Ranges

Target Range Development & Operations

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program 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 excise tax through the Pittman-Robertson Act, the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program can provide grants for shooting range construction and improvement as well as technical advice on project design and execution. 

Spring 2024 Handout Update

Target Range Development and Operations

A 5-page graphical handout that summarizes current WSFR-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 March 2024.

Wildlife Restoration (WR) 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. Ohio Division of Wildlife offers five firearms range examples, while Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources presents three archery range examples. Click below to learn more:

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.

Image of the Blacks Creek Shooting Range.
Featured Range Video

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 WSFR-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.

StoryMap

Creating Opportunities through Public Target Ranges

Constructing, Enhancing & Maintaining Public Target Ranges with Pittman-Robertson (PR) Funds

Due to the strong partnerships among state fish and wildlife agencies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the firearms, archery and ammunition manufacturers, the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program can provide grants for shooting range construction and improvement as well as technical advice on project design and execution. Follow along with this StoryMap to learn about what needs to be considered when developing a target range grant using PR funds.

WSFR Funded Target Shooting Ranges in the United States

Wildlife Restoration funds (manufacturer’s 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.

Image with three colored boxes, yellow, red, and green

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.

Target Range Development and Operations

A 5-page graphical handout that summarizes current WSFR-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 March 2024.

Image of the Assessing the Quality and Availability of Hunting and Shooting Access in the United States report.

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.

Image of the NSSF Small Range Grants report.

NSSF Small Range Grants

A 12-page primer on using Wildlife Restoration Hunter Education funds for range development, with examples and frequently asked questions. 

Image of the ATA Archery Park Development Guide.

ATA Archery Park Development Guide

A 49-page guide with tips, design recommendations and case studies for building community archery parks.

Image of the Range Sourcebook

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.

Image of the Considerations in Range Cleaning SAAMI Report

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.

Image of the WSFR Shooting Range Program Road Map.

WSFR Shooting Range Program Road Map

A 23-page overview of WSFR’s Program for the Development and Renovation of Shooting Ranges and Facilities.

Image of the WSFR Funding Public Target Ranges reference guide.

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. 

Image of the 4 Sources of Authorized Funding and Eligible Uses diagram.

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. 

Image of the NEPA and grant compliance process from WSFR

Compliance Process Guidance from WSFR

23-page walkthrough document for NEPA and grant compliance processes. 

For more detail on specific range programs and polices, please contact us here.