Shooting

Have you just bought a new pistol and want to become more familiar with it? Do you need some help getting started as a new shooter or haven’t shot for a while and want to get back into it? Is there a technique that you want to learn or improve upon? This one-on-one instruction is for you! It is BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Participants must provide their own pistol and 100 rounds of ammunition. For more information or to make an appointment, call 816-249-3194.

Learn how to manage your land for North American animals. By finding out the resources for timberland management, fish management and old field management to better improve your property.

What is 5-Stand? It’s a great way to improve on your shotgun shooting skills! This combination of trap, skeet, and sporting clays affords the challenge of all three games but with less walking. Bring your friends and your favorite shotgun and experience the fun of this game. No registration required. WEATHER PERMITTING!

This is a follow on program for the Virtual Modern Sporting Rifle class. You must attend the Virtual Introduction to Modern Sporting Rifle class on the 22nd of June before attending this program. The range will be open for attendees to shoot and become familiar with their Modern Sporting Rifle. Staff will be available to provide assistance in the safe handling and sighting in of your rifle. Attendees must provide their own rifle and ammunition. The ammunition must have a projectile that is free of steel in the jacket or core. This can be checked by putting the projectile portion of your ammunition to a magnet. If the projectile sticks to the magnet it may not be used.

This program is designed for those who have little to no experience with shotguns. We’ll cover safety, appropriate guns and ammunition, rules of the game, etiquette on the field, and field layout. Firearms and ammunition will be provided, or you can bring your own.

This program includes rifle safety, operation, shooting fundamentals, maintenance, and safe storage. Equipment and ammunition will be provided; you may bring your own firearm and ammunition to the live-fire session.

Skeet shooting is a fun and exciting way to further your shotgun shooting knowledge. We will spend time talking about the game of skeet, how to mount the gun, hold points, break points, forward allowance, and many more of the mechanics as it pertains to skeet shooting. This program is not for the beginning shotgun shooter as it is an intermediate level program so unless you are beyond the basics in shotgunning this program is not for you. We will provide 20-gauge shotguns and ammunition for those who do not have one. If you plan to use your own, bring a minimum of 50 rounds of new ammunition in the gauge of your shotgun. There should be no live ammunition, or uncased firearms inside the classroom. Please leave all firearms in the vehicle until the class is dismissed to go to shoot. This includes concealed carry handguns and magazines.

If you are interested in learning how to shoot and want to learn how to get started, the August A. Busch Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center is holding a Learn to Shoot Open House on Tuesday, June 29 from 4-7 p.m.. This will give you an opportunity to try different firearms. You may come anytime between 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. to shoot .22 rifles, .22 handguns, shotguns, archery, and atlatl. This program is for ages 11 and up. All equipment, firearms, and ammunition will be supplied. For more information contact Ted Coburn at theodore.coburn@mdc.mo.gov or call 636-300-0258 ext. 1541.

Beginning Archery

June 29, Tuesday, 6:00pm – 8:00pm.

(Ages 9 and up)

Reservations begin June 15

Join our instructors as we learn the fundamentals of shooting archery. This is a fun program for the entire family, ages 9 and up

As these are in-person programs MDC asks all guests to observe social distancing guidelines and maintain at least 6 feet from others for the safety of participants and staff. Bringing and wearing face coverings is encouraged when indoors, or any time visitors are unable to maintain at least 6 feet from others. Local ordinances requiring face masks will be observed where applicable.

Are you looking for a “jumping" good time, while learning and enjoying the outdoors? Frog gigging! This program will include all you need to know to get started gigging frogs. Including topics such as; basic frog facts, legal species to harvest and their identification, seasons, limits, regulations, and methods to harvest. Participants will practice what they’ve learned on a short frog gigging trip at Bois D" Arc Conservation Area ponds. Participants will learn all the basic of cooking frog legs as well as strategies to be successful on your next frogging adventure! Participants must be at least 8 years of age; all minors will need to be accompanied by an adult with a driver’s license. Participants, not exempt, must possess a Missouri fishing or hunting permit. Participants will need to appropriate clothing and foot wear (rubber boots) for frog gigging. All equipment will be provided.

This program will teach the fundamentals of archery and atlatl including equipment, safety, stance, and shooting techniques. This event will take place on the static archery range. All equipment will be provided.

This program will teach the fundamentals of archery and atlatl including equipment, safety, stance, and shooting techniques. This event will take place on the static archery range. All equipment will be provided.

Session one of two part course. Participants will choose a range day the evening of the 7th, 8th, or 9th of July.

Participants must attend classroom portion to attend range portion. Course is for new and novice shooters. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Come out and spend two evenings learning the basics of firearms. We will be offering training on handguns, shotguns, and rifles with plenty of shooting practice built into the courses. The students will learn about firearm parts and operation, ammunition, gun safety, and shooting fundamentals. Firearms will be provided.

Women’s Beginning Handgun

(Ages 16 and up)

The Women's Beginning Handgun program includes handgun fundamentals, operation, safety, maintenance and safe storage. We start in the Education Center with classroom instruction then move to the range for a live-fire session. Firearms, ammunition, and safety equipment are provided however, you may bring your own handgun and ammunition to the live-fire session. Firearms and ammunition are not allowed in the Education Center.

