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.
11 -17-year-olds are REQUIRED to have an adult with them throughout their time on the range.
This program is designed for those who have had some experience with shotguns. We’ll cover safety, appropriate firearms and ammunition, rules of the game, etiquette on the field and field layout. Firearms and ammunition will be provided, or you may bring your own.
Anyone under the age of 16 is REQUIRED to have an adult with them throughout the class and shooting session.Deer season is right around the corner, and it's time to start thinking about food plots for the fall season. Join us for an open Q&A session from Chris Grellner and the rest of the team at Valley Park Elevator to cover any questions you might have about putting in your food plots to hunt this fall.
NOTE: This will be a Open Q&A, NOT a formal presentation. Come prepared to ask questions that you are wanting to have answered. This helps the Valley Park Elevator team answer specific questions that pertain to you, but also gives the chance to learn from other participants' questions.