Local Shooting Range Situation

[Colorado Cowboy]

Down here in the 4 Corners area of SW Colorado there are not very many shooting ranges. It is a pretty rural with lots of open land.

Our area has a great shooting club and range ($ Corners Rifle & Pistol Club / 4cornersrifleandpistol.co) with over 500 members. Check out our webpage. We are also a registered non profit corporation. We lease 300+ acres from the State of Colorado for our outdoor range. We have a 10 year lease structure. Currently the yearly payment for the lease is a little over $800.00. We need state permission to make any changes to the property.

Last week we had a meeting with the State Land Board chief for SW Colorado about some changes we want to make, namely a more secure entry gate, security cameras and electric power. The state is OK with everything we want to do. They also mentioned that our lease has 2 more years to run and under the new lease our yearly lease would be $8,000.00 per year! I almost fell over when I heard that. Our dues are $55.00 per year and we have limited resources.

We do lots of things to raise money (Raffles, Hunter Sight-In Days and an annual Gun Show), but it will be difficult to raise that kind of money without a total restructure. We are private, members & guests only at our ranges (we have an indoor range too), but we might have to think about changing that to a pay as you go entry for the general public. Would have to hire a Range Master, insurance situation and lots more problems come with that approach.

I am a past President (3 years) and on the Executive Board, the next 2 years are going to be a challenge!

 

[BKC]

CC, That is hiway robbery, Did they give you a reason for the increase? I wonder what the underlying issue is?

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

All the state land leases funds the Best Program, which is a state funded school improvement program. The state legislature wants more money for schools, so this is an area to get it.

Also found out our "recreational" lease is low priority and if someone else wants the land, we could be in a bidding war at renewal time. (like some deep pocket anti gun group!). We have had the lease for about 50 years.

 

[D_Dubya]

That’s a bigger increase than the price of ammo! 2021 is going to be a tough year for recreational shooters.

 

[Winchester]

Damn CC ... that really stinks !!

 

[JimP]

They have to make up all that money that the legislature spent on the state covid relief fund.

You have to love it when the liberals are in power.

I'm just glad that I can still just go out on BLM land to shoot, but I was out there just the other day checking things out and noticed a trailer about a half a mile away from where I shoot on a piece of private. It doesn't look lived in but who knows.

 

[kidoggy]

places to shoot in idaho won't be a problem till after I am dead and gone . I would feel sorry for the younger generations but frankly , the way most of them think and act , they deserve anything bad that happens to them.

as do we all!

 

[87TT]

So, 500 members times $55 per member is $27,500. Where is all that money going? Even with $8000 lease, that leaves $19,500.

 

[AKaviator]

Wow, that's horrible! How about contacting Senator Boebert about it, she sure is pro gun and might be able to help out!

 

[JimP]

Wow, that's horrible! How about contacting Senator Boebert about it, she sure is pro gun and might be able to help out!

I don't know just how much she could help since state trust lands are managed by the state and has nothing to do with the feds, and she is not liked in Denver where they run things from.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

So, 500 members times $55 per member is $27,500. Where is all that money going? Even with $8000 lease, that leaves $19,500.

Maintenance & repairs on our indoor & outdoor ranges, utilities, Insurance, All overhead and not cheap. Insurance is almost $7,000 per year. We also have a Junior Shooting program where we supply all guns, ammo, and equipment for 30 kids who shoot competitively statewide. (The club pays for everything. ). We do make money on our gunshow and annual raffle. We donate all the equipment and expenses for Hunter Safety Training classes several times a year, support Boy Scouts marksmanship training and the same for 4H kids.

FIGURE IT OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4cornersrifleandpistol.com Check out our website.

 

[Winchester]

Sounds like a great club CC, and yeah, those are some very worthwhile but large expenses.

 

[mallardsx2]

Sorry to hear about your situation.

$55 per member is pretty cheap. Raise your rates to cover the cost. Seems like the only thing you can do.

For comparison there are 1200 members in my club. I pay $120/year. We have 5 stand, 2 trap ranges, 2 skeet ranges, 2 sporting clay's courses, 12 pistol bays, a 10 station rim-fire range, and a 400 yard 25 station rifle range. All of this on 100 acres.

 

[Rich M]

The clubs down here start around 100 per person w various other fees.

I shoot at a guys farm for 10 per day. Usually go 8 or 10 times a year. Like the 250 yard option and lack of general public w the muzzlebrakes on 223s.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

The Executive Committee (I am a member) is considering how we can deal with the situation. Luckily we have several years before a new lease will be in effect.

 

[go_deep]

If you were only paying $2.66 an acre per year for improved land, your club was getting a massive deal for a long time. $26.60 an acre per year for improved land honestly seems pretty reasonable.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

If you were only paying $2.66 an acre per year for improved land, your club was getting a massive deal for a long time. $26.60 an acre per year for improved land honestly seems pretty reasonable.

The land was (and basically IS) not improved. No water or power. Had to do all the "improvements" (grading, berms, gravel, concrete, fencing) ourselves. Most state owned land here in Colorado is not "improved".