eye coordination.
But they also do things like the "Ladies' Day" events and youth shooting clinics. It’s important. The hunting demographic is aging, and the club knows it. They are aggressive about getting kids involved through high school trap leagues. Seeing a 14-year-old outshoot a 50-year-old veteran is a common occurrence on the trap range.
What Most People Get Wrong About Hunting Preserves
There’s this idea that hunting at a place like the Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club is "easy."
It’s not.
Sure, the birds are released, but 600 acres is a lot of ground. If you don't have a good dog, those pheasants will outrun you. They’ll hunker down in the tall switchgrass and you’ll walk right past them. It’s still a physical workout. You’re still trekking through snow and mud.
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Also, the ethics. The club is a massive proponent of conservation. They manage the land strictly to provide habitat. Without places like this, a lot of the fringe land in Prior Lake would have been turned into another cookie-cutter housing development years ago. They keep the green space green.
Practical Advice for Your First Visit
If you’re thinking about heading out there, don’t just show up and expect to wing it.
- Call ahead for a tee time. Yes, even for shooting. Especially on weekends. The sporting clay courses fill up.
- Bring your own ear and eye pro. They have them for rent/sale, but you’ll feel like less of a "newbie" if you have your own.
- Don't worry about your gear. You'll see guys with $20,000 Perazzis and guys with $400 Remington 870 pump-actions. Nobody actually cares what you're shooting as long as you're safe.
- Safety is obsessive. If you break a safety rule (like walking with a closed action), you will be corrected immediately. It’s not personal; it’s how they stay in business.
The Cultural Shift
The club is in a weird spot geographically. Prior Lake is growing fast. What used to be "out in the sticks" is now uncomfortably close to new construction. This creates a tension that the club manages by being a "good neighbor." They’ve implemented noise abatement strategies and work closely with the city.
It represents a slice of Minnesota heritage that is slowly disappearing. As family farms get sold off, the "back 40" where people used to hunt for free is gone. Places like the Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club are becoming the last bastions for this kind of lifestyle. It’s curated, sure. It’s managed. But it’s better than the alternative of not having it at all.
Whether you're there for the 3D archery range, the pistol pits, or just a heavy steak at Morgan's, you're participating in a very specific type of Midwestern culture. It’s rugged but comfortable.
Actionable Next Steps
If you want to experience the club without committing to a full membership or a $500 hunting package, here is exactly how to do it:
- The "Discovery" Round: Go on a weekday morning. Pay the guest fee for a round of 50 or 100 sporting clays. It's the cheapest way to see the majority of the property.
- Check the Calendar: Look for the "Registered Shoots." Even if you aren't shooting, watching the top-tier competitors is free and genuinely impressive.
- The Dinner Strategy: Go for dinner at Morgan's on the Hill on a Friday night. You don't need to be a member to eat there. It'll give you a feel for the crowd and the atmosphere without needing to touch a firearm.
- Dog Training: If you have a hunting dog, look into their "Training Memberships." It’s often the most cost-effective way to get access to the grounds and bird pens for focused work.
The Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club survives because it isn't just one thing. It’s a restaurant, a wedding venue, a horse stable, and a shooting range. In an era where niche businesses struggle, their "everything under one roof" approach to the outdoors has made them a Prior Lake staple that isn't going anywhere.