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State agencies say Osceola National Forest gun range will reopen with full-time safety staffing
Summary
Florida Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Forest Service told Columbia County commissioners they plan to reopen the Osceola National Forest shooting range this weekend with a full-time range safety officer and berm improvements after a recent wildfire. Agencies said the county helped move dirt to raise backstops and that weekend hours will begin Friday.
Florida Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Forest Service told the Columbia County Board of County Commissioners that the Osceola National Forest shooting range will reopen this weekend with new safety measures and infrastructure upgrades.
"We're gonna put a range safety officer out there full time when it's open," said Chris Winn, regional director for Florida Fish and Wildlife, who described berm reconstruction and new walls between pistol and rifle ranges that county crews helped place. Winn said the range would open Friday with weekend hours and operate 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday for several months while forest crews complete clearance work.
Winn said the agencies had been investigating a wildfire in the area earlier this year and that traces of incendiary devices had been found. "We think that may be the cause of the fire, but again, that's still kinda under investigation," he said. Winn asked the county to consider assisting with dirt-moving and thanked Columbia County staff for stepping in to speed the repairs.
Thomas Scott, who manages the Osceola National Forest, thanked the county and state partners for the cooperative effort to reopen the range. Commissioners asked about operations and fees; Winn said the agencies do not plan to charge through the remainder of the calendar year but may consider a nominal fee if the range opens full time in the future.
The announcement included operational caveats: weekday closures to allow for tree-clearing work, and a goal of full-time public hours by January, contingent on completion of the remaining forest work.
