Menomonie Public Shooting Range
Standard Operating Procedures
6-4-2008

The Dunn County Fish and Game and the Menomonie Rifle and Pistol Club under the authority of the Dunn County Facilities Board do establish the following rules of operation for the Menomonie Public Shooting Range.

RESOLUTION NO. 115

Whereas, Dunn County presently holds title to sites on which public shooting ranges are located, and
Whereas, it is the opinion of this County Board that said shooting ranges be maintained and operated by organizations other than the County;
Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved that the Committee on Conservation, Tax-Deed Lands and Resources be and they are hereby authorized and directed to supervise the present shooting ranges, that are located on county-owned site, in the town of Red Cedar,  on which public shooting ranges are located and Be It Further Resolved that said Committee on Conservation, Tax-Deed Lands and Resources be and they are hereby authorized and directed to negotiate with the appropriate organizations, for the operation and maintenance of said shooting ranges, to a standard prescribed by the said Committee.

The Menomonie Shooting Range is open to the public in accordance with the established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

 Firearm Safety

Shooting incidents are rare on ranges.  The following range rules and regulations are established to ensure safety and discipline for individuals using the range as well as safety for our neighbors and surrounding communities. 

All users are required to enforce these rules.  All users are expected to politely point out to any user in violation of these rules, the nature of the violation, request they stop and if continued violation occurs, report the incident along with the violators name, if possible, to the Dunn County Sheriff’s Department (232-1348) for further action.  

Penalty:  The Firearms Range Board will review all incidents and will take one of the following actions:
No action warranted
Written warning
Temporary restriction of use/removal from the range
Loss of privileges or other penalties as prescribed by the Range Board

Individuals using the range shall become familiar with the range safety rules and procedures prior to using the range.

The range safety rules and procedures help to provide range supervision and allow for enforcement of these rules to reduce or eliminate incidents from occurring at the range.

Gun Safety Rules:  These rules shall be followed at all times

• 4 Fundamental Rules for Safe Gun Handling
• Always treat a firearm as if it were loaded.
• Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
• Always keep the gun unloaded and action open until ready to use.
• Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.

All scheduled use of range shall take precedence over any individual or personal activity

• All vehicles shall be parked in the designated parking area, unless authorized by the range board
• Range is to be used as posted
• Authorized and trained Range Safety Officers (RSO) shall have full authority over all shooting activities conducted at the firearms range.  .
• Usage shall comply with all Pitman Robertson Grant Regulations, DNR contracts and all other applicable grant restrictions used in construction and upkeep of the range.

FIRING LINE COMMANDS
1).        CALL -  “LINE READY
At this time the shooters may uncase firearms and prepare for shooting.
RSO checks to make sure range is safe for shooting.
2).        CALL-   “COMMENCE FIRING”
                                    At this time the shooters may shoot at designated targets.
3).        CALL-   “CEASE FIRING”
Instruct shooters to unload firearms and open actions
Instruct shooters to pick up any items to take downrange.
Instruct shooters to step behind YELLOW line.
At this time the RSO visually checks all firearms, making sure they are unloaded and actions are open.
Instruct at this time- After returning from down range stand behind the YELLOW line
Until the RSO calls “LINE READY”
4).       CALL-   “CLEAR TO GO DOWN RANGE”
Instruct shooters they may go down range at this time.

            KEEP REPEATING STEPS (1) THROUGH (4)

Range Usage

Before Use:

• Inspect Range for hazards (including children and animals) prior to use.
• All Range users are personally responsible for range safety and safe shooting. Abuse of range safety rules and safe shooting rules will result in loss of privileges at the firearms range, County Ordinance. # 31-08
• All shooters are responsible to immediately correct any unsafe conditions.  If you observe an unsafe condition that you are unable to correct, report it immediately to range attendant or the Dunn County Sheriff’s Department (232-1348).
• Pets other than service animals are not allowed on the Shooting Range unless they are under the full control of owners at all times while on the premises.

General Safety Rules

• All persons must register with the Range Safety Officer,  before any firearm is un-cased.
• It is the responsibility of all Range Users to know and obey all range rules.  Before using the range for the first time, all users must read the Range Rules and sign an acknowledgment, that they have read the Range Rules and agree to abide by the rules.
• Know where others are at all times.
• Shoot only at authorized targets.
• Do not handle any firearm or stand at the firing line, other than the range officer, while others are downrange.
• While others are down range, all shooters must stay behind the yellow line.
• Upon “Cease fire” command, everyone is to stop shooting immediately and wait for further instructions
• All firearms on the firing line shall be handled in a safe manner
• Keep the muzzle direction downrange at all times or place in the firearm rack.
• Keep finger off the trigger until ready to fire
• Keep all firearms unloaded and all actions open until the firing line is called ready to fire
• Any firearms requiring maintenance or sight adjustment shall be pointed downrange and cleared of all ammunition
• Keep the action of the firearm open at all times except when actually shooting or holstering the firearm
• Shoot only proper targets that have been approved by the Firearms Range Board.  No shooting at unauthorized targets (cans, bottles, etc.).  At no time shall any individual discharge a firearm in a manner that jeopardizes the safety of others. This may include shooting at target stands or frames, any object containing glass, or any such material that may cause potentially dangerous debris.  Shoot only so that the projectile impacts the backstop berm, County Ordinance. # 31-08. 
• All shooters are required to pick up all targets they used and all spent ammunition casing when finished with shooting.  Failure to retrieve such targets and casing shall be considered littering and subject the violator to possible fines and loss of shooting privileges at the range, County Ordinance. # 31-08.
• Everyone within 25 feet of an active firing line must wear eye and ear protection at all times. 
• Prior to leaving the firing line(leaving the range) a shooter must unload and case their firearm
• Obey all commands from Range Safety Officer, staff/attendant or law enforcement
• All range users are personally responsible for range safety and safe shooting
• Politely and positively respond when corrected concerning a violation of Range rules
• NO ALCOHOL OR ILLEGAL DRUGS ARE ALLOWED ON THE FIREARMS RANGE, County Ordinance.  # 31-08 .

