Northern Arizona Shooting Range Comes Under Fire!

After nearly 17 years of effort to locate and acquire a site suitable for a shooting range near Flagstaff, the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGF) purchased the privately-owned Foster Ranch located within the Coconino National Forest. Because the site is not far from the Walnut Canyon National Monument, opposition surfaced over the effect on the Monument’s wildlife and visitors from the sound of gunfire.  AZGF wildlife studies have concluded that harm will not come to wildlife and the agency has stated that it will incorporate sound-dampening measures in the design and construction of the shooting range. 

One of the groups rallying opposition to the range is the Center for Biological Diversity which, not long ago, launched a campaign to have lead ammunition banned nationwide.  The opponents were successful in persuading the city of Flagstaff to pass a resolution opposing the range and have now set their sights on the Coconino Board of Supervisors to do the same. 

In spite of this intense pressure, AZGF is standing firm on its commitment to have a shooting range constructed and opened to the public and law enforcement agencies by 2013.  But to do this, AZGF needs to show strong community and public support for the Northern Arizona Shooting Range.   

If you live in Coconino County, please contact your Supervisor and urge him or her to support the Northern Arizona Shooting Range at Foster Ranch. Contact information can be found here. The Foster Ranch property is the only site available for a shooting range in reasonable proximity to Flagstaff. 

In the near future, AZGF will be hosting an open house to discuss the design of the range.  NRA will notify you when that information becomes available and will ask that you attend the open house as another way of showing support.