Does the metro area have 530 acres for a $22 million mega-sized shooting complex? The state Department of Natural Resources is about to find out.
The DNR has invited metro cities, counties, townships and park boards to offer possible sites by Sept. 7 for what would be the state's largest complex offering indoor and outdoor sport shooting.
The purpose is to encourage more people to hunt and engage in shooting sports, said Dave Schad, the DNR's fish and wildlife director. Such a complex also would be likely to host national competitions.
"The need for additional shooting sports opportunities is pretty evident in the state. We were asked by the state Legislature to take a look at this," Schad said.
Outdoors, patrons would have a choice of 10 skeet fields, 30 traps fields, a 15-station rifle range, an archery range with more than 22 stations and a five-station pistol range. Indoor firearm and archery ranges are planned, as well.
The complex also would have a 90-acre campground that could accommodate 232 motor homes.
Rep. David Dill, DFL-Crane Lake, who authored the site search legislation, said he feels it's important to keep connected to the outdoors.
"Our youth hunter recruitment continues to suffer. It's not just Minnesota; it's all states," he said. "We are trying to bring people into hunting and into shooting sports. You can't expect people to continue to participate when there isn't opportunity."