I have been trying to secure land for a range for several years. I am putting together a proposal for a land owner here in Huntsville, Walker County, Texas.
My idea is to put in a range with covered benches and be able to shoot up to 1000 yds. Also want to be able to shoot prone for tactical matches and F-class.
The idea is to be able to have LR benchrest, tactical, and F-class matches.
Located on the ranch is a camp house with a 100 yd. berm and a pistol range directly behind the camphouse. If you have seen some of the pictures of my rifles you will see that I am shooting off the back porch of the camphouse.
The camp house has a restroom with shower, kitchen, A/C, and bunk beds. The manager also lives on the ranch.
This section of the ranch is close to 1000 acres. Lots of hogs,more about this later.
Now the meat of the matter. How to raise enough money to pay the land owner.
Here are some ideas:
1) Sell yearly passes to range to SELECTED persons.
There would have to be enough yearly passes sold to make this worth while to the owner. This will not be a club with a board of directors. There will be two people in charge, the ranch manager and me. Passes will get you yearly access to the rifle and pistol range. Access will be 7 days a week during daylight hours.
What will the yearly fee be? I need your feedback here. What is it worth to have aplace to shoot pistols and LR rifle for a 12 month period?
2) Hold matches. Benchrest, tactical, F-class, clay pigeons, ground hog, egg shoots, etc. I would have to make enought money from matches to pay match expenses plus help offset lease fee to owner. Match fees would not be covered by the yearly fee.
At some point I would want to have the LR BR matches sanctioned by one of the following: IBS, NBRSA, Williamsport.
3) Hog hunting and camphouse rental. Camphouse will be available for overnight stays for a fair fee. Hog hunting will be available for a fair fee plus a kill fee. If you don't kill anything you won't be out a lot of money.
4)PIstol range/camphouse has been used for concealed carry classes since law was passed. As far as I know it's still listed as a DPS certified range. Would rent the facility to a certified instructor to hold classes.
5)Allowed qualified instructors to use range and camphouse for traing classed.
My interest in this endeavor is to have a place we can shoot long range matches. I have access to shoot and hunt on the ranch now, so I am not doing this for personal gain. I have a more than full time job as a custom home builder. I'm not looking to turn this into a job.
I do have my own bulldozer to use in range developnment and can do the range construction thru my subcontractors to help cut the cost.
I am eager and willing to get lthis going if I can convince myself that it will work financially. The land owner is not interested in donating land and building a range for free.
Can't blame him. Anyone know about range insurance? Liability will play a big role in making this happen.
I am hoping there is enough interest for a rang in this area.
We are 1 hour from Houston, 2.5 to 3 hours from Austin, 3.5 to 4 hours from San Antonia, and 3 to 3.5 hours from Dallas/Fort Worth.
I realize there is a lot left up in the air on this deal.
PLease feel free to give your opinions, pro and con 1 thru 5 above.
I need input on year fees, match fees, etc. What do other ranges charge?
Please make your remarks and ideas as constructive as possible.
But if you think i'm an idiot for trying let me know.
Would really like input from owners of other ranges around the country.
My email is mcockcroft@sbcglobal.net
If you would like to talk to me about this, email me your phone number and I will call you.
Thanks for your time.
Mike Cockcroft
My idea is to put in a range with covered benches and be able to shoot up to 1000 yds. Also want to be able to shoot prone for tactical matches and F-class.
The idea is to be able to have LR benchrest, tactical, and F-class matches.
Located on the ranch is a camp house with a 100 yd. berm and a pistol range directly behind the camphouse. If you have seen some of the pictures of my rifles you will see that I am shooting off the back porch of the camphouse.
The camp house has a restroom with shower, kitchen, A/C, and bunk beds. The manager also lives on the ranch.
This section of the ranch is close to 1000 acres. Lots of hogs,more about this later.
Now the meat of the matter. How to raise enough money to pay the land owner.
Here are some ideas:
1) Sell yearly passes to range to SELECTED persons.
There would have to be enough yearly passes sold to make this worth while to the owner. This will not be a club with a board of directors. There will be two people in charge, the ranch manager and me. Passes will get you yearly access to the rifle and pistol range. Access will be 7 days a week during daylight hours.
What will the yearly fee be? I need your feedback here. What is it worth to have aplace to shoot pistols and LR rifle for a 12 month period?
2) Hold matches. Benchrest, tactical, F-class, clay pigeons, ground hog, egg shoots, etc. I would have to make enought money from matches to pay match expenses plus help offset lease fee to owner. Match fees would not be covered by the yearly fee.
At some point I would want to have the LR BR matches sanctioned by one of the following: IBS, NBRSA, Williamsport.
3) Hog hunting and camphouse rental. Camphouse will be available for overnight stays for a fair fee. Hog hunting will be available for a fair fee plus a kill fee. If you don't kill anything you won't be out a lot of money.
4)PIstol range/camphouse has been used for concealed carry classes since law was passed. As far as I know it's still listed as a DPS certified range. Would rent the facility to a certified instructor to hold classes.
5)Allowed qualified instructors to use range and camphouse for traing classed.
My interest in this endeavor is to have a place we can shoot long range matches. I have access to shoot and hunt on the ranch now, so I am not doing this for personal gain. I have a more than full time job as a custom home builder. I'm not looking to turn this into a job.
I do have my own bulldozer to use in range developnment and can do the range construction thru my subcontractors to help cut the cost.
I am eager and willing to get lthis going if I can convince myself that it will work financially. The land owner is not interested in donating land and building a range for free.
Can't blame him. Anyone know about range insurance? Liability will play a big role in making this happen.
I am hoping there is enough interest for a rang in this area.
We are 1 hour from Houston, 2.5 to 3 hours from Austin, 3.5 to 4 hours from San Antonia, and 3 to 3.5 hours from Dallas/Fort Worth.
I realize there is a lot left up in the air on this deal.
PLease feel free to give your opinions, pro and con 1 thru 5 above.
I need input on year fees, match fees, etc. What do other ranges charge?
Please make your remarks and ideas as constructive as possible.
But if you think i'm an idiot for trying let me know.
Would really like input from owners of other ranges around the country.
My email is mcockcroft@sbcglobal.net
If you would like to talk to me about this, email me your phone number and I will call you.
Thanks for your time.
Mike Cockcroft
