Fremont County Opens Shooting Range
Published at | Updated at
ST. ANTHONY — Fremont County already offers a wide variety of outdoors sporting activities, and now they have yet another.
The Fremont County Sportsmens Club recently opened a public shooting range north of St. Anthony. It was developed into a public range after much discussion between club treasurer Les Ball, Fremont Sheriff Len Humphries, and St. Anthony Police Chief Terry Harris.
“It was kinda Les Ball’s dream when he moved out here. He wanted a nice place to shoot,” Club President Scott Mace said. “They went to the city council and the county commissioners, and it all started rolling.”
What used to be an old landfill, as well as the law enforcement shooting range, has gone through a total makeover to satisfy gun enthusiasts.
“Scott Mace … and several other members have done a tremendous amount of work out here,” Humphries said. “They’ve done a lot of earth moving, a lot of gravel has been hauled in. In fact as we’re speaking Scott is working on the next phase of the range.
Club members say the Fremont shooting range is a safe, clean environment that is family friendly.
“We’ve created a safe environment where people can go to shoot. We do have range rules. It’s about health and safety, and it’s a protected atmosphere. It gives people a local place to go,” said Frank Molle, club board member.
Humphries said they are already expanding the range, and are ahead of schedule. The shooting range has been funded by grants, and donations from the community as well as the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
“There’ll be a place to shoot shot guns, an archer range is in the works … We’d like to build a classroom out here, and a restroom facilities. Fish and game can offer hunter’s education classes out here, 4-H can offer shooting sports classes out here,” Humphries said. “We can have programs that people would like to participate in.”
The sportsman club say the new facility is beneficial for all involved.
“The community needs something like this. We need it as much as it needs us,” Club Secretary Michael Jones said.