Target Ranges
Development & Operations
The Office of Conservation Investment works with State fish and wildlife agencies and other partners to provide safe, public shooting opportunities for millions of people nationwide. Thanks to long-standing partnerships among state agencies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the firearms, archery and ammunition manufacturers who pay federal excise tax through the Pittman-Robertson Act, the Office of Conservation Investment can provide grants for shooting range construction and improvement as well as technical advice on project design and execution.
Target Range Development and Operations
A 6-page graphical handout that summarizes current WR-supported ranges, new grants proposed since 2019’s Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act, and links to resources for range funding and development. Last updated September 2024.
WR Funded Target Shooting Ranges in the United States
Wildlife Restoration funds (manufacturer’s federal excise taxes) generated from the sale of firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment, support the construction, operation, and maintenance of over 800 public target ranges in the United States. Explore these ranges with this interactive map by clicking on one of the dots for more information.
Wildlife Restoration Grant Examples
Discover how federal funding can help state fish and wildlife agencies construct firearms and archery target shooting ranges through the Wildlife Restoration Act.
Target Ranges
Growing Opportunities
Last summer, Minnesota hosted the world’s largest trap shooting championship with more than 340 high schools teams participating and representing over 7,900 student athletes in attendance. All competitors from a school compete on the same team and follow the same rules, allowing all genders and adaptive athletes to compete on the same “playing field.”
Example: Black's Creek, ID
Black’s Creek Public Shooting Range (BCR), located just southeast of Boise, is the largest and most visited target range in Idaho, providing safe target practice opportunities for more than 10,000 hunters and target shooters each year. Over the last several years, Wildlife Restoration funds helped to: build the range’s main building, build 2 berms along different portions of the range, replace two roofs over the main range and the hunter education shooting range, and improve accessibility by providing an ADA compliant restroom. So far, IDFG has invested over $800,000 of state and federal funds to ensure a safe, accessible, and enjoyable experience for all.
Shooting Ranges for All
An interview about ADA-compliant ranges in Idaho
Brenda Beckley, Hunter and Angler Recruitment Manager for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, tells us about WR-funded shooting ranges in Idaho that have been modified so that people with all kinds of abilities can use them. These ranges are referred to as ADA-compliant shooting ranges, which means that they adhere to the rules of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Helpful Resources
Below you will find a series of resources to help guide State fish and wildlife agency staff and their partners in planning and executing shooting range projects with Wildlife Restoration funding.
Assessing the Quality and Availability of Hunting and Shooting Access in the United States
A 377-page report by the NSSF presented as part of an overarching assessment of the quality and availability of hunting and sport shooting access in the United States.
NSSF Small Range Grants
A 12-page primer on using Wildlife Restoration Hunter Education funds for range development, with examples and frequently asked questions.
ATA Archery Park Development Guide
A 49-page guide with tips, design recommendations and case studies for building community archery parks.
NRA Range Sourcebook
A 27-chapter technical manual and guide to planning and construction of shooting ranges. Available as part of the NRA’s Range Development and Operations Course.
Considerations in Range Cleaning
A 2-page review of areas that must be taken into consideration when conducting range cleaning to ensure the safety of range personnel, employees, and those handling the waste stream for collection, transport, and disposal.
WSFR Shooting Range Program Road Map
A 23-page overview of WSFR’s Program for the Development and Renovation of Shooting Ranges and Facilities.
Funding Public Target Ranges
A 1-page quick reference guide to each WSFR funding source for public ranges, with state/federal cost share and eligible activities describes for each source.
Diagram: 4 Sources of Authorized Funding and Eligible Uses
A 2-page document with a diagram of funding mechanisms and eligible uses of each mechanism under the Wildlife Restoration Act.
Compliance Process Guidance from WSFR
23-page walkthrough document for NEPA and grant compliance processes.