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.
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 $4 per hour. Shotgun sports, where available, are $4 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.
Date:
Thursday, March 23, 2023 5:30 pm - Thursday, March 23, 2023 8:00 pm
Location:
Parma Woods Shooting Range
Turkey hunting is a great way to spend time with family and friends while enjoying nature in spring. This workshop is designed to teach participants how to more successfully hunt the wild turkey. We’ll discuss turkey biology, hunting equipment, regulations and strategies that will make you a more confident turkey hunter.
Date:
Saturday, March 25, 2023 8:30 am - Saturday, March 25, 2023 11:30 am
Location:
Andy Dalton Shooting Range
Join us to discover the basics of turkey hunting in the spring. We will cover safety, scouting, calling, proper setup, shotgun ballistics, and much more.
Date:
Saturday, March 25, 2023 9:00 am - Saturday, March 25, 2023 1:00 pm
Location:
August A Busch Shooting Range
This skills session will satisfy part two of Missouri Hunter Education requirements. To obtain hunter education certification you must also attend part one (online, self-study, or a classroom session) and bring along your skills session qualifier certificate or a student manual with the review questions completed.
*Students 15 and under must also bring a copy of their birth certificate or other proof of age. The final exam will be administered at the end of the skills session.
Please arrive a minimum of 15 minutes before the beginning of the class to complete registration; late arrivals will not be admitted so please arrive early.
In the event of a cancellation, you will be contacted by email and/or phone. Note: Students who are 16 and over and have completed the all-online Hunter Education course are certified and do not need to attend an in-person skills session.
Class is at the St. Charles Police Department at 1781 Zumbehl Rd, St Charles, MO 63303.
Date:
Saturday, March 25, 2023 9:00 am - Saturday, March 25, 2023 12:00 pm
Location:
Jay Henges Shooting Range
This skills session will satisfy part two of Missouri Hunter Education requirements. To obtain hunter education certification you must also attend part one (online, self-study, or a classroom session) and bring along your skills session qualifier certificate or a student manual with the review questions completed. Students 15 and under must also bring a copy of their birth certificate or other proof of age. The final exam will be administered at the end of the skills session. Please arrive a minimum of 15 minutes before the beginning of the class to complete registration; late arrivals will not be admitted so please arrive early. In the event of a cancellation, you will be contacted by email and/or phone. Note: Students who are 16 and over and have completed the all-online Hunter Education course are certified and do not need to attend an in-person skills session.
Date:
Saturday, March 25, 2023 10:00 am - Saturday, March 25, 2023 12:00 pm
Location:
August A Busch Shooting Range
This program will teach the fundamentals of archery including equipment, safety, stance, and shooting techniques. This event will take place on the static archery range. All equipment will be provided.
Date:
Saturday, March 25, 2023 1:00 pm - Saturday, March 25, 2023 4:00 pm
Location:
Jay Henges Shooting Range
This skills session will satisfy part two of Missouri Hunter Education requirements. To obtain hunter education certification you must also attend part one (online, self-study, or a classroom session) and bring along your skills session qualifier certificate or a student manual with the review questions completed. Students 15 and under must also bring a copy of their birth certificate or other proof of age. The final exam will be administered at the end of the skills session. Please arrive a minimum of 15 minutes before the beginning of the class to complete registration; late arrivals will not be admitted so please arrive early. In the event of a cancellation, you will be contacted by email and/or phone. Note: Students who are 16 and over and have completed the all-online Hunter Education course are certified and do not need to attend an in-person skills session.
Date:
Sunday, March 26, 2023 4:30 pm - Sunday, March 26, 2023 6:30 pm
Location:
Runge Conservation Nature Center
Want to feel at home on the range – the shooting range? Join Runge staff and volunteers for an introductory course on .22 rifles at the Rocky Fork Conservation Area shooting range (Boone County). The evening will include an educational overview, general firearms safety, and practice shooting. Transportation to Rocky Fork will not be provided. Registration required. Ages 18+
Date:
Monday, March 27, 2023 5:30 pm - Monday, March 27, 2023 7:30 pm
Location:
August A Busch Shooting Range
This program will teach the fundamentals of shotgun shooting. This class includes equipment, safety, stance, and shooting techniques. This event will begin in the classroom them move to the shotgun range. Shotguns and ammunition will be made available.
