<div>Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is moving forward with preliminary steps to develop a public shooting range in Logan, about 30 miles northwest of Bozeman. The decision comes after years of public concern about the lack of public recreational shooting ranges in Gallatin County.The FWP State Parks and Recreation Board voted on Tuesday to advance the acquisition of an approximately 86-acre easement from the Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation that will serve as the location for the proposed Logan Public Shooting Range. The parcel is located along the I-90 corridor, about two miles south of Logan.“I am super excited to see this move forward; we’ve heard a ton of public comment about the need for more public shooting ranges,” said board chair Liz Whiting. “It’s huge, and I do think we have a great opportunity to partner some of these volunteers and local people with willing hearts and hands and equipment to get the job done in an effective manner.”The acquisition still requires approval from the Board of Land Commissioners, which consists of several state officials including the governor.The initial appraisal valued the property at $450,000. Separate from the acquisition fee, Schenk said FWP anticipates the total project cost — including design, engineering, and construction — to total $1.06 million.Pending approval, FWP is planning to apply for a federal Pittman-Robertson grant to foot 90% of the cost and cover the remainder with state dollars.The Pittman-Robertson Act funds national wildlife restoration and shooting-range projects through federal excise taxes on firearms, ammunition and archery equipment.FWP announced intentions to acquire the property in fall 2024, one year after Gallatin County legislators criticized the department for failing to pursue and acquire a public shooting range site.The department released a scoping document on the project last year. Resulting public comments were incorporated into a February draft environmental assessment. The majority favored the range, emphasizing the necessity of an accessible, safe range in Gallatin County, per the July FWP decision notice.However, two public comments expressed concerns about the proposal.One highlighted the negative environmental impacts the range could have, focusing on the threats of lead leaching from ammunition and asking FWP to consider alternatives to the proposal, including closing the area to shooting.Another commenter raised worries about FWP’s fiscal ability to effectively manage the proposed range to ensure the land is properly stewarded, safety protocols are enforced and rounds are prevented from flying onto the properties of landowners and leaseholders on the surrounding parcels. Similar concerns resulted in the recent closure of several DNRC parcels adjacent to the current proposed range.The land proposed for the range and the surrounding DNRC parcels have historically been open for recreational shooting. However, this summer, the DNRC closed the land surrounding the property after being petitioned by agricultural landowners and leaseholders.The petitioners expressed safety concerns posed by recreational shooters who allegedly failed to treat the multiuse land respectfully and control their rounds.“Most of the people that shoot are extremely respectful to the land and other people. There is, unfortunately, a small portion of the shooting community that does not clean up after themselves, brings old TVs and refrigerators to shoot, and our club finds that extremely disrespectful,” said Garrett Grimm, the president of the Gallatin Community Gun Club.If the easement acquisition is approved by the Land Board, the club will serve as the local community group helping to manage the range. Grimm said he celebrates the Tuesday vote, as the Gallatin Community Gun Club has been working with FWP through the acquisition process.Management and design documents have yet to be finalized. If the easement is approved by the Land Board, FWP will complete the design and pursue federal funding. Provided approval and funding, FWP would hope to start construction in fall 2027 or 2028.</div>

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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is moving forward with preliminary steps to develop a public shooting range in Logan, about 30 miles northwest of Bozeman. The decision comes after years of public concern about the lack of public recreational shooting ranges in Gallatin County. The FWP State Parks and Recreation...

FWP advances plans for public shooting range in Logan

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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is moving forward with preliminary steps to develop a public shooting range in Logan, about 30 miles northwest of Bozeman. T

FWP advances plans for public shooting range in Logan

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