Take aim with the AGFC during national shooting sports month

MAYFLOWER — If you didn’t burn enough gunpowder during your Fourth of July fireworks display, head to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Fiocchi Shooting Sports Complex (574 Clinton Road outside Mayflower) this August to celebrate national shooting sports Month. The AGFC has a host of special deals to make it easier than ever to enjoy recreational shooting and knock the rust off before hunting season begins in September.

Bill Haynes, complex manager for the AGFC, said the AGFC’s Recreational Shooting Division has worked up a few month-long deals that nearly everyone can enjoy.

“Anyone aged 6 to 17 or 65 years and older can shoot for free all month long at the rifle and pistol ranges,” Haynes said. “And, if you’ve purchased a new rifle or pistol within the last 60 days, you can come to the range and do some shooting for free as well. As a matter of fact, if you’ve bought or renewed your license since July 1, we’ll let you come use the pistol and rifle ranges for free, too.”

Haynes says the celebration isn’t just for rifle and pistol shooters. All skeet and trap games at the complex are half price during the entire month of August. Every round of clays will be only $2.

“We need to recoup some of the cost of the targets for the shotgun ranges, but anyone who’s bought clays knows $2 per round really isn’t even covering our cost,” Haynes said. “But there’s no better way to get ready for the dove opener than running through a few rounds of trap or skeet.”

In addition to these month-long specials, the staff at the shooting complex are holding some weekly events to bring more people out to the range.

August 4-10 is Family Week at the range, where everyone in the family gets to shoot at the rifle and pistol range free of charge.

“We’ll also have a special ladies’ weekend Aug. 10-11 when we’re focused on the fastest-growing segment of outdoors enthusiasts,” Haynes said. “Women shoot for free all weekend at the rifle, pistol or shotgun ranges, and we’ll hold some special classes just for the ladies to help them get started.”

Staff will have a free ladies shotgun fundamentals class 9 a.m.-noon Aug. 10, and will follow that up with a ladies only class on handguns 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 11. Ladies can view details and sign up for these classes through the AGFC’s online event calendar here.

Firearms aren’t the only shooting sport being celebrated during the month. Range staff also have partnered with the Arkansas Bowhunters Association to put on a special Introduction to Archery and Bowhunting course from 8:30 a.m.-noon Aug. 17 at the complex’s archery range. Club members will help newcomers get familiar with their bows and offer some tips and techniques to become more successful in the Arkansas deer woods this fall. The range is equipped with bag targets as well as lifelike 3D targets of everything from alligators to moose, and it even has an elevated shooting platform to better practice shooting from a treestand. Participants can learn on Genesis compound bows provided by AGFC or bring their own bows and shoot at dozens of 3D targets on site. Learn more about this special archery class and register to participate at https://register-ed.com/events/view/215978.

AGFC nature centers are in the act as well, hosting another celebration of shooting sports month with the return of the Marksmanship Challenge. From 9 a.m.-noon, Aug. 3, kids going into grades 1-12 this fall can compete in BB gun, slingshot, 3D archery, field archery and casting a rod and reel at nature centers in Pine Bluff, Jonesboro, Springdale, Fort Smith Grandview and Crooked Creek.Top competitors in four age brackets will be rewarded with medals for outstanding accuracy. Visit https://www.agfc.com/education/2024-marksmanship-challenge/ for more information.

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CUTLINES:

PISTOLS
Visit the AGFC’s Fiocchi Shooting Sports Complex in Mayflower during August to take advantage of some special deals for national shooting sports month. 

SMILING WOMAN
AGFC staff will host special Intro to Shotgunning and Intro to Handgunning classes Aug. 10-11.

ARCHERY
Shooting from an elevated platform is one of many challenges available during an Intro to Archery and Bowhunting course scheduled for Aug. 17.