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Give your input on proposed shooting range

When we think about the Upper Peninsula and the places we call home, a common thought that likely comes to many of our minds is hunting.

There are quite a few of us Yoopers who either take part in that activity firsthand or know of at least one person who does. For a lot of us, it’s a family tradition that stretches back generations.

Certainly, hunters can use other tools, but one of those tools used by many is a firearm.

Every November, during firearm deer season, those dedicated souls arise before the sun to strap on their orange and camouflage and journey out into the middle of the dark woods to sit, most of the time alone, and wait for that big buck to come wandering into the open.

There’s no doubt the firearm culture is strong here in the U.P. But that culture isn’t limited to hunting.

The firearm culture is also reflected in a growing number of target shooters in the state, according to Lori Burford, a Michigan Department of Natural Resources shooting range analyst at the Roscommon Customer Service Center.

Burford, in a recent Journal article, pointed out the fact that there are a number of sportsmen’s shooting ranges in the area, such as the Negaunee Rod and Gun Club. But to use that facility, and ones like it, you have to be a member.

So far, there aren’t any publicly accessible shooting ranges in Marquette County, or across the Upper Peninsula for that matter. But that situation may be changing.

The DNR is hosting a meeting to discuss the potential development of a new shooting range in Marquette County that would be open to the public.

DNR staff members are expected to share a list of potential shooting range locations they have been developing, on which they’ll gather public comment, as well as listen to suggestions of other possible locations.

While the process to develop a public shooting range may take several years to complete, it seems like a decent topic to look into from the state’s perspective and the stance it has taken on improving recreational amenities.

For the hunters who aren’t sportsmen club members, but still want to practice for the perfect shot, a publicly accessible shooting range would likely be a welcome addition. The number of target shooters is growing, and it is a recreational opportunity the DNR is looking forward to improving.

There should be plenty of time to fully evaluate whether the project is an appropriate one to be developed with state funding, and time to find a location that is suitable and as accommodating as possible.

The DNR will still have to complete the range design, and consider any environmental and neighborhood concerns there may be. Overall, they expect completion of the project in two years or so. But public involvement, as always, is crucial in any process, and the first opportunity to get involved in this project is by making your voice heard.

Mining Journal (Marquette)

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