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August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area Shooting Range & Outdoor Education Center Links

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• Hunter Education

Address Information

• August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area Shooting Range & Outdoor Education Center
  3500 Highway D
  Defiance, MO 63341
  (636) 300-1953 ext. 251
  or
  (636) 441-4554 for registration

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Notice

The Busch Shooting range will be closed Mon. thru. Fri. from June 29th until July 26th. The Range will be open on the weekends, including July 4th for trap, skeet, shotgun patterning, and the Archery.

Fees

Rifle/Pistol Range

$3 for one shooting booth for one hour and any fraction of an hour. One-hour time limit when a waiting line exists. 10-point, 100-yard covered individual shooting booths with target lines at 25, 50, 75, and 100 yards and 9-Point, 25 yard covered individual shooting booths with target lines at 7, 15, and 25 yards. Limited seating is provided for spectators behind each booth. Paper bull’s-eye targets provided.

Trap & Skeet Fields

$3 per round (25 targets), per person. Limit two rounds or one hour which ever occurs first per person when there is a waiting line. Clay targets are provided. Squadding into groups of 5-shooters when there is a waiting line is required. Two trap fields and one combination trap/skeet field overlay are available. Clay targets and instructional guidance is provided on each range.

Shotgun Patterning Range

$3 per person for every set of three 40 inch patterning targets. One hour time limit when waiting line exists. Firing distances of 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 yards. Paper patterning targets, wooden target frame, bench rest and seat are provided.

Broadhead Archery Pit Ranges

$3 per hour per person, one hour time limit when waiting line exists. 3-D and special targets for use of broadhead hunting tips are in place. Field tips can be used.

Tree Stand Practice Poles

Free for individual users to practice hanging and climbing with their tree stand. Must follow stand manufacture instructions and proper safety belts must be used. Groups must call the center for a special use permit.

Field Archery Ranges

(located on the main Busch Area) Free for individual users. Groups larger than 10-persons must call the range for a special use permit. One static archery range with six positions at 10 to 40 yards including an 8 foot elevated platform to simulate shooting from a tree stand and 4-field walking trails with 14-shooting points on each. Target butts provided. Target and field tips only—no broadheads or broadhead practice tips!

Range Hours

Range Hours

Friday thru Monday: 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. and Tuesdays - 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Shooting Range Complex

Closed Wednesdays and Thursdays, state and federal holidays, and special events. These hours are subject to change. Please call the range/center for updated hours.

Holiday Closings 2008-2009:

• Nov. 11th, 27th & 28th
• Dec. 25th & 26th
• Jan. 1st

Field Archery Ranges

Archery ranges on the Main Busch CA Area are open year-round from sunrise to sunset.  Some ranges may be closed on various days for maintenance or a special event when needed.

Facilities

• 10-point, 100-yard covered individual shooting booths with target lines at 25, 50, 75, and 100 yards and 9-Point, 25 yard covered individual shooting booths with target lines at 7, 15, and 25 yards. Range is for use of semi-automatic and single action center fire rifles less than .50 caliber, blackpowder rifles and handguns, airguns, centerfire handguns, and shotguns with slugs. Bench rests and seats are provided for shooters. Shooting is limited to bench or standing positions. Each booth is limited to two people in the booth at a time with only one of these individuals handling any firearm at one time.  Limited seating is provided for spectators behind each booth. Eye and ear protection is required on all shooting ranges and is available upon request at no charge.
• Two 16-yard American Singles Trap Fields and one American Skeet Field are available. Clay birds are provided, but you must provide your own firearm and ammunition, which is limited to shotguns 12 gauge or smaller and shell shot size of 7 or smaller. Limited seating is provided for spectators at each range. Eye and ear protection is required on all shooting ranges and is available upon request at no charge.
• One Shotgun Patterning Range located on the east side of the shooting range facility. A patterning board, shooting bench, seat, rest, and targets are provided. Target shooting is allowed from 20 to 40 yards.  Limited seating is provided for spectators at the range. Eye and ear protection is required on all shooting ranges and is available upon request at no charge.
• 2-Archery Broadhead Pit Ranges located beside the Skeet range, field tips may be used too.  Shooting lines are located at 10, 15, 20, 25, & 30 yards from targets.  Limited seating is provided for spectators behind each range. Eye protection is required on this range and is available upon request at no charge.
• 4-Tree Stand Practice Poles, for those individuals to practice hanging and climbing with their tree stand. Safety is paramount and users must follow safety at all times and must follow stand manufacture instructions and proper safety belts must be used.
• Five Field Archery Ranges (located on the main Busch area), one static range with includes an 8 foot tower to simulate shooting from a tree stand, and four walking field courses with fourteen shooting points on each. Target butts are provided, shooters must provide proper paper or 3-D targets.
• Both areas have picnic tables free for visitors to use.
• We have a 19-point, covered rifle/pistol/airgun bench range with target sockets at 15 yds., 25 yds., 50 yds., 75 yds., and 100 yds. Bench rests and seats are provided for shooters and limited seating is available for spectators. Paper targets and target stands are provided. Eye and ear protection is required and is available upon request at no charge.
• We have two Trap Fields and one Skeet Field. We provide the clay birds, but you must provide your own ammunition.
• We have one shotgun patterning range located on the east side of the shooting range facility. A patterning board and targets are provided.
• We have 5 Archery ranges, 1-Static Range which includes an 8 ft tower to simulate shooting from and tree stand and 4 walking field courses. We provide the target butts, shooters must provide proper paper or 3-D targets.

Regulations

• Persons drinking under the influence of alcohol will not be permitted on range.
• Possession of alcohol on any MDC range or adjoining parking areas and facilities is illegal.
• Fees must be paid before using range.
• Eye and ear protection is required on all shooting ranges and is available upon request at no charge
• Guns should remain unloaded with actions locked open until ready to shoot on firing line.
• Keep muzzle pointed in a safe direction - -straight up and down range.
• Treat every firearm as if it were loaded.
• Obey "cease fire" commands promptly. Unload all firearms and lock actions open.
• No more than two people in a booth at any given time.
• Remove brass, hulls, shot targets, extra targets and litter from ranges before leaving.
• There is no smoking within 50 yards of any the firing line.
• All shooters 15 years of age and under must have adult (18+) supervision.
• Gun dogs brought for training must be kept on leash at all times and 25 foot from shotgun ranges. Gun dogs are not allowed around rifle/pistol range. No house pets allowed.
• Any infraction of the range rules could result in immediate loss of range privileges without refund.
• Bench and standing firing positions only on rifle/pistol range.
• No fully automatic or burst capable firearms allowed and no drawing from holsters.
• No broadheads or broadhead practice tips allowed to be used on the field archery ranges.
• Center fire rifle cartridges limited to less than .50 caliber

Programs

A variety of firearm, archery, hunting, and related programs and clinics are conducted for youths and adults throughout the year. These courses are offered at no cost and equipment is provided for some, free of charge. For additional information, call the numbers listed on the main range page.

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