AGFC Offers Special Rates to Celebrate National Shooting Sports Month

August is National Shooting Sports Month, and there’s no better time to get out and get on target before hunting seasons kick off with the annual September dove hunting opener. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has a host of special offers at its Dr. James E Moore Jr. Shooting Range in Mayflower and the Rick Evans Grandview Prairie Nature Center Shotgun Range in Columbus to celebrate the contributions recreational shooters make to conservation in America.

Thanks to the Federal Wildlife Restoration Program. Manufacturers of firearms, ammunition and archery equipment pay excise taxes on their products, and those taxes are fed back to each state to help fuel conservation efforts for game and nongame animals alike. In Fiscal Year 2026, Arkansas received nearly $14 million from this Wildlife Restoration Fund for habitat conservation and hunter education. Combined with grants through the Federal Sport Fish Restoration Fund, a similar excise tax placed on boating and fishing equipment manufacturers, the money from firearms and ammunition sales makes up nearly a third of the AGFC’s annual budget.

According to Bill Haynes, manager of the Mayflower range, nearly everyone can enjoy one of the many special promotions taking place throughout the month.

“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. “We do ask that an adult accompany anyone under 18, but the kids can shoot for free.”

Anyone who purchased a new rifle or pistol in the last 60 days can show a receipt at the desk and have a free day of shooting to get familiar with their new firearm, too.

“Show us your hunting or fishing license if you’ve renewed it since July 1, and we’ll give you a free day on the rifle or pistol range as well,” Haynes said.

With dove season right around the corner, shotgun enthusiasts may want to take advantage of the special deal being offered for trap and skeet shooting at both ranges — all rounds of trap and skeet are only $2 during the entire month of August.

“We’d honestly give those rounds for free, but we need to be able to pay for the cost of the targets,” Haynes said. “If you’ve ever bought clays at the store to shoot in the backyard, you know that $2 still isn’t enough to cover the cost. I’d challenge anyone going dove hunting to come visit and spend a few bucks on a round of skeet before they hit the field this year.”

A few special events are happening at both ranges as well to celebrate the contributions of shooting sports to conservation and encourage new participants.

The Mayflower range will host a ladies’ weekend Aug. 22nd and 23rd, where women can shoot at any station, including the shotgun ranges, absolutely free.

“We plan to have some instructors on the range as well to help people learn to shoot,” Haynes said. “They’ll also be available for our Family Week Aug. 5-9.”

Family Week at Mayflower means everyone shoots free on the rifle and pistol ranges, and staff will even be serving up free hot dogs, chips and drinks beginning at 10 a.m. on Aug. 8-9.

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CUTLINES:

LEARNING SHOTGUNS
The shooting range at Rick Evans Grandview Prairie Nature Center and the AGFC’s range in Mayflower will offer $2-per-round trap and skeet throughout August. AGFC photo.

SHOOTING MODERN GUN
Excise taxes on firearms, ammunition and archery equipment are routed back to each state to pay for conservation work and support the future of hunting. AGFC photo.