DES MOINES - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has taken over the daily operation of the Banner Shooting Range in Summerset State Park, north of Indianola, after a contract with a private vendor expired in October.
Banner Shooting Range is a popular, multi-use shooting facility that offers a safe, clean, family friendly shooting environment for handguns, rifles and shotguns. Range safety offers are on-site during all hours of operation to provide safety instruction to customers and are available for any firearms or DNR related program questions or information. In 2010 the DNR plans to add a variety of educational and firearms safety related programs for the public to attend at the range.
“Having the range management under our department will provide the public additional services, and fit with our education, and outreach effort as we work to recruit and retain hunters and shooters in the hunter education and the shooting sports programs,” said Megan Wisecup, recreational safety programs supervisor for the Iowa DNR.
The shooting range underwent a renovation a few years ago and now provides updated facilities including sheltered shooting benches, hard service parking lot, and on-site staff. A concession building on site offers a variety of ammunition, targets, miscellaneous shooting supplies, hunting and fishing licenses, snacks, and beverages for purchase by range users, park visitors and bicyclists.
"As the range program expands, additional staffed facilities like the Banner Shooting Range will be built throughout the state," said Wisecup. “And additional stand alone unstaffed ranges on public land will also see improvements and be expanded.”
All proceeds from the range will go towards daily operation, range supply inventory, and facility improvements at the range.
Iowa Sportsman
http://www.iowasportsman.com/article.php/20091113102119386