Shooting

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

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:

  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.

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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

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Events

Find events near you.
Rifle: MSR- Modern Sporting Rifle
Registration period: June 23 - July 22
Date: Thursday, July 23, 2026 6:00 pm - Thursday, July 23, 2026 8:00 pm
Location: Jay Henges Shooting Range
The Basics of the Modern Sporting Rifle course is designed to provide beginners a hands-on introduction to the safe handling and proper orientation to modern sporting rifle shooting. This course includes classroom and range time. Students will learn rules for safe gun handling at home, in the field and on the range; rifle actions, parts and operation, ammunition, shooting fundamentals, cleaning the rifle, and continued opportunities for developing rifle skills. Students are encouraged to bring your own modern sporting rifle, and we can supply the ammo.
Rifle: .22 Plinking
Registration period: June 30 - July 23
Date: Saturday, July 25, 2026 8:00 am - Saturday, July 25, 2026 9:30 am
Location: Lake City Shooting Range
Come join us for a fun .22 Plinking class! Bring nothing but yourselves and an adventurous spirit. We’ll provide the .22 rifles and ammunition.
Archery: Learn2 Aim
Date: Saturday, July 25, 2026 9:00 am - Saturday, July 25, 2026 11:00 am
Location: Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center
Registration required by visiting https://mostateparks.com/basic-page/learn2-aim (ages 10+) Begin your archer journey by attending a hands-on workshop this summer! Take a step back in time and join Missouri State Parks for one or more of our Learn2 Aim events This is a great opportunity to learn new skills with instruction on the basics of archery. If accommodations are needed, please e-mail the instructor at least one week prior to the program.
Shotgun: Sporting Clays
Registration period: June 27 - July 24
Date: Saturday, July 25, 2026 10:00 am - Saturday, July 25, 2026 1:00 pm
Location: Parma Woods Shooting Range
Sporting Clays is a challenging, yet fun shotgun shooting game that can 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; however, this program is not intended for new shotgun shooters.
Archery: Beginning Archery
Registration period: June 25 - July 24
Date: Saturday, July 25, 2026 10:00 am - Saturday, July 25, 2026 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.
Shotgun: Sporting Clays
Registration period: June 27 - July 24
Date: Saturday, July 25, 2026 1:30 pm - Saturday, July 25, 2026 4:30 pm
Location: Parma Woods Shooting Range
Sporting Clays is a challenging, yet fun shotgun shooting game that can 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; however, this program is not intended for new shotgun shooters.
Shotgun: Womens Beginning Trapshooting
Registration period: June 5 - July 24
Date: Monday, July 27, 2026 5:30 pm - Monday, July 27, 2026 7:30 pm
Location: Jay Henges Shooting Range
Join us to discover the joys of trapshooting. We will discuss the basic safety rules and basic fundamentals of shoot trap. 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.
Shotgun: Introduction to Shotgun
Registration period: June 27 - July 24
Date: Monday, July 27, 2026 5:30 pm - Monday, July 27, 2026 7:30 pm
Location: August A Busch Shooting Range
Want to get started in shotgun shooting. This program will teach the basics of safety, safety equipment, and marksmanship with a shotgun. Will will have a classroom portion followed by a live fire portion. You can bring your own shotgun and ammunition or borrow ours. If you bring your own shotgun you must have your own ammunition.
Handgun: Introduction to Handgun
Registration period: June 28 - July 27
Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2026 5:00 pm - Tuesday, July 28, 2026 7:30 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.
Archery: Beginner Archery for Families
Registration period: July 1 - July 30
Date: Friday, July 31, 2026 9:00 am - Friday, July 31, 2026 11:00 am
Location: Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center

Archery is a lifetime sport that can be enjoyed while taking in the great outdoors. This program will introduce the fundamentals for safely and successfully shooting a compound bow and will include lots of hands-on practice. Let Missouri Department of Conservation be your guide to exploring a new outdoor skill.

Following NASP requirements, all participants must be ages 9 and up. The equipment that is used is designed for ages 9 and up to be able to safely handle, nock and arrow, and shoot the bow. Participants aged 9 - 15 must be accompanied by an adult. No children under the age of 9 will be permitted on the archery range.

This event is for those who want to experience the sport of archery in a structured, supportive environment. All equipment will be provided, please do not bring your own equipment. Close toed shoes are required and dress for the weather as we will be outdoors. *NOTE: Please ensure you register all individuals in your group, including children. Individuals who arrive unregistered will not be able to participate.