August is National Shooting Sports Month, a time to celebrate target shooting, introduce new participants to the shooting sports, and recognize the places that make this pastime possible. In Rhode Island, that place is the Great Swamp Shooting Range.
August is National Shooting Sports Month, a time to celebrate target shooting, introduce new participants to the shooting sports, and recognize the places that make this pastime possible. In Rhode Island, that place is the Great Swamp Shooting Range.
Tucked within the state’s Great Swamp Management Area, the Great Swamp Shooting Range stands apart for one simple reason: it is Rhode Island’s only free, public outdoor shooting range.
Since its opening in 1976, the range has provided hunters, target shooters, competitive marksmen, and first-time firearm owners, with a welcoming place to develop skills, learn safety best practices, prepare for hunting season, and enjoy one of America’s outdoor pastimes.
Trap Shooting Day event at the renovated Great Swamp Shooting Range. Credit: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
Like other public ranges, Great Swamp Shooting Range is a community asset that makes shooting sports available to those who may not have access to private clubs or suitable personal property. Managed by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the range provides Rhode Island residents and out-of-state visitors with a place to practice target shooting in a safe, supervised, and responsible environment.
For many visitors, a trip to the range is primarily about punching their paper targets or sighting in their favorite hunting firearm. Few probably realize that the facility is part of one of the nation’s most successful wildlife conservation and public outdoor access partnerships.
Through the Pittman-Robertson Act, federal excise taxes paid by manufacturers of firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment are apportioned to state fish and wildlife agencies to support conservation and access for outdoor pursuits. These funds help conserve wildlife, manage and restore habitat, conduct research, and provide opportunities for the public to enjoy the outdoors, including funding publicly accessible target shooting ranges.
Across the country more than 850 shooting ranges have been constructed, renovated, or maintained with Pittman-Robertson funding. The Great Swamp Shooting Range is one example. In 2018, the range underwent a major renovation supported by these Pittman-Robertson federal excise tax dollars.
The 2018 renovation redesigned benches, baffles, and curtains between shooting stations to create a safe, comfortable, and environmentally friendly shooting experience. The redesign also included solar energy upgrades to power the range office helping to reduce energy consumption.
No general fund taxpayer dollars were used in this range renovation. The project was funded through more than $1.7 million in Pittman-Robertson funds, along with a $2.3 million match from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.
The result is a completely redesigned range with 18 shooting lanes. Eight 100-yard lanes provide space primarily for long-gun shooters, while eight 50-yard lanes accommodate both long guns and handguns. Shotgun enthusiasts have two dedicated trap stations equipped with clay-target throwers. And for archers, a dedicated archery range offers target backstops at distances up to 40 yards. In all, the renovation gives shooters and archers a modern, versatile facility all without relying on general fund taxpayer dollars.
The Great Swamp Shooting Range is more than a place to practice shooting. It also serves as an outdoor classroom, providing an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of responsible firearm handling and helping experienced target shooters sharpen their skills. Events such as Women’s Range Day and Learn to Shoot clinics give visitors hands-on opportunities to learn and improve.
Before using the range, visitors need to apply for a free Great Swamp Range Permit. Applicants must provide proof of firearms safety training or an equivalent credential and complete a brief Range Safety Orientation. Once issued, an adult permit is valid for five years. Certified Range Safety Officers are also available at the range to answer questions, offer guidance, and help visitors with mounting optics, sighting in firearms, and making the most of their time on the range.
Each August, National Shooting Sports Month encourages Americans to visit a range, sharpen their skills, or introduce someone new to the shooting sports. It also serves as a reminder that federal excise taxes play an important role in funding outdoor access. Every afternoon spent at the range strengthens a funding system that turns manufacturer federal excise taxes into restored wildlife populations, conserved habitat, and expanded public access for outdoor pursuits like hunting and target shooting.
