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.
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:
- Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
- Keep the safety on until you are ready to shoot.
- Be 100 percent certain of your target and what is beyond it before you shoot.
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.
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.
Great Places for
Events
MDC Staff will open the Deer Ridge Trap house for anyone to practice their shotgun shooting skills. Prior shotgun shooting experience a must, this opportunity is for people looking to practice their shooting ability, whether for trap shooting or to get ready for upcoming hunting seasons.
Participants must: bring their own shotgun, ammo, eye and ear protection, and register online.
MDC will provide one round of 25 clay targets per person registered. Additional rounds may be available, depending on number of participants.
11 -17-year-olds are REQUIRED to have an adult with them throughout their time on the range.
Learn the basics of hunting the whitetail deer. We will cover scouting, setup, taking the shot and much more.
Come join us for a relaxing evening of archery. This program is for new archers or those wishing to improve their skills.
We will learn the steps to making a great archery shot, shoot bullseye and 3D targets, and even win some prizes for archery games!
We have bows appropriate for all users!
Title: Introduction to Hunting Woodcock in the Ozarks
Where: Ozark Research Field Station Missouri S&T
Address: 16300 County Road 7550 Newburg, MO 65550
Time: Sunday, October 18th: 4:30 to 6:30 PM
Agenda:
- Classroom - Woodcock Biology
- Basic needs to woodcock hunt (permits, gear, etc)
- E-scouting
- Introduction to Bird Dogs
- Field – walk along Mill Creek on Bohigian CA
Wear appropriate outwear and boots (rain or shine) for field walk. Any questions should be addressed to program presenter Nick Girondo at: Nick.Girondo@mdc.mo.gov