Denali Borough residents push for managed shooting range as state eyes gravel-pit closure

Moderator opened a public work session to discuss contingency plans after the state indicated it might close access to a locally used gravel pit, saying the borough wants to be proactive and identify properties and partners if that happens.

The meeting focused on safety, nuisance complaints and the logistics of creating a managed shooting range. “We, as a borough, have some borough land, and there's also state land and railroad land that we can look at as options,” the Moderator said, adding that small initial investments — berms, a concrete pad, benches and a clubhouse for hunter-education — could grow into a community-run facility.

Longtime users and uphill neighbors described escalating noise, litter and dangerous behavior at the existing pit. “It's super loud up there, and people, you know, shoot at all hours,” a nearby Resident said, recounting Tannerite explosions and shell casings left behind. James Gobbin, who identified himself as a long-term user, said people sometimes respond to late-night shooting by firing back to show presence: “I literally have a gun… at 02:00 in the morning, when some yahoo's out there shooting, I go outside and I put off 10 rounds so they know that somebody else is there.”

Speakers repeatedly raised litter and safety concerns: broken glass, unmanned campfires and discarded appliances damaged by shooting were cited as examples of the site’s hazards, and multiple residents urged a managed site with posted hours to reduce 24-hour shooting and illegal activity.

Attendees discussed governance and funding. Some residents cautioned that a borough-partnered nonprofit risks increased rules and costs, while others pointed to existing examples of borough partnerships — such as the Lions Club facility on railroad land — where the borough helps with grants but the club manages operations. Several participants said forming a nonprofit would be practical: one speaker summarized the procedural point that a nonprofit can be started with three people and online paperwork, enabling grant applications and a formal operating structure.

The Moderator cited borough survey results to justify prioritizing the project: “In 2023, when we did our big survey, we had, like, 76% of the 241 respondents were either neutral or in favor of a shooting range,” the Moderator said, describing community support as a factor in moving the idea forward.

Practical site-selection issues dominated discussion: attendees suggested prioritizing locations with good road access and topography that would attenuate noise toward populated areas. Several speakers recommended acoustic modeling to quantify likely impacts and identify sites that minimize disturbance. Participants also compared regional examples (Anderson, Cantwell, Clear Sky) to learn about posted hours, berms, benches and self-policing practices.

The session ended with clear next steps: borough staff will show maps of potentially available parcels, attendees were asked to sign in if interested in forming a nonprofit or subcommittee, and the group agreed to follow up with site visits and further technical work, including feasibility and acoustic studies. The borough offered limited funds for field trips to regional ranges so potential organizers can see management approaches firsthand.

No formal votes or motions were taken at the work session; the meeting functioned as a community scoping and recruitment event to plan for a managed shooting facility if the state closes the existing gravel pit.