Legislators make stop at Spring Valley range on way to the state-of-the-state address

A number of Ohio legislators, Democratic Senate Caucus staff and ODNR leadership made a stop at the Division of Wildlife Spring Valley range facility on the way to the state-of-the-state address in Wilmington. The event was supported by several partners with the Division of Wildlife including Buckeye Firearms Association, Lakota Bows, Ohio Conservation Federation, Greene County Fish and Game Association, Tribe Archery and the Ohio Hunter Education Association.

Attendees heard about the pending range updates at the Spring Valley Wildlife Area range plus the project that is in process at Delaware Wildlife Area. The officials had some time for target practice under the watchful eye of the range staff and volunteer instructors. ODNR Director James Zehringer welcomed the legislative guests and volunteers. He introduced the partners in the event and the legislators in attendance. In addition to the planned range improvements, the Director mentioned the capital budget improvements for the state parks. He also noted that the marina project at Caesar Creek State Park is getting started. That is a project using money from the Division of Watercraft. Director Zehringer added, "Over eighty-thousand people use the facilities at the Spring Valley range each year. That is an incredible number and reflects the need for modern safe shooting ranges in Ohio."

Division of Wildlife Chief Scott Zody addressed the guests, "I want to welcome to everyone and thanks for your participation today. The Spring Valley range is one of our class A facilities. The improvements planned here include moving the access road to improve the traffic flow. As part of that the trap range will be re-located and improved to include automated clay target throwers. The lead will be reclaimed from the pistol, rifle and shotgun ranges. New backstops will be put in place for the pistol and rifle ranges. There will be an extended rifle range for longer distance shooting. The drainage on the range will also be corrected. There will also be a new indoor archery and hunter education training facility constructed. The walk through archery range will also be updated. Finally, the parking lot will be upgraded."

Moving on to the Delaware Shooting Range, Chief Zody added, "We have initiated the first part of the construction. This is basically a total redesign of the facility. Where the range is located at Delaware Lake, is on the US Army Corp land and is part of the flood control area so this range is often under water. Relocating the range should eliminate the flooding issues. We will also be fully upgrading it to add more shooting positions, a trap shotgun range area plus an education and training facility will also be built."

Chief Zody concluded addressing the Division's funding and the dramatically increasing federal US Fish and Wildlife Service monies available through the Pittman-Robertson (P-R) act. These monies are a result of the significantly increased firearms sales over the last several years. He explained how the Division of Wildlife must have the monies to fund a project in order to receive the reimbursement from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The reimbursement is typically at the 75% level. The Division of Wildlife has historically received about seven to eight million dollars in P-R funds annually. However, this year the number may be as large as twenty million dollars. That is a significant increase. If the Division does not have the funding source for the projects, the additional P-R money is returned to the US Fish and Wildlife Service and lost to Ohio.

Finally it was off to the archery or firearm ranges for some fun. The Spring Valley Wildlife Area Range staff conducted a safety briefing for all participants prior to any shooting. All shooting was done with a volunteer instructor at each station. Many of the legislators were already familiar with firearms and safety rules but had never fired some types of firearms. This was their chance to learn.

State Rep. Kyle Koehler (R- Springfield) summed up his day, "I've never been to the Spring Valley range. We need a facility like this closer to Springfield. For folks who have never fired a gun before, they need to have a place they can go to get comfortable with firearms. Education is very important to gun ownership. There are a lot of people who are afraid of guns. They need to understand the safety precautions and that it is a fun sport."

State Rep. Robert McColley (R- Napoleon) added, "This is also my first time at Spring Valley. This is a great facility for people to come and participate in the shooting sports. It's great to become more educated about firearms and their safe operation. To echo what Rep. Koehler said there is a lot of misinformation and fear of firearms. Firearms are something that, when used properly in a safe environment, are a lot of fun and a great recreational activity.

Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus Chief of Staff Mike Premo concluded, "The Spring Valley range is a great facility. The staff here has been really helpful teaching me how to shoot a gun properly. It's been good to learn more. It's been a long time since I've been shooting and getting coaching is important. Wherever you stand on the issues of guns, you should come out and try it so you understand what you are talking about."

Despite the cold weather it was a very successful day. Everyone left the range having learned something and certainly with a good time had by all!

Outdoor writer and hunter education instructor Larry S. Moore is a long-time volunteer leader for Buckeye Firearms Foundation and winner of the 2005 USSA Patriot Award, the 2007 League of Ohio Sportsmen/Ohio Wildlife Federation Hunter Educator of the Year, the 2010 National Wild Turkey Federation/ Women in the Outdoors Hunter Education Instructor of the Year and the 2014 Ohio NWTF Outdoor Writer of the Year.

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