Ran out of ideas on how to get your kids outdoors this summer? Why not turn outdoors into an adventure! Join me for a quick virtual 30 min presentation on some fun outdoor adventures that you can have in your own backyard or a field trip out! Find a frog or toad . . . catch a firefly . . . grow a flower or a tree . . . seek out secret treasures on a scavenger hunt. I will give you some great ideas with Free resources to have an Adventurous Outdoor Summer!

Have you ever wanted to learn outdoor skills like fishing and archery? Join us as we discover the different aspects of both of these skills at our minicamp! We will learn about the different fish that call Missouri home, how to bait a hook, and practice casting before fishing in our educational lakes. You will also have the opportunity to learn how to use a compound bow and practice your aim during some scheduled shooting

This minicamp will take place at Bellefontaine Conservation Area near highway 270 and 367. You will head south on 367 and make the first left towards the veteran’s home. You should see a brown conservation sign directing you to the conservation area at the first left. Please bring a water bottle, sunscreen, a lunch, and other supplies needed for the duration of camp.

Please register each camper that is planning to attend.

*Parents/guardians will receive a waiver for each camper. Parents/guardians will drop-off campers via waiver and emergency contact form.

Beginning Archery

Join our instructors as we learn the fundamentals of shooting archery. This is a fun program for the entire family.

As these are in-person programs MDC asks all guests to observe social distancing guidelines and maintain at least 6 feet from others for the safety of participants and staff. Bringing and wearing face coverings is encouraged when indoors, or any time visitors are unable to maintain at least 6 feet from others. Local ordinances requiring face masks will be observed where applicable.

This course continues where the Basic Handgun course ends. The topics of discussion include purchasing and owning a firearm, ammunition facts, and storage options. We also will work more on your marksmanship skills on the range. Bring your own firearm or we will provide.

Trap shooting is a fun and exciting way to further your shotgun shooting knowledge. We will spend time talking about the game of trap how to mount the gun, hold points, break points, forward allowance, and many more of the mechanics as it pertains to trap shooting. This program is not for the beginning shotgun shooter as it is an intermediate level program so unless you are beyond the basics in shotgunning this program is not for you. We will provide 20-gauge shotguns and ammunition for those who do not have one. If you plan to use your own, bring a minimum of 50 rounds of new ammunition in the gauge of your shotgun. There should be no live ammunition, or uncased firearms inside the classroom. Please leave all firearms in the vehicle until the class is dismissed to go to shoot. This includes concealed carry handguns and magazines.

Parents, grandparents, and adult mentors bring your youngster(s) to learn a new skill and spend time practicing. You don’t have to be a hunter to become a skilled archer. No experience is necessary and archery equipment will be provided We will teach and practice the basics and help you perfect your stance to shoot more consistently and accurately.

Discover Nature Girls’ Camp is a FREE, 1-day camp held by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) for girls ages 11-15. The camp will be held on July 13th. One goal of this camp is to encourage participants to leave with the confidence to explore Missouri’s diverse outdoors on their own. Discover Nature Girls’ Camp will provide them with a supportive learning environment where they can actively participate in “hands-on” outdoor skills led by Conservation Agents and MDC staff. Some of these skills include: archery, shooting sports, fishing, atlatl, and canoeing. At the completion of camp, the girls will become Hunter Education certified so that they may continue using their newly learned skills. Registration is open to the first 60 girls. You will need to create a user name and password for your child to register.

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This is a multistep process step 1) register online 2) watch for an email and a packet in the mail (PLEASE MAKE SURE TO HAVE A CURRENT EMAIL AND ADDRESS LISTED WHEN REGISTEREING) 3) fill out the packet ASAP and return 4) student must complete the knowledge portion explained in packet and return.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out by email Becky.Robertson@mdc.mo.gov or phone (636) 441-4554.

Discover Nature Girls’ Camp is a FREE, 1-day camp held by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) for girls ages 11-15. One goal of this camp is to encourage participants to leave with the confidence to explore Missouri’s diverse outdoors on their own. Discover Nature Girls’ Camp will provide them with a supportive learning environment where they can actively participate in “hands-on” outdoor skills led by Conservation Agents and MDC staff. Some of these skills include: archery, shooting sports, fishing, atlatl, and canoeing. At the completion of camp, the girls will become Hunter Education certified so that they may continue using their newly learned skills. Registration is open to the first 60 girls.

This is a multistep process step 1) register online 2) watch for an email and a packet in the mail (PLEASE MAKE SURE TO HAVE A CURRENT EMAIL AND ADDRESS LISTED WHEN REGISTEREING) 3) fill out the packet ASAP and return 4) student must complete the knowledge portion explained in packet and return.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out by email Becky.Robertson@mdc.mo.gov or phone (636) 441-4554.

Introduction to 5-Stand/Sporting Clays

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

This program will introduce the fundamentals for safely and successfully shooting a compound bow, with hands on practice. All equipment will be provided. Class will meet at the pavilion on the Bellefontaine Conservation Area. The class will be held outdoors so please dress for the weather. Ages 9 and up, participants 9-15 must be accompanied by an adult.

Join us to discover the joys of shotgun shooting. We will discuss shotgun nomenclature, stance, dominant eye, mounting, moving the shotgun, and much more. We will provide 20-gauge shotguns and ammunition for those who do not have one. If you plan to use your own, bring a minimum of 50 rounds of new ammunition in the gauge of your shotgun. There should be no live ammunition, or uncased firearms inside the classroom. Please leave all firearms in the vehicle until the class is dismissed to go to shoot. This includes concealed carry handguns and magazines.