The Mattingly Target Shooting Range in east Daviess County is open for the 2024 season. Officials hope to break tournament numbers this year, in part by hosting the Kentucky State Sporting Clays Championship this August.
Ross Leigh, Director of Outreach for the County Parks and Recreation, said that it is unique to see a county-operated gun range in Kentucky.
“You might find different State Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources providing a shooting range here or there throughout the state, [but having your own] is very unique,” Leigh said.
He noted the County seeks to provide passive and active forms of recreation, so guests can find different types of activities. The range is set up new by Gun Club Manager Zach Crisp every 2 weeks to keep things fresh.
Crisp aims to make the course as accommodating as possible for all shooters, regardless of skill level. The bays offer a mix of bunnies (discs that roll across the ground), in-air discs, or free-falling discs from the 80-foot tower.
“When setting targets you have to be able to set for a novice shooter and at the same time for a more advanced shooter. So it’s just putting a good mix in to make a good sporting clays course,” Crisp said.
Leigh said on slower days when the range isn’t at its 250-person max capacity, lessons are given at the clubhouse. There, a guest can request 1-on-1 training at the trap field where they are able to grow their skills.
The range aims to get people in from all levels and help break the stigma often associated with combat shotguns along with helping educate people on proper ways to use the guns, Leigh said.
“There’s some intimidation factor. We really want to try to break that down for our community and teach them how to hold the shotgun safely and to be able to use them,” Leigh said.
The gun range is also open to archers, another unique feature of the campus. Leigh said the partnership began in 2018 — after they left Yellow Creek Park.
Since then they have incorporated more archery aspects into the gun range’s opportunities. Some of that includes hosting the Kentucky Scholastic 3D Archery events in April and June. They expect to bring hundreds of youth archers over the weekend-long contests.
The season ahead has an event each month, except for November and December, Leigh said. In May and July there are Spring and Summer Classics, followed by national and statewide tournaments during the summer and the State Sporting Clays Championship the last full weekend of August.
Crisp noted the Clays Championship is the largest event the facility holds — and it has only done so twice since 2002. They expect to be just under capacity for the event with about 200 competitors taking the stage.
Leigh said they plan to give just shy of $20,000 in prizes.
“We look forward to having them in town and having them here starting on Thursday night. There’ll be shooting Friday, Saturday, and Sunday,” Leigh said.
For registration for any of the range’s events or more information, click here.
