Target Shooting
What's new this year
The big rules — firearm safety and the core statutes — don't change much from year to year. The operational details do: range fees and hours, fire restrictions, and local ordinances. Here's what to re-check each season before you head out.
Confirm range fees and hours before you drive out
The big rules don't change much, but the operational details do. Range fees and hours shift year to year, and ranges close for maintenance and bad weather — so call ahead or check the range page. Last check-in is 30 minutes before close.
Fire restrictions can shut down forest shooting
In a dry spell or a burn ban, target shooting on the national forest may be limited or closed — and dry conditions make exploding targets and tracer rounds especially dangerous (both are already prohibited on forest land; steel-core rounds are barred at MDC ranges). Check the current forest order before you go.
Local ordinances are the part most likely to catch you out
State law doesn't move much, but cities and counties update their discharge rules — and the local rule is the one that matters. Check your city and county every time, even on your own rural land.
Fall is busy: hunters sight in before deer season
Expect crowded ranges in the weeks before firearms deer season, when hunters come out to sight in their rifles. Plan extra time, and be patient on the line.
Before you shoot
Missouri Porch explains; the law and the landowner decide.
Last checked: 2026-06-18. Firearm law is serious and changes by city and county — and ranges, fees, and fire restrictions change too. Check the current rule for where you're standing, lead with safety, and when in doubt, use a staffed MDC range.
This is a plain-English summary — not legal advice. Firearm law carries serious penalties and varies by city and county. Check your local ordinance and current state law, and when in doubt, use a staffed MDC range. In an emergency, call 911.
Heads up: The safety rules and the core statutes are the durable part — re-check the drift-prone details (fees, hours, fire restrictions, and your local discharge ordinance) before each trip. When in doubt, use a staffed MDC range.
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