Sad news from SLO

[Joile]

The California Dept of Fish and Wildlife is shutting down/closing the ranges located near Morro Bay, CA beginning Jan 1, 2025!

This includes all the BACK ranges: Black Powder, Long Range, Smallbore and High Power Silouette and Cowboys.

What will happen to the FRONT ranges is unknown at this time. They include the the Hogue Action Pistol, Public, Skeet, Trap and Archery ranges.

I have been an active member of the San Luis Smallbore/High Power club for many years. We will be removing all our steel targets which include 4 banks of High Power Rifle, 4 banks of Smallbore Rifle, 1 bank of Smallgame Rifle. We also have 4 banks of High Power Hand Gun and 4 banks of Smallbore Handgun steel targets.

If any Club or person is interested in the purchase of all this steel please contact me.

John Smida

[Allen Corneau]

Sorry to hear that news, John.

If you have the capacity, think about storing the targets for the time being. You never know when you might stumble upon another opportunity to get your club going again.

[DavidMBatts]

Damn. That hits hard. This is the reason why I belong to multiple gun clubs.

What is the reasoning behind the closure ?

[Joile]

The reason for the closure: Because they can........................................and no politician cares.

It's crazy becasue it is a beautiful facility with mulitpule venues open to all. It is located on Camp San Luis and has always been a firing range since before WW2. It can not be converted to anything else because of the contamination and possible unexploded ordinance.

Our Club SLSM has hosted multiple State Silhouette Matches.

No help from the NRA or CRPA.

[mhbower]

I saw an article that showed California Wildlife did an audit of the facility and found some issues. Text below is from one of the sources. Perhaps a different group will be able to take it over and run it. As previously noted, it's already a shooting range. I've never shot at the range, but I have friends that shoot their regularly and noted it's a very nice facility. It will be a heck of a loss if it's not put back into service. There aren't many public ranges where you can shoot over 200 yards.

******************* TEXT FROM ARTICLE **********************************************************************************************************
A San Luis Obispo County gun range could be closing. According to the Tribune, San Luis Obispo Sportsmen’s Association shooting range owes close to 400,000 dollars to the state. An audit by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, found several violations of two contracts it has with the association, including undercharging for use, and unauthorized renovations. Fish and Wildlife officials say the agency will NOT be renewing the association’s contract at the end of the year.

[Joile]

$400,000! I really didn't want to get into this, but it is total BS on the part of the State. All funds (range fees, etc) are to be given to the State and then they give ALL funds back to the SLOSA.
Undercharging: Paid members shoot at a discounted fee. Unauthorized renovations: The issue is Maintenance vs Renovation. Maintenance is allowed, but Renovation is not. 99% of the work is done by members. Good grief, would you believe the Tribune leans a little left?