Recreational shooters are proving to be a major contributor to wildlife conservation. When shooters purchase sporting arms and ammunition, manufacturers then pay an excise tax to the federal government that must be distributed to the states for wildlife conservation efforts. It's a user pay, user benefit system, and recreational shooters along with hunters and anglers are top players in ensuring that conservation happens and that wildlife abounds for those who love the outdoors. And with recreational shooting on the rise, the Wildlife Department is working to help meet the demand for places to shoot including the most recent completions at Packsaddle WMA in Ellis County and Kaw WMA in Kay County.
Detailed rules will be posted at each range or for more information contact the wildlife biologist in that area.
Target shooting is not allowed in areas where shooting ranges are not provided. Exemptions may only be granted by the Director of the Department upon prior submission of a written application setting forth the location, date, nature, and purpose of such activity.
*All persons using shooting ranges must possess a valid Oklahoma hunting or combination license, unless otherwise exempt.
SHOOTING RANGE RULES
On all Department owned or managed lands, the discharge of firearms for purposes other than while hunting is restricted to the specific target or shooting ranges provided for public use.
1. Shooting ranges are open year-round unless specified otherwise in the Oklahoma Fishing and Hunting Regulations (public hunting lands special area regulations, controlled hunt closures) or signs at the range.
2. Shooting hours are official sunrise to thirty minutes after official sunset, daily.
3. Any person using the shooting range under the age of 16 must be immediately supervised by an adult (18 years old or older).
4. All firearms shooting single projectiles or any pellets larger than conventional BB (.180” dia.) must be shot at approved berms and target areas only. Air-borne clay targets may be shot using pellets no larger than conventional BB (.180” dia.).
5. All rifle, pistol, shotgun, and muzzleloader targets will consist of paper or clay targets only.
6. All paper targets must be removed before leaving the shooting area.
7. Centerfire rifles and pistols .50 caliber and larger are prohibited.
8. Fully automatic firearms are prohibited.
9. Fireworks, explosive devices, exploding targets, tracers, and incendiary rounds are prohibited.
10. Eye and ear protection shall be worn while shooting.
11. Shooters, and accompanying adults, must possess a valid Oklahoma hunting license or Oklahoma combination hunting/fishing license unless exempt.
12. Do not shoot while another shooter is down range.
13. Beer and other alcoholic beverages are prohibited on the shooting range and in the shooting range parking lot.
ARCHERY RANGE RULES
For Department shooting ranges that include an archery area, the following shall apply:
1. The archery range is open year-round unless specified otherwise in the Oklahoma Fishing and Hunting Regulations or signs at the range.
2. Shooting hours are official sunrise to thirty minutes after official sunset, daily.
3. Any person using the shooting range under the age of 16 must be immediately supervised by an adult (18 years old or older).
4. Archers using the elevated platform must wear a safety harness meeting the standards of the Treestand Manufacturers Association and be attached to the platform at all times.
5. Archers may only shoot at stationary targets.
6. Archers must draw and release arrows from the tower or directly below the tower ONLY.
7. All nocked arrows must point down the range at all times.
8. The archery tower is limited to 4 shooters at a time, no spectators are allowed on the archery tower.
9. Do not shoot while another archer is down range.
10. Broadheads may only be used in designated lanes.
11. Shooters, and accompanying adults, must possess a valid Oklahoma hunting license or Oklahoma combination hunting/fishing license unless exempt.
12. Archery targets designed specifically for archery are allowed on the archery range. Archery targets must be removed after use.
13. No firearms are allowed on the archery range.