After Use

• Shooters must clean their area after each use
• Clean up your area after firing by placing all trash, “spent” casings, shells, boxes, etc. in the appropriate containers provided.
•  Remove “live” or “dud” ammunition from the range or place in designated container.
• All shooters are required to pick up all targets they used and all spent ammunition casing when finished with shooting.  Failure to retrieve such targets and casing shall be considered littering and subject the violator to possible fines and loss of shooting privileges at the range, County Ordinance. # 31-08.
• Remove and discard your paper targets.  Keep the Range clean.  Failure to do so can result in fines and/or loss of shooting privileges, County Ordinance. # 31-08 .
• Secure all range equipment

Specific Range Rules

• All shooting will be in authorized areas only
• Respect others and their equipment
• All firearms shall be unloaded and enclosed within a carrying case until the shooter is on the firing line, after removing firearm from case the action must be open and unloaded
• All persons before using the range must read the Range Rules and sign an acknowledgment that they have read the Range Rules and agree to abide by the rules.
• Safety briefing is to be given to all groups, organizations, clubs, etc., before any shooting takes place
• Harassment will not be tolerated by anyone at the range
• No one shooter to be permitted more than one hour of shooting time.  Exception –when no one else present is waiting to shoot
• No one shooter shall use more than one shooting bench at a time
• All target materials will be either paper or cardboard, or those approved by the Firearms Range board.  No other material to be used. Exception; Clay pigeons can be used in designated area
• Shooters are responsible for removing their target material
• Shooters are responsible for picking up all their brass/shell casings
• Litterers will be cited for violations
• No firearms or devices may be used on the range that exceed the design specifications of the range without the prior approval of the Range Board
• No Fireworks allowed at the range
• No 50 cal. BMG rounds are allowed
• No tracers or armor piercing rounds are allowed
• No fully automatic firearms are allowed, exception, law enforcement and military.
• Department of Natural Resources will cite any and all violators pertaining to DNR rules/regulations
• This is a county park – No Hunting is allowed
• All violators will be prosecuted for not following all Federal, State and County laws as stated.    There will be no first time warning as all shooters will have read the rules and signed an acknowledgment that they understood said rules.

• All violators are subject to expulsion from the range complex, County Ordinance. # 31-08.

Special Public functions:

• During public events on the range, those responsible shall retain a range officer. The range officer shall be responsible for the shooting activities at the firing line and shall be the only one to give the command to “commence fire”.  Anyone seeing a dangerous condition can call a “cease fire”.
• The Range Officer has total control of all activities on the range and must be obeyed
• The Range Officer shall be responsible for ensuring that all firearms are unloaded during a cease fire, and that no firearms are handled while any person is down range.
• Range safety officer will call “cease fire- action open- step back”
• After cease fire call, range officer shall check actions, then call “clear to go down range”
• At the “Cease Fire” command, all firearms shall be immediately set down with muzzle downrange, and shooter must step back away from the firearm and bench.
• If a misfire or jam occurs, the shooter shall signal the Range Saftey Officer  (by raising hand while keeping muzzle pointed downrange) and then try to clear the firearm.
• Firearms may only be handled after the range has been ready and declared “Ready for Fire”
• All firearms placed on a firing line bench must have actions open until ready to fire.  Handguns in holsters (only those holsters which point the muzzle towards the ground are permitted) must be unloaded, un-cocked, with any detachable magazine removed, until made ready to fire.
• No persons impaired by alcohol or drugs shall be permitted to handle or discharge firearms on the Firearms Range.  No alcohol is permitted on any range, County Ordinance. # 31-08.
• The use of alcohol or illegal drugs is forbidden on the Firearms Range and will result in immediate expulsion, and prosecution as per County Ordinance. # 31-08

Administrative rules governing how the range facility operates
All administrative rules governing the operation of the shooting range facility shall be developed by the Range operating clubs and approved by the Facilities Committee.  Such rules, upon their approval and adoption by the County Board, shall be made available to the public. These rules are to be reviewed annually or as deemed necessary and are subject to change.
Hours of Operation
AS POSTED AT THE SHOOTING RANGE

Emergency Rules                               Dunn County utilizes E911
These are created to minimize confusion and save time responding during an emergency
All emergencies and firearm injuries MUST be reported to the Dunn County Sheriff’s Department
The range location is:    E6007 510TH AVE MENOMONIE WI
Personal Injury:   Call 911 to secure aid.  Return to the injured person and do what you can to help.   Post a person, if available, at the range entrance to direct emergency vehicles.  Take written notes from all witnesses. 
Fire:   Call 911 then clear the area.   Post a person, if available, at the range entrance to direct emergency vehicles.
Poison Center Phone Number  1-800-222-1222

Range Board Members are appointed, as being one member from each of the following groups, Dunn County Fish and Game, Alliance of Dunn County Conservation and Sports Clubs, Dunn County Parks Dept., Menomonie Rifle and Pistol Club,  and a member who is a local resident to the shooting range.
Range Board Members