Repairs Underway at Higbee Shooting Range

The Mike Higbee Shooting Range, just east of Lamar on Highway 50, will be closed to the pubic until April 22, while the site undergoes improvements.  Kevin Kasmarak, Wildlife Technician with the Division of Parks and Wildlife said renovations to the kid’s fishing pond have been concluded at this point, but repairs are still underway at the range. 

The pond’s banks have been sloped and the accumulated brush surrounding the pond has been cleared away.  Because the water is so low right now, Kasmarak said it was easier than previous times to get the equipment in to do some of the work.  Cattails were taken out as well, when the pond was dredged.  He added that if there’s sufficient moisture and rain through the spring and summer, the pond will be restocked with fish.  There are few fish in the pond right now, mostly trout, and they can be found under the highway bridge along Clay Creek.

Unless repairs to the shooting range move ahead of schedule, it will be re-opened on Monday, April 22.  Repairs there include improvements on the targets and backstops as well as the addition of some gravel to eliminate some of the muddy conditions.  The pistol range is seeing improvements for targets and backstops and a shade shelter is being built as well. 

Mike Higbee State Wildlife Area has a 100 yard range, with 12 shooting benches, and walkways delineating 3, 7, 15, 25, and 50 yards. The range is open to the public from dawn to dusk, 365 days a year. The need for a Habitat Stamp was eliminated several years ago.  Priority is always given to law enforcement training and qualification, 4-H, hunter education, and any other CPW sponsored events. A set of range rules is posted at the range. This range is designed for rifle and handgun use, but not for clay pigeons.

By Russ Baldwin