Range opening benefits Hoosiers
Robert E. Carter, Jr.
September/Ocbotber 2007
Hoosiers interested in shooting sports can once again visit Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area to practice, but many of the more than 15,000 shooters a year who used to visit the facility may not recognize it. And that’s good.
The Sgt. Joseph E. Proctor Memorial Shooting Range, its new name, was dedicated May 29, during a public ceremony featuring Gov. Daniels (above), John Christian from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Major General Martin Umbarger, Adjutant Indiana National Guard.
The range is named for the Whitestown native who was killed in Iraq, May 3, 2006, and posthumously awarded the Silver Star.
This state-of-the-art $4.7 million modern facility features a 66-position rifle and pistol range, and four combination trap and skeet fields.
The more than 1 million Hoosier shooting-sports enthusiasts need such facilities to support hunter education programs and improve their skills.
The DNR will be reimbursed for about 75 percent of construction costs through funds from federal excise tax revenue on sales of firearms and ammunition, and archery equipment.
The range is located between Indianapolis and Columbus, near Edinburgh. The DNR also offers smaller shooting ranges all around Indiana, at Crosley, Jasper-Pulaski, Minnehaha, Pigeon River, Sugar Ridge, Tri-County, Wilbur Wright, Willow Slough and Winamac FWAs; Brookville and Roush Lakes; and Clark State Forest.
This range is but one of many updates the DNR has made recently. Another is this magazine, which you’ll notice looks a little different from past issues. Please see page 4 to find out why.
