COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife, in partnership with the National Shooting Sports Foundation, is inviting Ohioans to participate in a Free Range Day on Saturday, August 17. The event will be held at three of Ohio’s top public shooting ranges, offering a unique opportunity for hands-on firearms experience at no cost.
The Free Range Day, which runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., waives the usual shooting range permit requirement at all Division of Wildlife Class A, B, and C shooting ranges. This special event is part of National Shooting Sports Month, aimed at promoting safe and responsible recreational target shooting.
Participants can visit one of the following Division of Wildlife public shooting ranges:
- Deer Creek Wildlife Area: Corner of State Route 207 and Cook Yankeetown Road NE, Mt. Sterling, OH 43143
- Delaware Wildlife Area: 1110 State Route 229, Ashley, OH 43003
- Spring Valley Wildlife Area: 3570 Houston Road, Waynesville, OH 45068
Certified instructors will be on-site to provide guidance, along with all necessary equipment, ammunition, and protective gear. Whether you’re a seasoned shooter or a beginner, this event offers a safe and welcoming environment to practice your skills.
The Division of Wildlife’s public shooting ranges are designed to cater to a variety of shooting interests. Class A ranges offer supervised rifle and pistol target shooting, Class B ranges provide unsupervised rifle and pistol target shooting, and Class C ranges focus on unsupervised clay target shotgun shooting.
While the permit requirement is waived on Free Range Day, those interested in shooting at Division of Wildlife ranges at other times must purchase a permit. Daily permits cost $5, and annual permits are available for $24, purchasable through hunting and fishing license outlets, wildohio.gov, or the HuntFish OH mobile app.
Recreational target shooting is a popular and economically significant activity in Ohio. In 2022, approximately 1.1 million Ohioans engaged in target shooting, contributing $2.6 billion to the state’s economy and supporting over 22,000 jobs. Outdoor ranges, like those operated by the Division of Wildlife, are used by 71% of target shooters in Ohio.
The ODNR Division of Wildlife is dedicated to conserving and enhancing Ohio’s fish and wildlife resources and their habitats. For more information about Free Range Day and other events, visit wildohio.gov.
As ODNR celebrates 75 years of protecting Ohio’s natural resources in 2024, the department continues to balance the wise use and conservation of these resources for the benefit of all. Learn more at ohiodnr.gov.
