State sponsored shooting range

[oldman45]

Does your state have a State sponsored shooting range?

I was talking with a doctor this week about our shooting and he told me he is shooting at a State gun range for civilians. They have hand gun, rifle and shotgun ranges. All targets are furnished by the State. The range master is paid by the State. There are bathrooms and other facilities there. He says it is very nice and both he and his wife shoot there often when they are not shooting in matches elsewhere.

All this was news to me. I did not know there was such anywhere in the state and had never heard of it or been around it. This week end, if I am not called out, I will go out there and try it out.

It is all suprising to me since I figured with budget cuts and limited revenue, this type place would be the first to be cut.

 

[son-of-a-gun]

Indiana

DNR: Shooting Range Hours

 

[oldman45]

Indiana

DNR: Shooting Range Hours

That site seems to show some nice areas. Knowing the government as I do, I could not believe a state government was supplying us with places to shoot and targets without charge.

 

[bushmaster1313]

PA had a primitive range in the state gamelands outside of Pittsburgh 28 years ago.

 

[son-of-a-gun]

That site seems to show some nice areas. Knowing the government as I do, I could not believe a state government was supplying us with places to shoot and targets without charge.

You have to bring your own targets at some of the ranges.

I believe you can purchase them at Atterbury.

I also believe the Atterbury Shooting Complex is privately run.

 

[HAWKEYE10]

We have state ranges in Tennessee. The range officers are volunteers. They are very strict on safety, I mean really strict. You would not believe the people that will not go there because of strict safety rules. I have no problem with safety. Don

 

[teesur]

Where, in Louisiana, is this range located?
Thanks.
teesur.

 

[oldman45]

Where, in Louisiana, is this range located?
Thanks.
teesur.

It is located to the west of the northern end of Bodcau Dam near Belvue, LA This is east of Benton, LA.

I was told by the doctor that everything is furnished except gun and ammo. The range furnishes instruction, assistance, targets, eye and hearing protection, bench rest, chairs, sandbags and anything else a shooter might need.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Tennessee has several. The one close here is Prentice Cooper. 50 and 100yd shooting ranges and a pistol range too. All covered with about 15 cement shooting stations. Timed automatic gate for range operating hours, no fees or range officer.

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency - Firing Ranges

 

[Erich]

City-run: Shooting Range Park - Open Space - City of Albuquerque

 

[ohiococonut]

Ohio has several of them but they don't all allow the same weapons or have the same facilities.

Shooting Ranges Throughout Ohio

I live about 10min. from Woodbury which is also part of the largest game reserve in the state. The cost is $5/day or $24/yr. It's also the nicest state run range. They provide target stands but not the targets.

 

[oldman45]

Ohio has several of them but they don't all allow the same weapons or have the same facilities.

Shooting Ranges Throughout Ohio

I live about 10min. from Woodbury which is also part of the largest game reserve in the state. The cost is $5/day or $24/yr. It's also the nicest state run range. They provide target stands but not the targets.

That is the good part here. The state furnishes the targets, the range (hand gun, rifle (out to 200 yds) and shotgun lanes), the rangemaster, instructor and anything other than the gun and ammo all for free. No charge. Nothing, Zilch.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

Many, but not most, of the Game lands in Pennsylvania have shooting ranges. Most seem to be on the PGL's nearer the more populated areas of the state. They are pretty basic. Uncovered shooting benches, no toilet facilities or range masters, and mostly set up with the target butts at longer ranges for rifle shooting. There are two within 10 miles of my house in the Carlisle area. They used to be open to the public but just this year it has been a requirement to hold either a hunting license or range permit. I have used them quite often, though now I belong to a local Fish and Game and use the range there. The public ranges are very busy in the fall. I've never had a problem at the PGL ranges but there have been some issues in the past with lurkers stealing unattended firearms while the owners were down range checking targets. There was also a murder at the range north of Carlisle last year. A shooter was shot for his semi auto target rife by an individual who apparently was also responsible for several other thefts at the same range over the past few years. When the perpetrator was caught, he was a state prison guard of all things, he claimed he was accumulating the guns to arm an uprising against the government. He is either a wacko, or desires to be seen as one for his defense. The case has yet to come to trial. These instances are the exception rather than the norm. When I use the public ranges I always go with another so someone is always at the bench with the guns when targets are placed or checked.
John

 

[jlrhiner]

Missouri has quite a few, from unattended spots with hill type backstops all the way up to nice shooting complexes. (I believe you have to provide your own targets or buy them at the complexes.)

 

[JM4151]

Pennsylvania Game Commission Ranges

Pa has a series of state game land ranges thru out the state. To use them you either need a current hunting license or a range permit that costs $30.00 for the year. All have rifle and pistol ranges, and some have shotgun ranges. The Pa Game Commission web site can give you more information.
John Murphy

 

[mkk41]

PA had a primitive range in the state gamelands outside of Pittsburgh 28 years ago.

Many of PA's State Game lands have ranges. For many years , they were open to the public. But after years of vandalism and beligerant damage by the 'assualt rifle' crowd , many were closed. They'd just spray aand chew up the target posts , litter and generally wreck havoc. Many game lands also have housing so complaints shut some down. So did concerns about lead in ground water.

The PA Game Comission has rebuilt several ranges , and now ya need a PA Hunting License to use the ranges , or buy range permit.

I actually applaude this decision. These ranges were never really public in the manner that they were not paid for by tax money. They were funded strictly by Game Comission funds from the sale of hunting licenses. They are for use by hunters to use hunting legal firearms and semi-autos are not allowed for hunting in PA.

 

[novalty]

Have one in Maine fairly close to where I live. It is a State sponsored range, but you have to bring your own targets. They 4 or so benched with covers over them. The last time I stopped to check it out, the place was a mess--people leaving spent cases, targets, and trash.

 

[truckemup97]

The only one around here that I know about is unmanned, in one of the WMAs near Okmulgee. It's about 40 miles away, so I've not ventured down there to shoot. You have to have a current hunting license in case the ranger stops by to see who is shooting. Other than that, it's free. There's room for two or three shooters on two ranges, one long and one short.

 

[Freischütz]

Alaska Dept of Fish and Game has ranges in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau.

 

[yaktamer]

Arizona Game and Fish operates a range on the edge of Phoenix and leases another to a private club (open to public) near Mesa. They have plans to open another near Flagstaff.