One goal of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) is enhancing public shooting opportunities across the state, a campaign which began in 2015. ODWC is working to ensure hunters, along with recreational and competitive shooters, have safe, accessible places to enhance their skills through new construction and extensive renovations at shooting ranges on wildlife management areas (WMAs).
2026 has been a busy year for shooting ranges in Oklahoma!
A new range was built at Copan WMA. It opened for public use in February 2026 and offers a 50-yard pistol range, a 100-yard rifle range, and an archery range with an elevated shooting platform. The new range includes Americans with Disabilities Act access and parking along with a vault restroom.
This year has also seen the renovation and expansion of projects at Lexington and Canton WMAs. The renovation of the Pushmataha WMA range is scheduled for this fall.
With funding assistance from the federal Wildlife Restoration Program and its Public Target Range subaccount, along with the generosity of donors, ODWC has completed 14 shooting range projects since 2017, with plans for additional sites to be newly built or upgraded through 2032 and beyond.
Completed Shooting Ranges
| Location | Type | Completion Year |
|---|---|---|
| Cherokee WMA | Renovation/Expansion | 2017 |
| Lexington WMA | Renovation/Expansion | 2017 |
| Pushmataha WMA | Renovation/Expansion | 2019 |
| Beaver WMA | Renovation/Expansion | 2019 |
| Okmulgee WMA | Renovation/Expansion | 2021 |
| James Collins WMA | Renovation/Expansion | 2021 |
| Packsaddle WMA | New Construction | 2023 |
| Kaw WMA | New Construction | 2023 |
| Atoka WMA | New Construction | 2024 |
| Optima WMA | Renovation | 2025 |
| Copan WMA | New Construction | 2026 |
| Canton WMA | Renovation/Expansion | 2026 |
| Lexington WMA | Renovation/Expansion | 2026 |
| Pushmataha WMA | Renovation/Expansion | 2026 |
Each new and renovated facility will include metal covered shooting stations with benches and tables, target stands, side berms, backstops, ADA access, fencing, gates, and parking areas. Depending on the site, additional features may include restrooms and ranges for long-distance rifle shooting beyond 100 yards, pistol, archery and/or shotgun shooting.
These facilities aim to play a vial role in supporting Oklahoma’s hunters and sport shooters, reflecting on ODWC’s commitment to meeting the growing demand for public shooting access.
Whether a range site is being renovated, expanded, or newly built, most projects must go through environmental assessment, engineering, then construction. Each phase will vary in time required to complete the project before moving on to the next step, as each site has unique characteristics that require site-specific planning.
If you haven’t had a chance to visit one of ODWC’s shooting ranges, now is the perfect time to find one near you and go sight-in your rifle or brush up on your bow skills before hunting season.
All ODWC shooting range users are required to hold a valid Oklahoma hunting license or combo hunting/fishing license, unless exempt.