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 $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.

Find an MDC shooting range near you.

Great Places For Shooting

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Tree-lined shore at Poosey CA
Livingston
Poosey Conservation Area is in northwest Livingston County, six miles southeast of Jamesport, n
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log cabin
Carter
Reynolds
Shannon
Current River Conservation Area encompasses approximately 29,000 acres of forested ozark land.
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Prairie
Daviess
Gallatin Conservation Area is in Daviess County, five miles south of Gallatin on Highway 13 and

Events

Find events near you.
Registration period: September 29 - December 4
Date: Tuesday, December 5, 2023 5:00 pm - Tuesday, December 5, 2023 8:00 pm
Location: Lake City Shooting Range

Deer from Hide to Rawhide: First steps toward buckskin leather

Our ancestors utilized deer hides for making clothing, containers, musical instruments, shelter and more. Learn how to flesh, scrape, stretch, and dry your deer hide to make rawhide. At this 3 hr. hands-on workshop, you will bring and work with a deer hide you harvested. We will have demonstration hides in various stages for you to learn from also.

Wear old clothes and bring a rubber apron, if you have one. A heavy trash bag can be used in place of an apron. If you have a fleshing knife, bring it along. We will have fleshing knives and beams available for use during the program. You will take home plans to build a simple fleshing beam and frame. You will need to purchase a fleshing knife and other simple materials to complete and stretch your hide at home.

After harvest, skin your deer and remove any excess flesh (meat) from the hide. Place hide in a leakproof bag and freeze. Instructions for soaking and preparing your hide for the class will be emailed to prior to the class. Hides must have a valid Conservation ID Number or Telecheck Confirmation Number accompanying them.

Participants 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Registration period: December 1 - December 7
Date: Thursday, December 7, 2023 6:00 pm - Thursday, December 7, 2023 8:00 pm
Location: Parma Woods Shooting Range
Learning to hunt deer with a handgun adds a great deal of challenge to your hunting. Using handguns also can extend your season. Do you have what it takes? Learn from our experienced instructors about wildlife identification, habits and habitats, regulations, safety, hunting strategies, equipment and game care. Attend this class to increase your success in the field.
Registration period: November 1 - December 7
Date: Saturday, December 9, 2023 8:00 am - Saturday, December 9, 2023 10:30 am
Location: Lake City Shooting Range
Join us to learn the basics of the care and cleaning of handguns. This program will include tips and techniques for all aspects of maintenance of your firearm. Bring the owner's manual, if you have it. You may bring your own unloaded firearm and magazines to class or use ours. DO NOT bring any ammunition into the classroom .
Registration period: August 29 - December 8
Date: Saturday, December 9, 2023 8:30 am - Saturday, December 9, 2023 10:30 am
Location: Online only

Join us to learn about cooking all sorts of wild game including rabbit, squirrel, deer and turkey. We will be looking at how to prepare good meals out of different game animals. We will also share some recipes that will make your mouth water. Feel free to have your favorite wild game recipe to share.

Registration period: August 29 - December 8
Date: Saturday, December 9, 2023 8:30 am - Saturday, December 9, 2023 10:30 am
Location: Andy Dalton Shooting Range

Join us to learn about cooking all sorts of wild game including rabbit, squirrel, deer and turkey. We will be looking at how to prepare good meals out of different game animals. We will also share some recipes that will make your mouth water. Feel free to have your favorite wild game recipe to share.

Registration period: November 9 - December 8
Date: Saturday, December 9, 2023 9:00 am - Saturday, December 9, 2023 12:00 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. Only participants need to regeister.
Registration period: November 11 - December 10
Date: Monday, December 11, 2023 5:30 pm - Monday, December 11, 2023 7:30 pm
Location: August A Busch Shooting Range
You harvested a deer, field dressed it, and have it ready to process for the table.This event will provide instruction on how to make burger and sausage out of venison. We will discuss how to grind and season your harvest to make it into tasty burgers and sausage. This program will be held in the Busch Shooting Range classroom.
Registration period: December 1 - December 12
Date: Tuesday, December 12, 2023 5:30 pm - Tuesday, December 12, 2023 9:30 pm
Location: Parma Woods Shooting Range
This class covers the basic equipment, materials, and techniques needed to reload ammunition and customize the loads to your firearms. We will demonstrate the process and then give you some hands-on experience reloading ammunition. All equipment and materials are provided.
Registration period: August 29 - December 13
Date: Thursday, December 14, 2023 6:00 pm - Thursday, December 14, 2023 7:30 pm
Location: Andy Dalton Shooting Range

This class gives families an opportunity to learn about the skills necessary to hunt and harvest rabbits. Topics will include safety, rules and regulations, hunting methods, and techniques, as well as how to care for, and process harvested game.

Registration period: December 1 - December 11
Date: Saturday, December 16, 2023 8:00 am - Saturday, December 16, 2023 2:00 pm
Location: Big Buffalo Outfitters
For more information Contact Mark Miller at 660-530-5500. or Email mark.miller@mdc.mo.gov. Note. Entering address might not get you the correct directions. You will receive an email with directions before the event. Participants will engage in shotgun shooting training, and Safety. Experience a continental style hunting experience. Lunch is provided