Page 29 - OutdoorOK2024MayJune ONLINE

SHOOTING SPORTS EDUCATION DRIVES PARTICIPATION

More than 725,000 Oklahoma resi-
dents participated in shooting sports in
2022, and that participation is contin- WILDLIFEDEPARTMENT.COM
ually rising. Numerous team and indi-
vidual sport-shooting champions arise
from Oklahoma nearly every year.
Oklahoma’s recreational sport shoot-
ers contribute more than $1.65 billion
annually to the economy. And that’s one
huge reason the Oklahoma Department
of Wildlife Conservation has long sup-
ported shooting sports through edu-
cation programs that involve school
students across the state.
Nearly 6,000 Oklahoma students
participate annually in the Oklahoma
Scholastic Shooting Sports Program
(OKSSSP), which is ODWC’s trap-
shooting curriculum for students in
grades 7-12. FFA Organization’s state shooting competitions each year.
The Oklahoma National Archery in the Schools ODWC has also reached out to other entities in promot-
(OKNASP) Program and Varsity Archery program engage ing shooting sports. Pass-through grant funding allowed
thousands of students in grades 4-12 to provide target ODWC to provide partial funding to create a shooting com-
archery training. ODWC also offers school programs for plex at Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell,
Explore Bowhunting and Explore Bowfishing. and to upgrade trapshooting equipment at the Silverleaf
Since 1995, ODWC has offered the Shotgun Training Shooting Sports facility near Guthrie.
Education Program (STEP). These programs provide In the works currently is pass-through grant funding
wing-shooting opportunities to about 9,000 participants to help the City of Altus build the Bitter Creek Shooting
annually of all skill levels. STEP helps conduct the National Sports Complex.

NEW ATOKA SHOOTING RANGE

TO OPEN IN FALL 2024
Archery Range

A new shooting range is under construction at Atoka
BERM
Wildlife Management Area. The project broke ground in
30 Yards March 2024.
Covered Shooting BERM
Station
It will feature a 100-yard rifle range, 30-yard pistol
BERM
range, shotgun range, an archery range including an ele-
100 Yards
vated platform, and Americans with Disabilities Act access
Covered Shooting Station
ADA Parking
BERM
BERM and parking.
Trap Field
Atoka WMA shooting range site plan.

A GUIDE TO OKLAHOMA’S PUBLIC LAND SHOOTING RANGES 7