After years of deliberation and planning, South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks is leading the development of a 400-acre shooting sports complex in the western part of the state.
According to GF&P officials, the South Dakota Shooting Sports Complex is designed with all shooting sport enthusiast in mind. The complex will offer options for hunters, recreational shooters, beginners, and law enforcement.
John Kanta is a Regional Terrestrial Resource Supervisor for South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks. He said choosing a site location for the complex took years.
“It wasn’t until late 2021 that we identified this piece of property. And so, we looked at a few other pieces of property that weren’t as ideal. Meaning they weren’t as conveniently located to the communities here in the Black Hills. Didn’t have the topography and maybe the setting that we found in this property,” said Kanta.
The complex is planned to be built in Meade County. This was a point of contention for some landowners who live near the proposed property site. Meade County Commissioners were unable to be reached for comment.
GF&P said the complex will offer two main shooting locations. The southern end range will offer long- and mid-range shooting as well as a bunker trap and skeet area.
The northern end range is designed to be used as a versatile training bay, offering action bays, sporting clays, and tactical training buildings.
Kanta said the complex will be equipped to host national-level shooting sport competitions and provide an excellent training ground for all disciplines.
He said there will also be learning opportunities for people new to shooting sports.
“We’ll welcome folks out there that are beginning shooters, so if they’ve never shot before, we want them out there. We’ll have classes, we will show them how to safely handle a gun, all of those things. We’re going to have facilities for education, outreach, and of course those shooting competition - so just a world-class facility here,” said Kanta.
GF&P will manage the facility full-time, assisted by seasonal and part time staff.
Kanta said the foundational dirt work for the complex should begin by early 2024.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comment on a draft update to the project's environmental assessment. More information is available on the GF&P's website.
