Renovations Complete at Fernwood State Forest Shooting Range

Buckeye Firearms Association leaders are on the Range Committee of the Ohio Division of Wildlife and worked with dozens of sportsman groups recently to get money in Ohio's budget for public range upgrades. This is just a small part of our ongoing and comprehensive mission to both protect and advance Second Amendment rights. Click here to see some of the things BFA did last year.

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ohio – As part of an ongoing effort to upgrade and expand public shooting ranges, the Ohio Division of Forestry and the Ohio Division of Wildlife have completed more than $545,000 of renovations and upgrades to the Fernwood State Forest Shooting Range. The project received a $25,000 National Rifle Association Public Range Grant.

"Thanks to the efforts of experts from the divisions of Forestry and Wildlife, the Fernwood State Forest Shooting Range is newly renovated for shooters of all skill levels," said Dan Balser, chief of the Ohio Division of Forestry. "It will be a valuable tool to help teach gun safety."

The newly renovated facility has 24 total lanes for shooters, with 12 lanes at both the pistol and rifle ranges. Each lane has a sturdy table to rest a firearm or supplies on and a long stretch of open grass for setting up targets. The rifle and pistol ranges are covered by a roof, keeping the sun and rain off shooters as they practice their skills.

Additional upgrades include:

• Raising the height of the side berms and backstops for safety.
• Installing ballistic sand backstops that will make lead reclamation more efficient.
• Addressing storm water drainage issues.
• Installing new ADA-compliant sidewalks.

The 100-yard rifle, 25-yard pistol, and trap ranges provide the public with areas to practice marksmanship or sight-in firearms. The ranges are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Here are some photos of the upgrades:

Fernwood State Forest is in Jefferson County, approximately 10 miles from Steubenville, Ohio. In addition to the range, the area offers four miles of hiking trails plus a free campground equipped with picnic tables, fire rings, and vault latrines.

The Ohio Division of Forestry promotes the wise use and sustainable management of Ohio's public and private woodlands. To learn more about Ohio's woodlands, visit forestry.ohiodnr.gov, or follow us on Instagram at @odnrforestry.

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.