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The Skagit Sportsmen & Training Association
(SSTA) is a non-profit corporation in the State of Washington formed to support the County Commissioners in the development of a joint public/private venture
recreational shooting range in Skagit County. The County expects to develop a public range including all aspects of recreational shooting, law enforcement training and hunter education. Other public/private ranges in the country are successfully being operated, note a link to the Ben Avery Shooting Range in Arizona.
The shooting range concept has been fostered by Skagit County Parks and Recreation and our County Commissioners, to address the need for a recreational shooting facility and a law enforcement qualifying and training facility. By providing a controlled shooting atmosphere, we expect to offer an alternative to indiscriminate shooting and the damage it causes, as well as the danger it creates in Skagit County. It will also give young people the opportunity to learn the appropriate and recreational uses of safe firearms handling. Hunter education is our primary interest in this area and would be taught by instructors certified by the Washington State Dept. of Wildlife at the range. The range will be open to the public.
The County has been successful in selecting a site which will be easily accessible by the public but remote enough to be a good neighbor.
The State Board of Natural Resources recently approved the reconveyance 400 acres of state land south of Pilchuck Creek and along the Lake Cavanaugh Road to Skagit County. The site is 6 miles east of SR 9.
The initial phase of construction will include an access road, fencing and gates, site roads, parking lots, a range master control building and necessary infrastructure to support the facilities.
The SSTA’s membership is comprised of many disciplines of recreational shooters including rifle, pistol, black powder, archery and shotgun sports. It is our intent, once the County moves into the development phase of this project, to apply to the County, to be appointed the development and managing concessionaire for the range. If we are selected as the concessionaire for this range, the SSTA will develop their respective ranges under the safety requirements of Skagit County and the NRA range development guidelines. To participate in the challenge of developing this range, contact the Skagit Sportsmen & Training Association. SSTA members can purchase yearly or life memberships.
 The rifle ranges will include distances of 100, 300, 600 and 1,000 yards. The shotgun sports will develop up to 13 traps, with ability to overlay skeet on some. An archery range is also included in the planning at this time.
The future phases of construction will include increasing the trap range if use demands it, adding a club house, an indoor pistol range and a law enforcement training area, a black powder rendezvous and camping area, facilities for recreational vehicles for shooters who attend shoots, and a Sporting Clays range.
This range has a unique opportunity to become a prototype of safety and enjoyment for recreational shooters. It is envisioned to be capable of training world class shooters including Olympic Champions. For citizens of Skagit County who have always had the freedom and desire to enjoy hunting in our rural setting, this shooting range is mandatory. It will ensure our children and their children will always be able to enjoy these same sports.
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