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Welcome to the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area Shooting Range & Outdoor Education Center Web page!

Individual use will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Group use at the range complexes must be scheduled one month in advance with the Outdoor Education Center at ext. 251 (range) by obtaining and  submitting a permit request.

Area 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

–Notice–

Busch Rifle and Pistol Range Open

The Busch Shooting Range's 100-yard rifle and pistol range has been renovated and is open for shooting.


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 Special Topics:

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.

Field 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.

Range 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

Events for Saturday, May 17 - Friday, August 15, 2008
Event and Date Location Reserve by:
Kids Fishing Fair
Saturday, May 17, 2008
August A. Busch Conservation Area
Basic Archery for the Family
Saturday, May 17, 2008
August A. Busch Archery Range Tuesday, May 13
Womens Basic Shotgun
Wednesday, May 21 – Thursday, May 22, 2008
August A. Busch Shooting Range Saturday, May 17
Leaping Frogs
Saturday, May 24, 2008
August A. Busch Conservation Area Friday, May 23
Digital Camera Scavenger Hunt
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
August A. Busch Conservation Area Tuesday, May 27
GO FISH!--Basic Fishing III
Saturday, May 31, 2008
August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area Friday, May 30
Women¿s Introduction to Trap Shooting
Wednesday, June 4 – Thursday, June 5, 2008
August A. Busch C.A. Sunday, June 1
GO FISH!-Basic Fishing I
Thursday, June 5, 2008
August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area-Lake15 Wednesday, June 4
NRA Range Safeety Officer Class
Saturday, June 7, 2008
August A. Busch C.A. Monday, June 2
Hunter Education Day Camp
Monday, June 9 – Friday, June 13, 2008
August A. Busch C.A. Sunday, June 1
Women's Introduction to Skeet Shooting
Wednesday, June 18 – Thursday, June 19, 2008
August A. Busch C.A. Sunday, June 15
GO FISH!-Basic Fishing II
Sunday, June 22, 2008
August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area-Lake15 Friday, June 20
Archery Day Camp
Monday, June 23 – Wednesday, June 25, 2008
August A. Busch C.A. Friday, June 20
Women's Introduction to Handguns
Tuesday, June 24 – Wednesday, June 25, 2008
August A. Busch C.A. Friday, June 20
GO FISH!-Basic Fishing III
Thursday, June 26, 2008
August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area-Lake 15 Wednesday, June 25
GO FISH!-Fishing with Lures
Sunday, June 29, 2008
August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area-Lake 15 Friday, June 27
Basic Trap Camp
Tuesday, July 1 – Thursday, July 3, 2008
August A. Busch Shooting Range Friday, June 27
B.S.A. Rifle Merit Badge Program
Monday, July 7 – Thursday, July 10, 2008
August A. Busch Shooting Range Thursday, July 3
Youth .22 Rifle
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
August A. Busch Shooting Range Sunday, July 13
Begining Archery
Saturday, July 19, 2008
August A. Busch Archery Range Tuesday, July 15
Basic Skeet Camp
Tuesday, July 22 – Thursday, July 24, 2008
August A. Busch Shooting Range Friday, July 18