Shoshone County Public Shooting Range

Shoshone County Public Shooting Range sits on Government Gulch just outside Smelterville, Idaho. Volunteers run it, and it has rifle, pistol, and archery facilities open to anyone who drives in.

This is not a free range. The club holds 501(c)(7) status, which makes it a user-pay system. Pulling into the parking lot makes you a member automatically, and every shooter is asked for a minimum $5.00 user fee.

Nobody staffs the gate to collect it. Payment runs on the honor system, and the range stays open because most people pay something. If you forgot eye or ear protection, the range keeps some on site for $2.00.

Eye and ear protection is mandatory for everyone on the property. That means spectators and children too, not just the person shooting.

The rifle range goes cold on a set rotation once three or more shooters are present. AR-platform rifles are not allowed on the pistol range. Steel targets come off the rifle range whenever fire restrictions are in effect.

Tracer, incendiary, explosive, and armor-piercing ammunition is prohibited. So are Tannerite and other exploding targets, along with splatter targets, glass, and cans.

The range runs on cash left on site, Venmo donations, grants, and donated brass. A volunteer handles brass collection, so leave your spent cases for the range instead of hauling them off.