MO Missouri Porch

Target Shooting

Conservation Department ranges

For most people, a Conservation Department (MDC) range is the safest, simplest, and cheapest place to target shoot — staffed or posted, built for this, and open year-round. Here's where they are, what they cost, and the rules you follow when you get there.

MDC runs shooting ranges all over Missouri, and for most people this is the best place to shoot. There are five Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Centers, plus additional staffed and unstaffed ranges — check the current MDC roster for what's near you.

The five Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Centers

Staffed centers, plus other ranges on the roster

  • Andy Dalton

    Greene County, near Springfield

  • August A. Busch

    St. Charles County, near St. Louis

  • Jay Henges

    St. Louis County

  • Lake City

    Jackson County, east of Kansas City

  • Parma Woods

    Platte County, north of Kansas City

The centers are open year-round with covered rifle and pistol booths, shotgun (trap and skeet) where available, archery, and training rooms; eye and ear protection is provided or available — check the range page. Targets and holders are provided.

What it costs

Archery fees and amenities vary by center. Cash or check. Last check-in is 30 minutes before closing.

Unstaffed ranges

There are also several dozen unstaffed ranges on conservation areas — no fee, shoot at your own pace, open about a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset. No one is on site, so you follow the posted rules.

MDC ranges are heavily used across the state, year-round.

When you get to the range

The range rules

  • Eye and ear protection required.
  • Paper targets on the provided holders only (clay only on shotgun and shotshell ranges).
  • No steel-jacketed, steel-core, or armor-piercing bullets, and no tracer or incendiary ammunition.
  • All calibers up to — but not including — .50 BMG.
  • No full-auto fire except by special use permit.
  • No alcohol on the range or in the parking lot.
  • Anyone 15 and under must have adult supervision.
  • Groups over 10 need a special use permit.
  • Follow the range officer; agents may inspect your permit, firearm, and ammunition.

The rule people break most

On a conservation area, shoot only on the designated range

On an MDC conservation area, target shooting is allowed only on a designated range — not just anywhere on the property (except by special use permit). This is the rule people break most. Unstaffed-range hours run about a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset, with paper targets on the provided holders (clay only on shotgun-shell ranges).

Check before you drive

Before you drive out, check the range or district page for hours, last check-in time, closure notices, fees, accepted payment, allowed targets, and ammunition restrictions.

Before you shoot

Missouri Porch explains; the law and the landowner decide.

Last checked: 2026-06-18. Firearm law is serious and changes by city and county — and ranges, fees, and fire restrictions change too. Check the current rule for where you're standing, lead with safety, and when in doubt, use a staffed MDC range.

This is a plain-English summary — not legal advice. Firearm law carries serious penalties and varies by city and county. Check your local ordinance and current state law, and when in doubt, use a staffed MDC range. In an emergency, call 911.

Heads up: Ranges, fees, hours, and ammunition rules change — and not every MDC range is staffed. Check the current MDC roster for the range nearest you before you drive out, and confirm this year's fees, hours, and last check-in time on that range's page.

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