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Jamestown (CSi) Nearly 200 people attended Thursday evening’s informational meeting at the Jamestown Knights of Columbus Hall discussing a proposed shooting range in the Jamestown area.

A member of the United Sportsmen of North Dakota Jamestown Chapter Shooting Range Committee, member Gene Van Eeckhout, is confident that gun and archery enthusiasts in the community can effectively organize and bring a shooting range back to Jamestown.

The meeting was called to gauge interest in building a new shooting range and to recruit volunteers for organizational committees.

The shooting range at Pipestem Dam was closed in July after stray bullets from the range struck an occupied home adjacent to the range.

Bob Martin ruled out any future use of land at Pipestem Dam for a shooting range, saying there was no other locations on the property that would meet the safety requirements for a shooting range.

Curtis Kasemen said a shooting range must have a 2-mile downrange safety zone from the shooting range. While the club or organization owning the range would not have to own that property, it would have to work with county officials to create a special zoning district where houses could not be built.

He said finding a location where there are no homes for at least 2 miles near Jamestown would be a challenge.

Kasemen called for volunteers for a number of committees. He hopes to see all sportsmen and conservation clubs in the region combine their efforts with the idea of creating a shooting facility with multiple ranges that can accommodate rifles, pistols, shotguns and archery.

North Dakota Game and Fish Department, Hunter Education Supervisor, John Mazur said state law requires land either be donated to conservation groups such as those that would operate the shooting range or be specifically approved by the North Dakota Legislature and governor.

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Jamestown (CSi) United Sportsman of Jamestown will hold a public meeting on Thursday December 3 to determine if there is enough interst to development and sustain a public educational shooting range.

The facility would serve Jamestown and the surrounding community.

The meeting will be at 7-p.m., at the Knights of Columbus Hall, at 519 First Avenue South in Jamestown.

On a recent Wayne Byers Show on CSI Cable 2, Curtis Kaseman said the facility will be a community shooting range, and educational location, with plans to construct a clubhouse, within five miles of Jamestown.

He said the organization is looking for land that would need to be zoned recreational, and for safety, away from other structures, and potential new building.

He added that once the land is found, the organization will work with Stutsman County, and any township involved with the zoning.

He added that the idea is to start small with the range and clubhouse and grow to include a facility that will be an educational center.

It would also host state competitions.

The shooting range would be open to the public, along with law enforcement, and correctional staff.

Also on our show, Gene Van Eeckhout is part of a three member committee, along with Kaseman and Frank Redlin, organizing the plans.

At the December 3rd meeting will be North Dakota Game & Fish Department’s John Mazuk, and Army Corps of Engineer’s, Pipestem Dam Manager, Bob Martin.

United Sportsman of Jamestown is involved in hunter education programs, and the annual bird seed giveaway, the Duck Stamp Program, and more.

Any questions may be directed to Curtis Kaseman at 701-320-9227.