Shooting

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A man looks through a sight on his rifle at a shooting range.
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Whether you’re honing your skills for hunting or testing your prowess for the fun of it, the sport of shooting is directly tied to conservation. The Missouri Department of Conservation has shooters covered with resources for all different skill levels.

Looking for a shooting range? Find an MDC shooting range near you.

New to shooting and looking for instruction? Find educational opportunities through MDC.

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Guidelines for Shooting at MDC Shooting Ranges

Tips To Be Safe and Courteous at a Shooting Range:

  • Wear eye and ear protection when using firearms or when you are near others who are using firearms.
  • Only use paper targets; attach the targets to the provided target stands.
  • Remove your own litter, including used targets and empty hulls.
  • Don’t shoot or handle a firearm when anyone is downrange of the shooting line.

Four Fundamental Rules of Firearm Safety. Always:

  1. Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
  2. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
  3. Keep the safety on until you are ready to shoot.
  4. Be 100 percent certain of your target and what is beyond it before you shoot.
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Types of MDC Shooting Ranges

Unstaffed Shooting Ranges

Unstaffed ranges on MDC areas offer opportunities for shooters to practice their shooting skills at their own pace. No fee required.

Staffed Shooting Ranges and Outdoor Education Centers

Staffed shooting ranges and outdoor education centers help you become a sharper, safer hunter or outdoors person regardless of your experience or skill level. Our staff of specialists and trained volunteers can help you or your group master firearms and archery. The centers also host educational public programming on many other outdoor skills.

Fees and reservations at staffed MDC shooting ranges

Rifle/pistol range use is $5 per hour. Shotgun sports, where available, are $5 per round. All fees are payable only by cash or check.

Staffed shooting range and outdoor education centers are available for group use by purchasing a special use permit for $20 per hour. For details about reservations and using the centers, call the center.

Find an MDC shooting range near you.

Great Places For Shooting

Events

Find events near you.
Registration period: April 22 - May 9
Date: Thursday, May 9, 2024 6:00 pm - Thursday, May 9, 2024 8:00 pm
Location: Online only
Ropes have the potential to be the worst bane or the best friend of the outdoorsman. By learning a few simple knots, you can quickly learn to secure your gear, pitch your tent, tie your tarp, or manage whatever else the outdoors throws at you. Grab your own rope so you can tie along.
Registration period: April 27 - May 10
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024 8:00 am - Saturday, May 11, 2024 9:30 am
Location: Jay Henges Shooting Range

Join our instructors as we learn the fundamentals of shooting archery. This program begins in the Education Center then moves to the static archery range. This is a fun program for the entire family, ages 9 and up

Registration period: December 7 - May 10
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024 8:30 am - Saturday, May 11, 2024 11:30 am
Location: Andy Dalton Shooting Range

Join us to discover the basics of responsible handgun ownership and the joys of shooting. We will cover safety, handgun nomenclature, sight picture, sight alignment, breath control, trigger squeeze, and much more. During the live fire portion, .22 handguns and ammunition will be provided. If you plan to use your own, bring a minimum of 50 rounds of new ammunition for your firearm. Make sure all firearms are unloaded before arriving at the range. There should be no live ammunition, or uncased firearms inside the classroom. Please leave all firearms in the vehicle until the class is dismissed including all concealed carry handguns and magazines.

Registration period: December 7 - May 10
Date: Sunday, May 12, 2024 3:00 pm - Sunday, May 12, 2024 4:30 pm
Location: Andy Dalton Shooting Range

Parents, grandparents, and adult mentors bring your youngster(s) to learn a new skill and spend time practicing. You don’t have to be a hunter to become a skilled archer. No experience is necessary and archery equipment will be provided. We will teach and practice the basics, helping you perfect your stance to shoot more consistently and accurately.

Registration period: April 17 - May 10
Date: Monday, May 13, 2024 5:30 pm - Monday, May 13, 2024 7:00 pm
Location: Jay Henges Shooting Range
An atlatl is an ancient tool used to throw a light spear known as a dart. This program will focus on practicing technique during sport target shooting for beginners. Information about different styles of atlatls and darts will also be covered.
Registration period: April 13 - May 12
Date: Saturday, May 18, 2024 8:00 am - Saturday, May 18, 2024 11:00 am
Location: August A Busch Shooting Range
This event will cover how to get started in bowfishing including equipment, legal fish, safety, where to go, and more. The attendees of this event will be taken on a mentored Bowfishing day. Participants must attend the Bowfishing classroom portion on May 13th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in order to attend the live event. All necessary equipment will be provided. The site of the program is to be determined.
Date: Saturday, May 18, 2024 8:00 am - Saturday, May 18, 2024 4:30 pm
Location: Maramec Spring Hatchery
MDC will provide a staffed archery range and equipment for youth and families to experience the joy of archery during the Kids Fishing Day at Maramec Spring Hatchery & Park. No registration required.
Registration period: January 1 - May 16
Date: Saturday, May 18, 2024 9:00 am - Saturday, May 18, 2024 1:00 pm
Location: Parma Woods Shooting Range
Registration period: April 11 - May 17
Date: Saturday, May 18, 2024 9:30 am - Saturday, May 18, 2024 11:00 am
Location: J. Thad Ray Memorial Wildlife Area

Come learn how to shoot archery! Archery is a safe and fun sport for everyone. All levels of abilities welcome but these events are geared for novices, 8-year-old to adults. Class Size is limited to provide for one-on-one instruction.

All equipment will be supplied. Please show up in sturdy, closed toe shoes. We will meet at the Static Archery Range on J. Thad Ray Conservation Area. Park at the parking lot and follow the mowed trail around to the left.

Registration period: May 1 - May 16
Date: Saturday, May 18, 2024 10:00 am - Saturday, May 18, 2024 2:00 pm
Location: United Sportsmen's Club
Come to the range to improve your shotgun shooting for hunting. This is a free workshop that will help migratory and upland bird hunters improve their hunting skills with non-toxic shot. Topics include how to select the best ammunition and choke combination for hunting, how to improve your shooting skills, general information on the latest non-toxic shotgun ammunition, how to improve your range & distance estimation skills, and how to properly pattern your shotgun. There will be a presentation inside followed by clay bird shooting and shotgun patterning. Bring your own shotgun that you typically use hunting. We will provide ammunition for you. Please leave all firearms your vehicle until the shooting portion begins. We will break for lunch inside the classroom. Bring your own lunch and any drinks.