WARSAW, OH -- "Home on the Range" has taken on a new twist for sportsmen and women in scenic Coshocton County. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife recently opened the Woodbury Shooting Range, which is located just off State Route 541 approximately seven miles west of Coshocton.
This is good news for outdoor enthusiasts receiving firearms for Christmas because they will have an opportunity to try out their gift at the new range. Deer hunters can sight in muzzleloaders prior to the opening of the statewide primitive weapons season on December 27. Families that enjoy shooting sports will be able to spend the day together in a safe and controlled environment.
According to wildlife officials, the ODNR Division of Wildlife provides shooting ranges at several areas throughout the state. The Woodbury range is unique in size and offerings. Built on reclaimed strip-mined lands, the range will accommodate up to 55 shooters at one time on the 550 feet of firing line. There are 25, 50, 100, and 200-yard ranges and a shotgun area for trap shooting. Persons interested in shooting clay birds are advised to bring both birds and throwers. Throwers will be installed on the range at a later date.
An archery range is adjacent the 25-yard shooting range and the division plans to develop a walk-through 3-D archery range in the future.
What does it take to build a shooting range? According to ODNR Division of Wildlife Chief Michael J. Budzik, it not only takes money and expertise, it takes teamwork and partnerships. "The enthusiasm of the division staff was inspiring," said Budzik. "With their expertise and hard work, plus the cooperation and generosity of local agencies, this project is now a tremendous asset to the area and sportsmen and women," Budzik continued.
Funding for the project was provided primarily from ODNR Division of Wildlife monies derived from the sale of licenses and permits. Other assistance was provided in the form of labor and materials. R & F Coal Company completed the earth moving for the range as part of their reclamation efforts. American Electric Power's Conesville Plant provided base material consisting of fly ash valued at $27,000 for the parking lot, with all costs absorbed by AEP. Luberg, Inc., an independent contractor, hauled and compacted the base material, and constructed the shotgun range parking lot, which greatly exceeded their original scope of work to be performed. This resulted in an $11,000 savings for the Division of Wildlife. Residents of the Chillicothe Correctional Institute built shooting benches, while numerous local contractors provided materials, labor, and technical assistance.
According to project coordinator, Tim Shearer, AEP's Conesville Plant not only provided the base materials, but they obtained the necessary permit approval from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. "Without the assistance of AEP's Conesville Plant and Luberg, Inc., the range would not have met our opening date nor our budget constraints. On behalf of the sportsmen and women, as well as the ODNR Division of Wildlife, I extend our gratitude to these companies for their assistance" stated Shearer.
Range construction was guided by the National Rifle Association and the National Shooting Sports Foundation, as well as professionals within the ODNR Division of Wildlife. A lead recycling system was installed in the backstops to insure that no lead will leave the shooting range except through approved recycling methods.
The range is open annually March through December, Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 5 p.m. The range will be closed in January and February. User fee is $3 per day or $25 per year. The annual fee for persons providing their hunting or fishing license is $10.
For more information on the Woodbury Shooting Range, contact the Woodbury Wildlife Area at (740) 824-3211 or the ODNR Division of Wildlife at (740) 594-2211.