Shooting

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A man looks through a sight on his rifle at a shooting range.
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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.

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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:

  1. Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
  2. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
  3. Keep the safety on until you are ready to shoot.
  4. Be 100 percent certain of your target and what is beyond it before you shoot.
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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.

Fees and reservations at staffed MDC shooting ranges

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.

Find an MDC shooting range near you.

Great Places For Shooting

Events

Find events near you.
Registration period: May 24 - June 23
Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 5:00 pm - Tuesday, June 24, 2025 8:00 pm
Location: August A Busch Shooting Range
This program will cover what to do to get started shooting handguns. We will cover handgun fundamentals, including handgun actions, operation, safety, shooting techniques. After the classroom portion we will head to the range to practice what was just taught. All firearms and ammunition will be provided. If you would like to bring your own handgun you may bring one handgun and you must provide your own ammunition. Please leave your ammunition in your vehicle until time to shoot. This program is for individuals age 16 and up.
Registration period: October 13 - June 26
Date: Thursday, June 26, 2025 6:00 pm - Thursday, June 26, 2025 7:30 pm
Location: Andy Dalton Shooting Range

Join us in learning cowboy action shooting. During the class we will discover the adventure of cowboy action shooting and how to join in on the fun. The classroom portion will consist of safety rules, regulations, style, methods of shooting, appropriate clothing, firearm choices and much more. Then we will head to the range and work on our shooting skills and techniques. You may bring your own handguns for this class. 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. Must be 18 years of age or older.

Registration period: May 15 - June 27
Date: Saturday, June 28, 2025 8:00 am - Saturday, June 28, 2025 9:30 am
Location: Jay Henges Shooting Range
Join us for a great opportunity to experience the joys of shooting rimfire firearms. Youth or those who have never had experience shooting .22 rifles and handguns are invited to participate in an instructor led, live fire session learning safety and proper techniques of marksmanship. Firearms, ammunition, and safety equipment will be provided.
Registration period: October 13 - June 28
Date: Saturday, June 28, 2025 9:00 am - Saturday, June 28, 2025 11:00 am
Location: Andy Dalton Shooting Range

Hunting may not only be a family tradition, but a personal privilege that everyone can enjoy. Hunting is basic to our nature. Hunting allows us to help control wildlife populations and fun projects for wildlife management. Hunting is also a safe and natural way to help each of us reconnect to nature and our surroundings. In this class, we will cover all the reasons to hunt, why its important, and explore myths about hunting.

Registration period: October 13 - June 27
Date: Saturday, June 28, 2025 9:00 am - Saturday, June 28, 2025 11:00 am
Location: Online only

Hunting may not only be a family tradition, but a personal privilege that everyone can enjoy. Hunting is basic to our nature. Hunting allows us to help control wildlife populations and fun projects for wildlife management. Hunting is also a safe and natural way to help each of us reconnect to nature and our surroundings. In this class, we will cover all the reasons to hunt, why its important, and explore myths about hunting. The link to join this class will be sent the morning of the class. Be sure to check your Spam or Junk box for the email. If an email is not received, please send an email to the instructor to let them know.

Registration period: May 22 - June 27
Date: Saturday, June 28, 2025 10:00 am - Saturday, June 28, 2025 1:00 pm
Location: Parma Woods Shooting Range
Sporting Clays is a challenging, yet fun shotgun shooting game that can likely be best described as playing golf with a shotgun. Shooters move from station to station and shoot at clay targets presented in a dizzying array of angles. It is some of the best practice for shooting at gamebirds. Bring your shotgun and enjoy a sampler of what this game entails. Non-Toxic shot is required. We can provide any gear needed to participate.
Registration period: May 22 - June 28
Date: Saturday, June 28, 2025 1:30 pm - Saturday, June 28, 2025 4:30 pm
Location: Parma Woods Shooting Range
Sporting Clays is a challenging, yet fun shotgun shooting game that can likely be best described as playing golf with a shotgun. Shooters move from station to station and shoot at clay targets presented in a dizzying array of angles. It is some of the best practice for shooting at gamebirds. Bring your shotgun and enjoy a sampler of what this game entails. Non-Toxic shot is required. We can provide any gear needed to participate.
Registration period: May 15 - June 29
Date: Monday, June 30, 2025 5:30 pm - Monday, June 30, 2025 7:00 pm
Location: Jay Henges Shooting Range
Clay target shooting is a fun and exciting way to further your shotgun shooting knowledge. We will spend time talking about the 5-stand sporting clays. We will be talking about the different birds that are thrown and how to shoot them. We will go over hold points, break points, forward allowance, and many more of the mechanics as it pertains to 5-stand sporting clay 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 shot gunning this program is not for you. We will provide 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 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.
Registration period: May 23 - June 22
Date: Monday, June 30, 2025 5:30 pm - Monday, June 30, 2025 7:30 pm
Location: Online only
Would you like to learn about identifying wildlife based on their pelt, tracks and skulls? If so this is the class for you!
Registration period: June 6 - June 30
Date: Monday, June 30, 2025 6:00 pm - Monday, June 30, 2025 9:30 pm
Location: Andy Dalton Shooting Range
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