PIERRE, S.D. — If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
Free public use of a 400+ acre sports shooting complex being built by the South Dakota Game Fish & Parks (GF&P) was among the perks touted by the state agency that has almost completed the shooting complex located about 15 miles north of Rapid City, S.D., and 25 miles southeast of Sturgis, S.D.
The GF&P initially said in 2021 that the project would cost $9.9 million. That grew to $12 million in 2022 and $20 million in 2024. Former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem gave the project $13.5 million in taxpayer money from the Future Fund. Another $6.5 million has come in the form of donations.
But now, the GF&P Commission is taking public comments on proposed shooting complex access fees and will hold a public hearing at 2 p.m. on July 10 at its next regular meeting in Yankton, S.D.
The commission will make a decision whether to adopt the fees during the July 10-11 meeting.
Here’s what’s proposed:
Individual Day Pass: $20
Individual Annual Pass: $100
Family Annual Pass: $150 (two parents and children under 18)
Competitive Event Pass: $20 per competitor
Non-Competitive Event Cost: $500 per bay for two days, $200 each additional day
Annual Club Pas:s $500
Section Chief and Project Lead for GF&P John Kanta said the department will be flexible in defining a family in regard to the Family Annual Pass.
He also noted he Club Pass allows storage of equipment at the complex, but each member will still need a Day or Annual Pass.
He said the annual operating budget has been estimated at $360,000 “plus” and revenue from fees can be matched 25-75 by federal funding.
“We won’t turn a profit on this. That’s not really in the cards,” Kanta said.
The complex will have three full-time employees, with additional help from volunteers, seasonal employees and interns, according to Kanta.
Once it’s open, Kanta said the complex’s 50-, 100- and 300-yard shooting bays and archery range will be free for the public to use.
There will also be controlled-access areas, such as a 1,200-yard range, shotgun ranges, a sporting-clays course and action bays, where fees will be charged
The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department plans to host a national organization’s regional competition at its new shooting complex east of Rapid City this fall, a few weeks before the public gets to use any of the ranges
Kanta said that more than 300 people had already signed up for the United States Practical Shooting Association event set for September 25-28.
An official ribbon cutting comes two weeks later, on October 10, followed by a public opening on October 13.
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