WI Shooting Range

[nighthawkf-117]

Hello!

Unsure if this is the best forum for this. But I recently moved to River Falls WI and im looking for a place to shoot longer distances. My local range goes out to 200 yard which isn't bad, but I definitely want to be able to shoot to at least 500. Anyone know anywhere in western WI where can shoot that far?

I'm willing to drive to find somewhere. I've also thought about driving to middle of nowhere northern WI to set up a target myself, but it sounds like that may be legally frowned upon.

Thanks!

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Not sure on your state “rules” but is there no BLM land near you to check out?

 

[Djacker]

Eau claire national rifle club. You can shoot 600 yards. I was a member for a few years.

 

[Lawnboi]

The up north thing is only fine for federal land and limited state land but you’re going to have a hard time finding spots to safely shoot any longer than a couple hundred yards.

 

[nighthawkf-117]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll check out the Eau Claire rifle club

 

[WiscoHoundsman]

There is a free one at the Josie creek camp ground in rusk county. Has a pistol range 100 yard range and a 600 yard range. It looks like a 2 + hour drive though. It is a nice free range that has covered shooting benches

 

[Maidenfan539]

Check with some local farmers in the area. I've had good luck in the spring on old bean and corn fields. If there's alfalfa farm roads work.

 

[nighthawkf-117]

There is a free one at the Josie creek camp ground in rusk county. Has a pistol range 100 yard range and a 600 yard range. It looks like a 2 + hour drive though. It is a nice free range that has covered shooting benches

Any idea if it's open during the winter? I need a few practice sessions before NRL Hunter and it looks like the Eau Claire range isn't open past 100 yards until March

 

[gsp1]

Summit Lake Game Farm in Stone Lake, south of Hayward, has steel plates set from 100 to 1000 yards. Its open to the public.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Have you checked around Minneapolis/St. Paul. I know, I know that means going into Vikings territory, but might be a possibility.

 

[WiscoHoundsman]

Any idea if it's open during the winter? I need a few practice sessions before NRL Hunter and it looks like the Eau Claire range isn't open past 100 yards until March

Not sure but you could call https://parks.ruskcounty.org/parks/camping/josie_creek_campground/
I have only been there in the summer and would guess if there’s lots of snow they are not plowing it or anything like that.

 

[Scottyboy]

Have you checked around Minneapolis/St. Paul. I know, I know that means going into Vikings territory, but might be a possibility.

There is nothing around the cities, he would have to go to gopher in Harris to shoot 1000 but it’s private…and a PITA to become a member at.

 

[Murph8868]

Its a little over an hour from you but they have out to 300yds. Its a nice place, check the hours before you drive.

Owen Anderson Public Shooting Range

Owen Anderson Public Shooting Range · 760 9th Ave, Clayton, WI 54004

âââââ · Shooting range

maps.app.goo.gl

 

[wind gypsy]

There is nothing around the cities, he would have to go to gopher in Harris to shoot 1000 but it’s private…and a PITA to become a member at.

Gopher is the best range I’m aware of in the region but I absolutely concur that maintaining membership is a PITA. I forgot to renew my membership one year before Jan 1st and they make you go to a bunch of board meetings and spend a bundle of money all over again to renew. Wasn’t worth 6 hrs of drive time and the initial membership fees for me to renew again.

They do offer public open range days on one night a week at 600-1000 yd range in the summers (distance depends on where everyone else is shooting because shooting location changes rather than target distance from a single firing line.

I think there’s 600 yds or so down by prior lake that’s available to paid public shooters occasionally? Never been.

There are one day bench steel matches through winter near Princeton too that I plan to check out. I think it only goes to 600 yds though?

 

[Scottyboy]

Prior lake is horse and hunt club, not worth going. Further south on 169 towards St. Peter is caribou, which has a nice 500yd range but certainly not worth the drive from WI. Pretty much sucks here eh?

 

[Balderdash]

Shioctin has 585 yds at a public range. Might be a bit of a drive for you, but It's a very nice facility. I usually meet friends there a couple times per year as it's pretty equal drive for all of us.

I shoot on public ground in northern WI fairly frequently. Best to check with the appropriate land administration group - county/state/federal - to confirm its OK in the area you plan to use before you start hammering away. For up to 300 yds I have a couple of gravel pits on public ground that are pretty much de facto public ranges because a few locals also use them for shooting, and AFAIK, no one has ever been hassled for it.

For longer range out to 800 I have a large beaver meadow, the edge of a small flowage that usually gets drawn down in fall to expose a long stretch of shoreline with nice banks for back stops, and a power line right of way. These spots were carefully selected to be in fairly remote areas in which I'm not likely to raise any concerns by neighbors or passers by. I try to keep use to fall and early and late winter, and I usually go alone or with 1 other person to keep the shots spaced out and at least a little less numerous.

We've also shot large clear cuts from time to time, but the issue you're going to find in most WI woods is that everything grows back so fast that unless it's being mowed, you're lucky to get a season or two before it's too brushy to even see very far.

The advice to find a farmer willing to let you shoot is also very good. A friend of mine has a friend who invites us to shoot in late fall and winter on his farm, where we can get to 880 yds. We can drive right up to our shooting area and to the targets, which is really handy if we don't have all day.