WEST RIFLE CREEK SWA SHOOTING RANGE WILL CLOSE FOR MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS

RIFLE, Colo. - Colorado Parks and Wildlife is planning major improvements to the shooting range at the West Rifle Creek State Wildlife Area beginning Monday, Aug. 12. When completed, the improved range will provide Garfield County hunters and firearm enthusiasts with a safe, high-end public shooting area.

Scheduled work will improve access, parking and walking areas and includes the construction of several new rifle and pistol lanes. To allow for construction equipment and user safety, the range will be closed for approximately five to six weeks. The rest of the SWA will remain open to the public during the construction phase.

"The current range is not in the best shape and these improvements are needed," said Area Wildlife Manager JT Romatzke. "We are constantly working to provide the public with clean and safe shooting facilities and anyone who has used this range in the past will greatly appreciate the upgrades."

In addition to hunters sighting in their scopes and target practice for firearms enthusiasts, the improvements will aid local law enforcement agencies by providing an appropriate and safe area for firearms training.

Romatzke adds that minor delays pushed the construction start date close to the approaching hunting seasons, but says the overall goal will be worth any inconvenience.

"If construction proceeds as scheduled, we expect that shooters can resume using the facility by the end of September," he said.

The majority of the $150,000 project is funded with sportsmen's dollars in addition to a small percentage coming from federal excise taxes on the sale of hunting and fishing equipment.

During the temporary closure, shooting enthusiast can find an alternate range by visiting wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/ShootingRanges/Pages/NWRanges.aspx

Colorado Parks and Wildlife manages 42 state parks, all of Colorado's wildlife, more than 300 state wildlife areas and a host of recreational programs. To learn more, please visit cpw.state.co.us.