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$10 million dollars approved for new Wyoming Shooting Complex - CODY selected

Isn't there a 1000 yard range in Rawlins, also a complex?
Yes there is. I competed there several times. Sadly there are no current mid or long range matches being held. The person who ran the matches was very dedicated and they were well run. The e-targets were sometimes an issue I believe, but I never had any problems at the matches I shot. If they ever resume I would be interested in going.
 
The Wyoming State Legislature passed legislation appropriating $10 million dollars to develop a new state shooting complex. Govenor Mark Gordon has signed the bill.


That’s so cool. I wish Montana would do that. Our state sucks for supporting things like that
 
While we're talking about Wyoming, if you haven't been through Cody to visit the firearms museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, you're missing out. There's also a little range in town that has rentals of everything from flintlocks to machine guns to a proper gatling gun.
Plan to stay over to see all of it.
 
That’s so cool. I wish Montana would do that. Our state sucks for supporting things like that
I actually met with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park about what it take to build a range. 2 Montana employees came to Arizona and I showed them Ben Avery and three other statewide shooting ranges. During their visit I shared how to develop and operate a shooting range. Then at SHOT Show this year, I met with the Montana Attorney who got my contact information, he told me they had some staffing hiccups, but they were still exploring the idea of building a shooting range. So yes Montana is looking into building a range.

With the passing of the The Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Act, it seems like states are really exploring the idea of building ranges, and I have met with many of them to showcase our successful program in Arizona.

Also the NRA has revamped and started up again its Range Development and Operations Conference, in which I will be instructing at and going over Arizona's program and how to successfully build a shooting range.


 
I actually met with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park about what it take to build a range. 2 Montana employees came to Arizona and I showed them Ben Avery and three other statewide shooting ranges. During their visit I shared how to develop and operate a shooting range. Then at SHOT Show this year, I met with the Montana Attorney who got my contact information, he told me they had some staffing hiccups, but they were still exploring the idea of building a shooting range. So yes Montana is looking into building a range.

With the passing of the The Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Act, it seems like states are really exploring the idea of building ranges, and I have met with many of them to showcase our successful program in Arizona.

Also the NRA has revamped and started up again its Range Development and Operations Conference, in which I will be instructing at and going over Arizona's program and how to successfully build a shooting range.


Nice! Montana FWP has some small ranges scattered throughout the state with some that go up to 300 yards, but nothing controlled or managed by attendants. So no way to shoot long range at the FWP sites and certainly no way to have a good controlled sanctioned event unless maybe a pistol or shotgun club shows up to do something informal on their own. Of course there’s a handful of private ranges that hold BR, F-Class, Silhouette, PRS, and ELR events but would be nice if there was a big public range capable of holding a multitude of staffed shooting events and long range practice.
 
Being that you live there, which location do you honestly feel is best for the facility to host bigger matches? I used to hunt a lot by Ten Sleep. I’m familiar with both Cody and Gillette. Cody is a beautiful area, but a long way off any interstate highway system for travel. Gillette is right on interstate 90, but more wide open range and windy.
 
Being that you live there, which location do you honestly feel is best for the facility to host bigger matches? I used to hunt a lot by Ten Sleep. I’m familiar with both Cody and Gillette. Cody is a beautiful area, but a long way off any interstate highway system for travel. Gillette is right on interstate 90, but more wide open range and windy.
That is a question that the committee is going to have to answer - each location has strengths and weaknesses. 9 sites were whittled down to 4 - Casper, Cheyenne, Gillette and Cody; and then a final 2 Cody and Gillette. Cody is the 'little engine that could'...of those 4. There are 4 criteria Site, Future, Accommodations and Draw.

Looking at Site & Future I don't have information on the specific site plans and future expansion etc. to make a comparison. Site development infrastructure would also include road access, power, water, septic/sewer, natural gas, fiber optic, etc. and specifics of ranges, buildings etc.

Accommodations - don't know the number of motel rooms for each city but I'm sure the committee has that number, Gillette does have the Cam-Plex which has a lot of RV parking. Both have a regional airport that provides jet service to and from Denver via United Airlines.

Draw - This criteria would be one reason why Cody is a finalist. There is no comparison to the other 3 sites that made the initial cut. If you think about trying to attract organizations to pick your complex, you better have a great facility, but looking at what a deciding factor could be is what is there to do outside of participating in the competition before during or after - sort of form vs function. So if you're trying to decide whether to attend an event one factor could be making it a family trip (bringing along your wife or husband or kids...). What is there to do while the event is going on or for you as a family to take in before or after. This is one criteria that any organization will consider when deciding on a location to hold their event. It is also important to Wyoming to have a site that has impact outside of shooting, that encourages people to stay and come back and could attract new businesses to Wyoming.

Cody is a gateway community for Yellowstone National Park, with Grand Teton NP not far either. Buffalo Bill Center of the West with 5 museums; Firearms, Whitney Western Art, Plains Indians, Draper Natural History & Buffalo Bill - something for everyone. Cody Stampede Rodeo July 1-4 with a parade on both the 3rd and 4th and the Cody Night Rodeo (every night from June - August). Beartooth Highway - dubbed the most beautiful roadway in American by Charles Kuralt in his On The Road series. Buffalo Bill Dam and lake along with the State Park with camping. Shoshone National Forest with lots of camping and fishing on a multitude of rivers and creeks, including Shoshone River, Clarks Fork River, Sunlight Creek, etc., this includes river rafting excursions on the Shoshone River offered by operators out of Cody and a plethora of Lodges up the Northfork. Cody itself has 20 minute Stagecoach tours based out of the Irma Hotel, trail rides out on the west strip, the Cody Firearms Experience where folks can get a chance to shoot a variety of weapons including black powder rifles and pistols up to and including machines guns (Gatling gun, Thompson submachine, M16 & FN P90) and then there's main street with a variety of restaurants, nice gifts shops to the venerable rubber tomahawk shops. In winter months there is major snowmobile use at Pilot Creek parking area which is used to access the Beartooths and Cooke City and ice climbing up the Southfork. There is a small ski hill up the Northfork with lifts however it can be hit and miss depending on snow fall, but Red Lodge, MT just around the corner has a good one.

To be fair to Gillette, they do have a Holiday Inn Express...
 
I actually expected some of this when asking the question. I’ve stayed at the Irma in Cody, and checked out the shooting facility there. There was a big cowboy action match going on at the time. Had a great time hanging out and visiting with people outside the Irma. I only stayed in Gillette briefly, because there was a big snow storm happening. Interstate was closed during the night. Pulled off and found an all night restaurant. We had a very early breakfast, then wandered around Walmart until daylight. Found a separate highway heading west, and hit the road through the snow. I have no preference, other then thinking Gillette is easier access.
 

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