New handgun shooting opportunities coming to the Rose Lake State Wildlife Area shooting range

Contact: Aiden McLearon, 517-641-4903

Agency: Natural Resources

June 6, 2012

The Department of Natural Resources will temporarily close portions of the Rose Lake State Wildlife Area shooting range in Clinton County for the construction of a new handgun range, starting June 11. During construction the rifle and pistol area will be closed on weekdays and open on Saturdays and Sundays. The archery and hand trap area will remain open on regularly scheduled days. Work is scheduled to be completed by Thursday, July 12.

The new handgun range will feature five covered, accessible stations where visitors can shoot their handguns at 10 yards.

"This and other upgrades at the Rose Lake range - including new concrete sidewalks and automatic clay target throwers available Sundays during the summer months - make it a great destination for Michigan shooters," said Dennis Fox, DNR Recruitment and Retention Section manager.

Funding for all of the recent renovations at Rose Lake shooting range come from a combination of sources, including the Natural Resources Trust Fund, federal Pittman-Robertson Act funds and state restricted funds (shooting range program income).

The range is open Nov. 16 - Sept. 30 five days per week, Thursday through Monday. From Oct. 1-31, the range is open six days per week, Wednesday through Monday. From Nov. 1-15, the range is open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information about the Rose Lake State Wildlife Area shooting range, please call 517-641-7801 or visit www.michigan.gov/shootingranges.

Shooters are reminded to bring eye and ear protection and approved targets with either a bull's eye pattern or a depiction of legal game. Shooters under the age of 16 must be supervised by an adult.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.