A recent change to a Kentucky administrative regulation now requires most users of shooting ranges on lands managed by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to obtain a permit.
The amended rule, which completed the legislative approval process and is now in effect, applies to firearms and archery use on any shooting range that is owned, leased, managed or affiliated with the department. Users must have either an annual shooting range permit or a one-day permit.
According to the department, the permit system is intended to provide better information about how many people use the ranges, support safe range use and help fund maintenance, improvements and potential new range development.
The measure amends 301 KAR 3:015, which governs shooting ranges on department-owned or managed lands.
The permit is free for Kentucky residents and non-residents ages 16 and older who already hold an annual Kentucky hunting or fishing license. These license holders must select the shooting range permit separately in their online license profile, as it is not automatically added.
People who do not have an annual hunting or fishing license must purchase a shooting range permit. The fee is $26.43 for an annual permit for the license year, or $5.29 for a one-day permit. Youth 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Participants in department-administered or affiliated events held on department-managed, leased or affiliated shooting ranges are exempt from the permit requirement. Participants in authorized group or club events at those ranges are also exempt, but clubs must provide the department with a list of participants.
Under 301 KAR 3:001, a shooting range is defined as a public facility on lands owned or managed by the department through ownership, lease, license or cooperative agreement, or a facility owned or managed by an affiliated partner of the department that is designated for shooting firearms or archery equipment.
Department properties where a shooting range permit is required include:
Curtis Gates Lloyd WMA
Tube rifle range
Archery range
Club-operated skeet, trap and multi-purpose ranges
Higginson-Henry WMA
Tube rifle range
John A. Kleber WMA
Tube rifle range
Pistol pit
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Headquarters
Archery range
Miller Welch–Central KY WMA
Tube rifle range
Archery range
Club-operated trap and skeet range
Taylorsville Lake WMA
Tube rifle range
Archery range
Veterans Memorial WMA (opening mid-March)
Pistol range
Rifle range
West Kentucky WMA
Archery range
Club-operated skeet range
Proposed regulation amendments, which are still pending legislative approval, would exempt holders of Otter Creek Special Activities Permits and Passes, as well as Peabody WMA User Permits, from the shooting range permit requirement on those properties, since fees are already charged for access.
The new shooting range permit for the current license year is available, along with all hunting and fishing licenses, permits and tags, on the License Sales app or the My Profile app (for existing customers) on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website (fw.ky.gov).
Source: WAVE
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