Access to the rifle/pistol range located at the Tranquility Wildlife Area near Peebles will remain closed indefinitely, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
Continual drainage issues and backstop erosion have made the range a safety concern. Evaluations by a range consultant have been completed and an action plan is being considered. No work to repair or enhance the ranges will take place during the remainder of 2016 and no plans are finalized as of yet for 2017. The public will be notified as a plan of action is decided for the range.
The public is reminded that it is unlawful to discharge a firearm in non-designated areas.
An alternative to the Tranquility shooting range is the Spring Valley Wildlife Area Class A Shooting Range. The Spring Valley range is a pistol/rifle range and supplies target holders, shooting benches and restroom facilities and is completely ADA accessible.
Class “A” ranges require a shooting range permit for all persons 18 years and older. Range permits are available at all hunting and fishing license outlets and online at wildohio.gov. Permits are not sold at the ranges and must be purchased before arriving.
Legal targets on all shooting ranges are single sheet paper targets only. Shooters must supply their own target holders, which must meet the approval of the shooting range attendant. Grand River and Spring Valley supply target holders. The shooting of fully automatic firearms and rapid fire of semi-automatic firearms are strictly prohibited at all state owned ranges in Ohio.
Visitors can purchase one of two permits to use the ranges: a $24 annual shooting range permit allows the permit holder to access any of the five Division of Wildlife owned Class “A” ranges throughout the year or a $5 one-day shooting range permit.
For more information about shooting ranges and rules visit wildohio.gov. Private shooting ranges located across Ohio can be found at National Shooting Sports Foundation website http://wheretoshoot.org/Find_Range/index.asp.
Submitted by Kathy Garza-Behr, ODNR Division of Wildlife.