Date:
Monday, March 27, 2023 5:30 pm - Monday, March 27, 2023 7:30 pm
Location:
Jay Henges Shooting Range
This is an introductory course on how to shoot 5-stand. You will learn safety, stance, etiquette, and technique. We will proceed to live fire on the 5-stand course. Firearms, ammunition, and safety equipment will be provided.
Date:
Tuesday, March 28, 2023 10:00 am - Tuesday, March 28, 2023 12:00 pm
Location:
Runge Conservation Nature Center
Join us as we learn the basics of how to safely load and shoot a crossbow. Meet at the Runge outdoor pavilion before heading to the Runge outdoor range. Dress for the weather in closed-toe shoes. All equipment is provided. Registration required. Ages 12+
*Runge’s outdoor range may not be accessible to participants who use a wheelchair or crutches. Please check for availability of an all-terrain wheelchair by contacting the program instructor at least two weeks in advance of the program date.
Date:
Tuesday, March 28, 2023 1:00 pm - Tuesday, March 28, 2023 3:00 pm
Location:
Runge Conservation Nature Center
Archery is a fun, lifetime sport that all can enjoy. Learn the basics of archery and how to shoot safely. Then practice your newly learned skills at Runge’s outdoor range under the supervision of Runge staff. Dress for the weather in closed-toe shoes. All equipment is provided. Registration required. Ages 7+
*Runge’s outdoor range may not be accessible to participants who use a wheelchair or crutches. Please check for availability of an all-terrain wheelchair by contacting the program instructor at least two weeks in advance of the program date.
Date:
Tuesday, March 28, 2023 5:00 pm - Tuesday, March 28, 2023 7:00 pm
Location:
August A Busch Shooting Range
With turkey season right around the corner, patterning your shotgun is important. If you are interested in learning how to pattern your shotgun and want to know how to interpret the results? This is the class for you.
Date:
Thursday, March 30, 2023 1:00 pm - Thursday, March 30, 2023 3:00 pm
Location:
Runge Conservation Nature Center
Note: This program will take place at Boone County Nature School, 8805 S. Tom Bass in Columbia. Participants should plan to meet at the Nature School near the shelter.
Archery is a fun, lifetime sport everyone can enjoy. Learn the basics of archery and how to shoot safely, then practice your newly learned skills under the supervision of MDC staff. Dress for the weather in closed-toe shoes. All equipment is provided. Registration required. Ages 7+
*The archery range may not be accessible to participants who use a wheelchair or crutches. Please check for availability of an all-terrain wheelchair by contacting the program instructor at least two weeks in advance of the program date.
Date:
Thursday, March 30, 2023 6:00 pm - Thursday, March 30, 2023 9:00 pm
Location:
Jay Henges Shooting Range
This class covers the basic equipment, materials, and techniques needed to reload metallic cartridges and produce custom loads suited to your rifle/handgun for the particular target or game you are pursing. We will demonstrate the process and then give you some hands-on experience reloading rifle/handgun cartridges. All equipment is provided.
Date:
Saturday, April 1, 2023 8:00 am - Saturday, April 1, 2023 10:00 am
Location:
Lake City Shooting Range
Turkey hunting is an excellent way to spend time in the great outdoors, watch wildlife at it's best and potentially put delicious food on the table. This class will provide you with the basic information and skills for a successful Spring turkey hunt, while discussing hunting ethics and understanding conservation. Bring your turkey shotgun and the ammo you will use to hunt and we will help you pattern the shotgun
Date:
Saturday, April 1, 2023 8:00 am - Saturday, April 1, 2023 12:00 pm
Location:
Andy Dalton Shooting Range
This skill session will cover part two of the Missouri Hunter Education requirements. To enter the session, you must complete the knowledge portion and provide proof of completion by presenting either a certificate or a completed hunter education student manual the day of the event. All students must provide proof of identification and age. The final exam will be administered at the end of the skills session. Please arrive a minimum of 15 minutes before the beginning of the class to complete registration; late arrivals will not be admitted so please arrive early. In the event of a cancellation, you will be contacted by email and/or phone. Note: Students 16 and older who have successfully completed the all-online Hunter Education course do not need to attend an in-person skills session.
