BOZEMAN, MT — A local interagency working group will host an open house on Thursday, October 7 from 6pm to 8:30pm in the Community Room on the third floor of the Gallatin County Courthouse to discuss potential safe target shooting site(s) identified through the efforts of an interagency partner group. The open house is also an opportunity for groups interested in managing potential site(s) to come forward and begin working with the interagency working group.

The interagency working group began exploring options for safe target shooting locations near Bozeman in the spring of 2017. The group includes representation from the Gallatin County Commission and Sheriff’s Office, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Forest Service, and a State House Representative. Criteria for determining potential locations include sites that provide for a high level of safety, have enough space for parking, are environmentally friendly, provide short and/or long distance shooting opportunities, and are accessible in the summer and/or winter time.  The group has also had participation from the City of Bozeman, Bureau of Land Management, Montana State University, local community members, and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

The working group has identified several potential locations that meet the criteria, including three sites on National Forest System lands and one on State of Montana lands.  The open house will update the community on the history of the partner group, the criteria developed to identify potential locations, display potential sites that could be developed into safe target shooting locations, and solicit interest from local groups to manage the potential site(s).

At this time, there is no proposal for moving forward with the development of any sites.

For additional information please contact the Bozeman Ranger District at (406) 522-2520 or Gallatin County at (406) 582-3008