Modifications coming to Swan Lake and French Creek wildlife areas

http://dnr.wi.gov/news/BreakingNews_Lookup.asp?id=3230

FITCHBURG, Wis. - Citing concerns over safety and littering, the Department of Natural Resources will close a three-acre portion of the Swan Lake Wildlife Area frequently used as an unmanaged shooting range to all types of access. The closed area will encompass the parking lot located on County Highway P. The parking lot itself will remain open with a trail from the lot providing access to the remaining open areas of Swan Lake.

This area has long been used as an unmanaged shooting range by area residents and others," said Mark Aquino, DNR regional director. "Currently, this is a legal activity on state wildlife areas in Columbia County but we have had problems for quite some time with littering at this site. People have brought in all kinds of objects from old television sets to bottles, cans and produce for targets and left the mess behind."

Located off County Highway P a few miles southeast of Portage in Columbia County, the unofficial range also has generated complaints of noise and fear of stray bullets over the years from nearby residents.

In other planned work for Columbia County state wildlife areas, the department will grade and surface the French Creek Wildlife Area parking lot at the intersection of County Road CM and Wilcox Road. Crews will remove volunteer trees, level existing spoils berms fringing the current parking area and install a gravel surface. This area has also been used as an unmanaged shooting area where litter and safety have been concerns for some time.

New options for shooters

Options for shooters are growing in south central Wisconsin with the addition of new public shooting hours at several private shooting ranges.

The ranges have either: entered into leasing agreements with the Department of Natural Resources allowing non-members to use the facilities on certain days and hours of the week; been given a grant to use for range improvements with a requirement that the range provide public access; or, the club has elected to allow public shooting hours. There may be a daily fee at ranges and calling ahead is suggested.

The grants and leases are paid for with federal funds given to the state through the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act more commonly known as the Pittman-Robertson Act (exit DNR) or P-R. Pittman-Robertson is funded by a 10 percent excise tax on handguns and an 11 percent tax on rifles, shotguns, ammunition and archery equipment.

"Dedicated shooting facilities provide safe opportunities under controlled conditions with range safety rules," said Keith Warnke, DNR's shooting sports coordinator. "We've been receiving more and more requests for shooting opportunities, especially in the southern part of the state."

Wisconsin has a number of shooting ranges open to the public but most are in the northern half of the state.

"Range users have made it clear to us that there is demand for safe shooting opportunities outside of hunting seasons but that not everyone has reasonable access to existing public ranges, especially in the southern third of the state," added Warnke. "The Pittman-Robertson funds make it possible for us to fund lease agreements with ranges in underserved areas. These leases provide more opportunities for the hunting and shooting enthusiasts who are paying the taxes"

Area shooting ranges now offering public shooting hours include:

Dane County Shooting Range, 5184 State Highway 19, Waunakee. Offers rifle and handgun shooting. Open weekends April - August 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Fees: $10 per person per day.

Hope Rod & Gun Club, 3435 Sigglekow Road, McFarland, 53558. Offers pistol shooting. Open Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Fees: $10 per person per day. Phone 608-838-5817, www.hopegunclub.com/index.html (exit DNR)

North Bristol Sportsman's Club, 7229 North Greenway Road, North Bristol, 53590. Offers rifle, pistol, shotgun and archery shooting. Open Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Phone 608-837-6048. See calendar at www.shootatnbsc.com/calanderevents.html (exit DNR).

Milford Hills, W5670 French Road, Johnson Creek, 53038. Offers rifle, pistol, shotgun and archery shooting. Open daily 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Fees: $12 per hour per person or $16 for a day of shooting. Phone 920-699-2249, milfordhills.com (exit DNR).

Lakeview Rod & Gun - S80W11401 Shultz Lane, Muskego, 53150. Open by appointment call Paul at 414-466-0395 or Mike at 414-430-0681

McMiller Sports Complex, S103W38754 County Road NN, Waukesha, 53119. Offers rifle, pistol, shotgun and archery shooting, Open Thursday - Sunday. Phone 262-594-5900. Prices at www.mcmillersportscenter.com (exit DNR).

Warnke is working on agreements with several other clubs. Additional listings will be posted when agreements are signed on the DNR webpage dnr.wi.gov by searching for "shooting ranges." Anyone interested in becoming involved in the lease program should contact him at: Keith.warnke@wi.gov or 608-576-5243.

New public range proposed for Columbia County

The DNR is moving ahead with plans to develop a dedicated public shooting range for rifle and pistol shooting on the Mud Lake Wildlife Area in Columbia County giving shooters an alternative location that will be designed for safe shooting. A citizen ad hoc committee recently indicated preference for the Mud Lake location after studying a list of potential locations on state lands in the county. The new range could open as soon as Fall 2015.

"This is the first completely new public shooting range we've attempted to site and build in a number of years," said Warnke. "The desire for additional shooting opportunity in Columbia County was identified in the recently completed master plan for public lands in the county.

Most recently, the DNR redesigned and completely rebuilt the public shooting range on the Yellowstone Wildlife Area. The remodeled range has been extremely popular and is scheduled for maintenance work beginning June 9 and will be closed for three to four weeks for the work. To stay up-to-date on the work including when the range will reopen search for "shooting ranges" on the DNR webpage at dnr.wi.gov.

The range is located on County Highway F in Lafayette County a few miles south of the entrance to Yellowstone State Park. There are 100- and 50-yard rifle ranges and a 10-yard handgun range. There is no trap shooting at Yellowstone but shotguns with slugs can be used. It is free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. There is improved parking, portable toilets and the shooting lines are accessible.

Users of all of these ranges are reminded that strictly following range rules and shooting safely are critical to maintaining public access.