Date:
Wednesday, April 5, 2023 1:00 pm - Wednesday, April 5, 2023 7:30 pm
Location:
Jay Henges Shooting Range
Join us this year for the inaugural Jay Henges 5-Stand League. This is a great way to prepare for hunting seasons, improve your sporting clays game, and enjoy a fun shooting experience. This will be a weekly league from April through September during the range business hours on Wednesday (1:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.) and Thursday (10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.). Some details on the league include:
• League will run from April through September
• League will be shot on Wednesday (1:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.) and Thursday (10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) each week.
• Shooters will participate as individuals in the league, not in a team format.
• Participants must purchase at least two rounds of 5-stand to be scored for the league.
• Participants can shoot their league rounds on either Wednesday or Thursday, but participants will only be scored on one of the two days each week.
• Instruction will be available for those shooters newer to sporting clays.
• No pre-registration is required. Participants will register at the 5-stand field on the day that they shoot.
• Trophies will be awarded at the end of the league in September, with other awards throughout the year as well.
Date:
Thursday, April 6, 2023 10:00 am - Thursday, April 6, 2023 4:30 pm
Location:
Jay Henges Shooting Range
Join us this year for the inaugural Jay Henges 5-Stand League. This is a great way to prepare for hunting seasons, improve your sporting clays game, and enjoy a fun shooting experience. This will be a weekly league from April through September during the range business hours on Wednesday (1:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.) and Thursday (10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.). Some details on the league include:
• League will run from April through September
• League will be shot on Wednesday (1:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.) and Thursday (10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) each week.
• Shooters will participate as individuals in the league, not in a team format.
• Participants must purchase at least two rounds of 5-stand to be scored for the league.
• Participants can shoot their league rounds on either Wednesday or Thursday, but participants will only be scored on one of the two days each week.
• Instruction will be available for those shooters newer to sporting clays.
• No pre-registration is required. Participants will register at the 5-stand field on the day that they shoot.
• Trophies will be awarded at the end of the league in September, with other awards throughout the year as well.
Date:
Saturday, April 8, 2023 8:00 am - Saturday, April 8, 2023 9:30 am
Location:
Jay Henges Shooting Range
Join our instructors as we learn the fundamentals of shooting the compound bow and arrow. This program begins in the Education Center then moves to the static archery range. This is a fun program for the entire family.
Date:
Saturday, April 8, 2023 8:00 am - Saturday, April 8, 2023 10:00 am
Location:
Lake City Shooting Range
Ages 8+ - Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult
Did you know Archery is one of the safest sports in which to participate? It is rated more accident-free than every ball sport except table tennis! This course is designed to introduce students to the basics of archery including safety rules, stance, equipment used, and, of course, how to shoot a bow and arrow. The instructors will also discuss the nomenclature of the bows and arrows. Join us for this fun and very informative class.
Date:
Saturday, April 8, 2023 8:30 am - Saturday, April 8, 2023 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.
Date:
Monday, April 10, 2023 5:30 pm - Monday, April 10, 2023 7:30 pm
Location:
Online only
This virtual class will cover the ins and outs of keeping your fishing gear in tip top shape. The program will cover materials and demonstrate how to properly maintain your fishing rods and reels.
Date:
Tuesday, April 11, 2023 5:00 pm - Tuesday, April 11, 2023 7:00 pm
Location:
August A Busch Shooting Range
This program will introduce turkey hunting techniques and calling tips for beginners and how to get started hunting these elusive birds. We will cover habitat, safety, firearms, different calls, when to call, how often to call, and different types of equipment used to help you have a successful hunt.