January 22, 2014: Logan County Commissioners purchased 260 acres for a shooting complex. The City of Sterling provided right-of-way access and local shooting enthusiasts provided the research and effort to coordinate several government entities including the Colorado Department of Corrections, Colorado State Land Board and Colorado Department of Transportation.
HISTORY OF SHOOTING FACILITIES IN LOGAN COUNTY
Sterling Rifle Club (1948 to 1997)
- Approximately 150 members
Range was closed due to the construction of Colorado Department of Corrections, Sterling Correctional Facility in 1999. A verbal agreement with the DOC to relocate the range did not materialize.
Fish & Game Club of Northeast Colorado (1960 to 2011)
- Approximately 100 members
(Presently “Northeast Colorado Sportsman’s Association” with 501c3 Status)
Land lease was not renewed with landlord because of complaints of noise from trap shooting by occupants of neighboring houses that were built many years after facility was constructed.
Activities of Northeast Colorado Sportsman’s Association included Spring and Fall Trap Leagues that served up to 32 5-man teams from all of Northeastern Colorado. It was also the site for local Boy Scouts and 4H shooting safety and range practice, Women and Targets, fund raising events and many Hunter Education Classes. After losing their lease at their site from encroachment, the club began a 5 year search for a site suitable for a new range, The Game & Fish Club of Northeast Colorado then became the Northeast Colorado Sportsmans Association and acquired a 501c3 IRS status in March 2011, with the hopes of soliciting donations to assist in the purchase of a new range. In their search, many locations were considered but all were met by opposition from neighbors or local land owners. In January of 2014, the Logan County Commissioners, seeing a need for a public range in the county, purchased 260 acres to be used for that purpose. The site will officially be called, “The Logan County Shooting Sports Complex.”
Red Hill Gun Club (1995 to Present)
- Approximately 60 members, grown to 250 recently
Located approximately 10 miles Southeast of Sterling on CO Hwy 61, on 35 acre condemned gravel pit owned by Colorado State Land Board, leased to Red Hill Gun Club on 10 year agreements, due in approximately 3-4 years.
Other
Fort Wicked Muzzleloaders, Numerous Indoor Ranges, Sterling Archers