Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will open the gates to the new public Bay County Shooting Range, starting Friday, Oct. 10.
While the first phase of the 119-acre range is still under construction, several components of the project are completed and ready for use by the public. The 100-yard rifle, 50/25-yard rifle and 50-foot pistol ranges are finished, as well as parking and stormwater management areas. A combination classroom, restroom and maintenance building remains under construction as part of Phase 1 and will be completed in the coming weeks.
“This project has been anxiously awaited by the public,” Bay County Commission Chairman Guy Tunnell said. “We are thrilled to offer this much-needed amenity to the community, and we’re grateful to the FWC and the National Rifle Association (NRA) for their continued support of our efforts.”
The second phase of the project includes a 15-position sporting clays course, and the final phase includes archery, trap and skeet fields. Bay County employees are building the project in-house using $200,000 in recreation impact fees. Additionally, the NRA contributed $25,000 to the FWC for the planning and design of the facility. FWC is committed to the continual operation of the facility and is investing approximately $200,000 in equipment needed for the sporting clays, trap and skeet fields.
The fee for use of the shooting range is $10 per day.
“A low-cost, public gun range is in high demand, and we’re proud to be able to bring this to the people of Bay County,” Tunnell said. “This project will encourage gun safety and responsible gun ownership while providing a much-needed venue for the public to enjoy shooting sports.”
FWC operates similar facilities throughout the state and will manage Bay County’s facility.
“This range helps alleviate a shortage of public recreational shooting facilities in Florida and will allow for FWC to hold hunter safety courses and for responsible gun owners to practice the safe handling of a firearm,” Will Burnett, FWC Northwest Region Hunter Safety coordinator, said.
“This partnership will have a positive influence on FWC’s hunter safety program and responsible gun owners for generations to come.”
The range is located at 10900 Steel Field Road and will be open from 8:00AM – 5:00PM Saturday and Sunday and from 9:00AM to 5:00PM Monday, Thursday, and Friday. For more information about the facility, please call the Range Manager at (850) 233-5005.
