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OZARK, Mo. – For the second time this summer, flood damage caused by heavy rain has forced the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) to temporarily close the unstaffed shooting range at the Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area in Christian County. Flooding caused by Friday morning's heavy rain damaged the bridge connecting the parking area to the range. Rushing water also scoured out areas of the parking lot and left debris strewn across the parking area and the range.
The hiking trails at the 2,502-acre Busiek Area are still open to the public but hikers should note that accessibility to parts of some of the area's trails may have also been affected by Friday's rain.
This is the second time the Busiek Area Range has been a victim of the elements. In early July, flood damage resulting from heavy rains closed the facility for a brief period of time.
The Busiek Area Range is one of a number of unstaffed shooting ranges MDC operates across the state. Other MDC unstaffed ranges in southwest Missouri that have firearm opportunities (some ranges are archery-only) can be found at Flag Spring Conservation Area (Barry County), Fort Crowder Conservation Area (Newton County), Lead Mine Conservation Area (Dallas County), and Pleasant Hope Conservation Area (Polk County). A complete list of MDC's unstaffed shooting ranges in the state can be found at mdc.mo.gov/node/4460.
In addition to these unstaffed facilities, the Andy Dalton Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center in Greene County is one of five staffed shooting ranges MDC operates in the state. Information about the Dalton Range can be found at mdc.mo.gov/node/288.
