Mountain State Sportsmen's Association

Mountain State Sportsmen's Association operates as the central hub for competitive shooting sports and outdoor education in North-Central West Virginia. Based in Parkersburg at 685 Hoagland Run, MSSA runs sanctioned competitions, hunter education programs, and maintains an indoor shooting range facility.

This is a membership-driven organization that focuses on three core areas:

• •Precision rifle shooting through their IR 50/50 competition series
• •Archery programs including the 5 Spot Indoor Shoot and 3D championships
• •Hunter safety education with certified WVDNR instructors

MSSA's hunter safety program is recognized as "award-winning" and features hands-on training led by Randy Dornon, who received the WVDNR District IV Hunter Safety Instructor of the Year award. Training includes instruction from elite WVDNR staff and officers. Classes are scheduled periodically throughout the year.

MSSA emphasizes core safety principles:

1. Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot - maintains control during holstering and lowering the gun 2. Know your target, foreground, and background - verify bullet path and what's beyond the target 3. Do not muzzle anything you do not wish to destroy - point the gun only at safe targets 4. Treat every firearm as if it is loaded - always verify unloaded status before handling or cleaning

"There is no such thing as an accidental discharge. There are only negligent discharges." - MSSA Range Safety

• •Regular Meetings: 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7pm

Membership provides access to: - Range facilities - Competition entries - Training programs - Archery events - Educational resources

Beyond range time, MSSA maintains extensive resources:

• •Firearms technical guides
• •Archery technical information
• •Hunting education materials
• •Reloading manuals
• •2024-2025 WV hunting season information
• •West Virginia legislation tracking for hunters and shooters

MSSA collaborates with specialized organizations:

• •Big Reds Archery (Jim Parsons: 304-481-1992) - S3DA state championships
• •The Bow Shop (Harold Cogar: 304-622-8440)
• •Mid State Archers (Ron Burroughs: 304-765-2429)

Mountain State Sportsmen's Association 685 Hoagland Run Parkersburg, WV

The facility includes an indoor shooting range and hosts events year-round.