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In July
1996, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission authorized the establishment
of a Federal Aid to Sports Fish and Wildlife project dealing with
shooting ranges, leading to the organization of the Statewide Shooting
Ranges Project.
This
project oversees four Arizona Game & Fish Department-owned
and citizen-managed ranges, including the direct operation of the
Ben Avery Shooting Facility and the administration of a grants
program to provide $50,000 of state game and fish funds to shooting
ranges.
Years
ago, the commission authorized department funds to be made available
for a grants program to assist with the development of safe places
for shooters to practice and receive instruction in Hunter Education
and firearms safety. The commission details the direction and support
of this program under its Shooting Range Development policy.
The Arizona
Game and Fish Commission encourages development, maintenance and/or
operation of shooting ranges to:
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Support
the Hunter Education Program
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Promote
safe hunting and shooting practices
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Provide
the public with safe shooting areas throughout Arizona
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Encourage
hunters to become more proficient with their hunting equipment
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Support
law enforcement
The Commission
directs that the Department shall actively pursue the development,
maintenance and/or operation of ranges in those population areas
lacking facilities, or those with demonstrated needs. The Commission
also directs the Department to encourage the upgrading of existing
facilities as appropriate.
To accomplish
this, the Commission will provide funds annually as authorized
by the legislature; granting or denying a request for funds is
at the discretion of the Commission.
Each
proposed project shall be investigated, evaluated and programmed
on its own merit. All partnerships, leases and cooperative ventures
entered into shall be granted according to law and to rules and
regulations of the Commission.
Financial
support, through the Shooting Ranges Development Grants, has been
awarded to ranges located in all areas of the state. "Shooting" includes
archery and firearms. A wide variety of projects have been funded,
including backstops, berms, clay bird throwers, access roads and
parking lots, shooting line covers, range fencing, buildings and
restrooms.
In 1999
the Arizona State Legislature passed a state law that allows an
additional $50,000 of general state tax revenues to be added to
the commission's $50,000 for range relocation and sound abatement
projects.
There
are presently three active grants: a clubhouse for the Usery Mountain
Shooting Range (Mesa), operated by the Rio Salado Sportsman Club;
parking lots for the Three Points Range (Tucson), operated by the
Tucson Rifle Club; and handicapped improvements to the Seven Mile
Range (Kingman), operated by the Kingman Sportsman Club. A recent
inventory of ranges in Arizona by local Wildlife Managers identified
103 ranges in the state. Any range that allows public use of the
features provided by the grant funding is eligible for participation
in the grants program.
You may
view the grant documents, a workbook for new shooting ranges, and
other Arizona materials on the National Association of Shooting
Range's Web page at www.rangeinfo.org under the topic STATES.
With
the commission's policy as a guide, the Ben Avery Shooting Facility
has made great strides in recruitment of new recreational shooters.
The number of shooter days has grown from 57,000 in fiscal 1996
to 120,000 in fiscal 2000. Women shooter days has increased 76%
and junior shooter days 71%.
Several
projects at the facility have contributed to this growth: an expenditure
of over $800,000 in redevelopment and maintenance funds which has
resulted in a safer and cleaner facility environment; the institution
of "league night" on Thursdays, which concentrates on
family activities such as a junior program; a "guns and gals" ladies
program; and bull's-eye's pistol and practical pistol matches.
There is some type of sporting event for every member of the family,
and plans include archery and rifle silhouette.
A series
of free daily passes is offered. Last year over 1,000 of these
were redeemed. These passes include
New Student
Certificates: Arizona is a concealed carry (CCW) state. Over 20
companies teach CCW at Ben Avery. Management noticed that a large
number of these students were women and new shooters. A new student
certificate is issued to the CCW instructor and is given to the
student as an enticement to return to Ben Avery for practice. The
redemption rate on this pass is very high, and it is a major contributor
for the recruitment of new women shooters.
New Firearms
and New Bow Certificates: These are issued to participating firearms
and archery stores who give the certificates to customers purchasing
firearms and bows. This is another popular pass and introduces
new gun owners to the facility.
Safe
Shooter Passes: These are given to the rangemasters who may pass
them out at their discretion. The "targets" of these
passes are shooters who help others with firearms safety or with
assisting juniors.
Rangemaster
Passes: A rangemaster may write "rangemaster pass" on
the back of his business card that is redeemable as a free daily
pass. These are great public relations passes. These have been
passed out at Chamber of Commerce meetings, convention and visitor
bureau meetings, and once to two people who were sharing a table
in Las Vegas. They are now regular shooters!
Show
Passes: The facility takes part in shows such as the Greater Phoenix
Convention and Visitor Bureau's Fair and the Women's Expo and gives
out passes worth 50% off the daily fee. Feedback (via the redemption
rate) helps determine if that particular show was productive for
the program.
Thank
You Certificates: These are issued in special circumstances. An
excellent example was the local fire company that came out and
restrung the flagpole. All the firefighters received a "thank
you" certificate, and they were all redeemed.
A survey
taken during the first month of operation of the Facility by the
Department in late 1995 profiled our shooters. On the average--
38% of the shooters had children who were 13.8 years old. They
made 19.5 trips to the range each year, 3.25 of which were for
sighting in their hunting guns and stayed 3.12 hours per trip.
69% hunt and have hunted for 18.8 years. 29% had children who hunted.
43% of the adult shooters took Hunter Education Classes, and of
the children who hunted 94% have taken Hunter Education classes.
We are presently conducting another survey to determine if our
programs have changed any of these averages.
Ben Avery
Shooting Facility does not concentrate on membership and events.
Over 45% of customers do not belong to shooting clubs or participate
in events. Instead, the emphasis is on providing customers with
a place where they feel their children are safe, and where customers
can enjoy fun and family-friendly recreational activities in a
welcoming environment.
For more information,
contact:
Don Turner
Phone: (602) 789-3912 • FAX: 623-582-5317 • e-mail basfaz@basfaz.com
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