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What's on the horizon?

Since the grand opening of the range in August 2016, the White Mountains Shooters Assoc., Inc. has continually looked toward future development. It is wonderful to have a 100 yd. public range, a 50 yd. pistol range and four competition/training bays. But, it is not enough. We need security, maintenance, education, and expansion. So, what is on the horizon for the Second Knoll Target Range?

 It has already been approved, and blueprints already designed for a caretaker pad at the entry to the range. Completely self-sufficient with water, sewer and solar power, the person or persons chosen to live at the range will provide their own home (travel trailer, single-wide) and in exchange for security and maintenance of the facility, will receive free services. They will be the communication between the range and the public and best able to communicate to the board of directors, the security issues and maintenance requirements. They will be considered the range hosts.

 A clubhouse has also been in the plan, to be located at the top of the pit overlooking both the 100 yd., and 50 yd. ranges. Several board members have conceptualized a building with a large meeting area, kitchen and bathrooms and a deck on the southern portion of the building. The large meeting area could be divided into separate classrooms or meeting rooms and possibly accommodate air pistol/rifle. Firearms Instructors will have the clubhouse to train their students with the luxury of having the shooting bays just a short distance away. The clubhouse will be a facility for all to enjoy either during or after shooting on the ranges. Certainly the board of directors looks forward to a larger place for board and membership meetings. 

 Additional competition/training bays will be considered for the east side of the pit. The black cinders belong to Game and Fish and are available for use for this range and other Game & Fish facilities. As the cinder hills decrease in size, more bays will be built around the eastern loop. Many of the members of WMPS and Cowboys of the High Country are looking forward to a time when they will be able to hold large simultaneous competitions utilizing multiple bays, and still have room for a Young Guns training session or an instructor’s CCW class.

 In addition, the plans have already been prepared for a 300 yd. range, located to the west of the caretakers. Just past the caretakers housing, a road will take you towards the parking area for the 300 yd. range, which will be at the top of the pit with the impact area into the Second Knoll Mountain. It will be great for long-range rifle shooters, and both pistol and rifle silhouette. If you’ve never fired at steel chickens, turkeys, pigs and rams at various distances, you’ve missed the excitement of hearing the “clang” of your bullet hitting the steel and watching as the target falls over.

 Arizona Game and Fish provides some moneys for these developments. Other money must be raised through a variety of publicity projects. Through our raffles, silent auctions, donations from the public and memberships and daily use fees, our treasury continues to grow to either “match” funding or provide the funds necessary for expansion, without the financial help of the state government. All of this takes a long process and patience is definitely a virtue. 
 
 For information about WMSA Inc., and the Second Knoll Target Range, visit www.wmsainc.org or call 928-205-3609.
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