Lincoln neighbors push for public shooting range near town
Lincoln neighbors want a public shooting range to replace scattered shooting on unmanaged land, but state officials sent the 640-acre plan into a stricter review.
State land managers moved Lincoln neighbors’ shooting-range proposal into a more rigorous review on June 15 after no official application had been submitted for the 640-acre parcel north of Montana Highway 200 and east of Lincoln. The site is now under a grazing lease and borders private property, and nearby landowners spoke against the plan at the Montana Land Board meeting.
The Lincoln Sportsmen’s Club and the Montana Shooting Sports Association link the lack of managed shooting facilities in the Lincoln area to target shooting on unmanaged lands, where it creates trespass, fire, litter and administrative problems. The proposal is backed by the Lincoln Sportsmen’s Club and the Montana Shooting Sports Association. The groups have pressed for a public facility close to town rather than continued scattered use of public ground.
Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen urged her fellow Land Board members to consider the range as a community solution. It could provide an established place for hunter sight-in, youth firearms safety, hunter education and possibly competitions. Jacobsen pointed to her own experience learning firearm safety at C.R. Anderson Middle School in Helena and argued that similar instruction should be available to young people across Montana. County commissioners and sheriffs, including in Lewis and Clark County, support the effort.
Brian Patzer, president of the Lincoln Sportsmen’s Club, outlined rifle and pistol ranges, large- and small-caliber shooting areas, a trap range, a black powder range and an archery course for the planned facility. It could be much larger than a single berm or backstop.
The parcel sits on state trust land, which Montana manages to generate revenue for public schools and other public institutions. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has operated a shooting-range grant program since 1989, using money from hunting-license sales to help clubs, private groups, local governments and school districts build or improve ranges.
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