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

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View of Upper Grand River showing autumn trees along both banks.
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The Conservation Department initially purchased property for Elam Bend Conservation Area in 197

Events

Find events near you.
Registration period: May 18 - June 15
Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2026 5:00 pm - Tuesday, June 23, 2026 7:00 pm
Location: August A Busch Shooting Range
If you want to learn how to fly fish, this program will introduce you to what it takes to get started. The program will cover equipment, including rods, reels, line, knots, flies and more.
Registration period: November 10 - June 24
Date: Thursday, June 25, 2026 6:00 pm - Thursday, June 25, 2026 7:00 pm
Location: Andy Dalton Shooting Range

You have decided to begin hunting, but don't know who, what or where to start. Let us help you get started with this class. We will explore the correct way to go about selecting the method, the game, and the equipment to have before you step out the front door. We will discuss topics like the safety of private versus public hunting, permits and licenses needed to harvest game animals and even have a question and answer session.

Registration period: November 10 - June 24
Date: Thursday, June 25, 2026 6:00 pm - Thursday, June 25, 2026 7:00 pm
Location: Online only

You have decided to begin hunting, but don't know who, what or where to start. Let us help you get started with this class. We will explore the correct way to go about selecting the method, the game, and the equipment to have before you step out the front door. We will discuss topics like the safety of private versus public hunting, permits and licenses needed to harvest game animals and even have a question and answer session.

Registration period: May 18 - June 26
Date: Saturday, June 27, 2026 10:00 am - Saturday, June 27, 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.
Registration period: June 12 - June 26
Date: Saturday, June 27, 2026 10:00 am - Saturday, June 27, 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.
Registration period: June 12 - June 26
Date: Saturday, June 27, 2026 1:30 pm - Saturday, June 27, 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.
Date: Monday, June 29, 2026 3:00 pm - Monday, June 29, 2026 7:00 pm
Location: August A Busch Shooting Range

This is a free Open House event at the Busch Shooting Range. There will be activities to try including shooting .22 rifles, shotguns, archery, atlatl, and disc golf and BB guns for smaller youngsters. There will also be educational exhibits, members from diffiernt organizations including NWTF, Smallmouth Bass Alliance, and Trout Unlimited. Agents will be present.

Come anytime between 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. All equipment willb be provided.
Registration period: May 6 - June 29
Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2026 6:00 pm - Tuesday, June 30, 2026 7:00 pm
Location: Jay Henges Shooting Range
We will discuss the correct shot placement on North American game animals along with the correct safety protocol, used when shooting on a 3D archery range. We will shoot a variety of game animal targets. This program is not for the beginning archery shooter as it is an intermediate level program, so unless you are beyond the basics in archery this program is not for you.
Registration period: June 15 - June 30
Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2026 6:30 pm - Tuesday, June 30, 2026 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.
Registration period: June 1 - July 7
Date: Thursday, July 9, 2026 6:00 pm - Thursday, July 9, 2026 8:00 pm
Location: Lake City Shooting 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.