Empower Public Shooting Range Access in Rhode Island with Every Shot
How Does the Pittman-Robertson Act Benefit You?
Enacted in 1937, the Pittman-Robertson Act channels funds from excise taxes on firearms, archery equipment, and ammunition into wildlife conservation and public shooting range development. These excise taxes are paid by the manufacturers. This essential legislation, supported by the Office of Conservation Investment, partners with state agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to enhance public shooting facilities, ensuring safe, inclusive, and accessible shooting opportunities nationwide.
Get my FREE Guide!
HOW YOUR FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION PURCHASES HELP FUND AND MAINTAIN PUBLIC SHOOTING RANGES: A DEEP DIVE
How It Works:
Funding and Benefits
Your purchases do more than improve your shooting experience—they support the entire shooting sports community by helping to fund the development of public ranges and the conservation of our natural habitats, securing the future of wildlife and providing safe spaces for shooting enthusiasts.
Shooting Range Spotlight:
Local Success Story
Take a closer look at how Great Swamp Shooting Range provides a safe and educational environment for shooters of all ages and skills. From beginner courses to advanced competitions, this shooting range, funded by the Pittman-Robertson Act, is a beacon of responsible shooting and conservation leadership.
The Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Fish & Wildlife is pleased to welcome sports men and women to the Great Swamp Shooting Range, located within the Great Swamp Management Area in South Kingstown. The range recently underwent an improvement project that significantly upgraded both shooting opportunities and safety measures at Rhode Island’s only public shooting range. It was funded entirely by revenue generated from the federal Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and hunting license receipts.
Completed in late-summer 2018, the Great Swamp Shooting Range uses the latest industry standards for safety and management practices. Everything from the bench design, baffles, and curtains between shooting stations was designed to create a safe, comfortable, and environmentally-friendly shooting experience. Additionally, solar energy is used for powering the range office to help reduce energy consumption.
The improved range includes 50-yard and 100-yard shooting lanes. Both the 50-yard and 100-yard shooting lanes have been outfitted with overhead safety baffles and earthen backstops to prevent bullets from exiting the range. The baffles are covered in mortar board to prevent ricochets and muffle the sounds of gunfire. A specific reason that the Great Swamp range was upgraded is to allow gun owners to practice using their centerfire rifles safely and responsibly under the supervision of trained range officers.
The range supports DEM’s Hunter Safety Education Program, which instructs hunters and sport shooters in the safe storage, transport, handling, and shooting of firearms. Shooting accuracy is critically important for ethical hunting and humane take of legally hunted game. Sighting in firearms, adjusting scopes, and simply practicing with targets are important and necessary steps to prepare for hunting with any firearm. The range provides a positive and structured environment for adults and youth alike to learn to use a variety of firearms.
WSFR Funded Target Shooting Ranges
in the United States
Funds from the Wildlife Restoration program, sourced from manufacturers’ excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment, contribute to the construction, operation, and maintenance of over 800 public target shooting ranges across the United States. Use this interactive map to discover these shooting ranges; simply click on any dot to learn more about a specific location.
Explore Public Shooting Ranges
Get the guide:
HOW YOUR FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION PURCHASES HELP FUND AND MAINTAIN PUBLIC SHOOTING RANGES: A DEEP DIVE
We are proud to collaborate with this dedicated organization:
massmonopoly
R3 PRACTITIONER’S GUIDE
WIN a Vaultek LifePod XT2i!
We're excited to offer you a chance to win a Vaultek LifePod XT2i to enhance your shooting experience. Enter now by following us @CAHSS below! Must be 18+ to enter and win.