Farragut Shooting Range To Open May 16

The Farragut Shooting Range is opening for the 2014 season on Friday May 16th. It will be open every Friday from noon until 7 p.m. and every Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until 5 p.m. through the first week in November. The range is managed by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) and has been the recipient of several IDFG range grants for safety upgrades. The NRA has also been a major financial supporter of range safety improvements at Farragut and is providing an additiona $25,000 this year to continue safety improvements. With the addition of this year's grant, NRA support for the range comes to nearly $90,000. "I am very appreciative of the NRA's strong support of the Farragut Range and excited about this year's grant," said Idaho Fish and Game's Dave Leptich who has overseen safety improvements. Leptich manages the range for IDFG in cooperation with staff at Farragut State Park where the range is located. "This year's $25,000 grant is allowing us to initiate and complete improvements to the 50-yard handgun and small-bore range." Lepitch said. Although the range reopened to the use of rifles last year, handgun use is still prohibited until the 50-yard range safety improvements are completed. "We've heard from the shooting community and there is tremendous demand for the new pistol range. I expect as much as half of the range use will be handguns once that venue is opened," said Leptich. The handgun range is currently closed but should open during the 2014 shooting season. IDFG is installing a new 12 position armored shooting shed and overhead safety baffles on the 50-yard range to eliminate any chance of accidental fire directly into the down range safety zone. Last year, only the 100-yard rifle range was available. This year IDFG is opening both a 12 position 200-yard rifle range; and, four positions of informal trap shooting for those who would like to learn shotgun skills. The user fee for the range is a modest $5.00 per day. New this year is range access using Perimeter Road on the east side of the Park. This allows those who are only using the range to avoid paying the Farragut State Park entrance fee on top of the range use fee. Those who wish to take advantage of other Farragut State Park facilities will still need either purchase an annual park pass or pay the daily use fee. For more information contact Dave Leptich at the IDFG Regional Office (208) 769-1414 or the Farragut State Park Visitors Center (208) 683-2425.