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.
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.
Date:
Thursday, May 9, 2024 6:00 pm - Thursday, May 9, 2024 8:00 pm
Location:
Online only
Ropes have the potential to be the worst bane or the best friend of the outdoorsman. By learning a few simple knots, you can quickly learn to secure your gear, pitch your tent, tie your tarp, or manage whatever else the outdoors throws at you. Grab your own rope so you can tie along.
Date:
Saturday, May 11, 2024 8:00 am - Saturday, May 11, 2024 9:30 am
Location:
Jay Henges Shooting Range
Join our instructors as we learn the fundamentals of shooting archery. This program begins in the Education Center then moves to the static archery range. This is a fun program for the entire family, ages 9 and up
Date:
Saturday, May 11, 2024 8:30 am - Saturday, May 11, 2024 11:30 am
Location:
Andy Dalton Shooting Range
Join us to discover the basics of responsible handgun ownership and the joys of shooting. We will cover safety, handgun nomenclature, sight picture, sight alignment, breath control, trigger squeeze, and much more. During the live fire portion, .22 handguns and ammunition will be provided. 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.
Date:
Sunday, May 12, 2024 3:00 pm - Sunday, May 12, 2024 4:30 pm
Location:
Andy Dalton Shooting Range
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, helping you perfect your stance to shoot more consistently and accurately.
Date:
Monday, May 13, 2024 5:30 pm - Monday, May 13, 2024 7:00 pm
Location:
Jay Henges Shooting Range
An atlatl is an ancient tool used to throw a light spear known as a dart. This program will focus on practicing technique during sport target shooting for beginners. Information about different styles of atlatls and darts will also be covered.
Date:
Saturday, May 18, 2024 8:00 am - Saturday, May 18, 2024 11:00 am
Location:
August A Busch Shooting Range
This event will cover how to get started in bowfishing including equipment, legal fish, safety, where to go, and more. The attendees of this event will be taken on a mentored Bowfishing day. Participants must attend the Bowfishing classroom portion on May 13th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in order to attend the live event. All necessary equipment will be provided. The site of the program is to be determined.
Date:
Saturday, May 18, 2024 8:00 am - Saturday, May 18, 2024 4:30 pm
Location:
Maramec Spring Hatchery
MDC will provide a staffed archery range and equipment for youth and families to experience the joy of archery during the Kids Fishing Day at Maramec Spring Hatchery & Park. No registration required.
Date:
Saturday, May 18, 2024 9:30 am - Saturday, May 18, 2024 11:00 am
Location:
J. Thad Ray Memorial Wildlife Area
Come learn how to shoot archery! Archery is a safe and fun sport for everyone. All levels of abilities welcome but these events are geared for novices, 8-year-old to adults. Class Size is limited to provide for one-on-one instruction.
All equipment will be supplied. Please show up in sturdy, closed toe shoes. We will meet at the Static Archery Range on J. Thad Ray Conservation Area. Park at the parking lot and follow the mowed trail around to the left.
Date:
Saturday, May 18, 2024 10:00 am - Saturday, May 18, 2024 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 an evening sampler of what this game entails. Non-Toxic shot is required. We can provide any gear needed to participate.
