LINCOLN – Construction has begun on a new, family-friendly shooting complex at Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area near Gering.

The facility will be geared toward families of beginners and novices who want to learn, develop and hone shooting sports skills.

The facility will include a 50-yard small-bore rifle range for .22 caliber rifles with 10 shooting stations, a 100-yard rifle sight-in range, a 60-yard archery range with nearly 20 shooting stations, a 60-yard shotgun range for trap shooting or 5-stand, and an indoor, 10-yard pellet gun range with 10 shooting stations.

"As we have experienced at Platte River State Park and Ponca State Park, these shooting facilities are a tremendous complement to parks and recreation areas," said Jim Swenson, parks administrator with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. "These facilities bring many new visitors into Nebraska parks for a more complete outdoor experience. This facility will provide a user-friendly and family-friendly shooting sports and outdoor skills education center set in a fun and safe environment. It will be a phenomenal education center in the western part of the state."

Work by contractor Paul Reed Construction of Gering has begun. The facility, located adjacent to the Nature Center, is scheduled to open to the public in 2016.

The facility is being built in part with the help of a donation by the Robert B. Daugherty Foundation.

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Contact:
Jerry Kane
Public Information Officer | jerry.kane@nebraska.gov | 402.471.5008