Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown Marksmanship Education Range Board of Directors has set a fundraising target of $250,000 to start a shooting range in the Jamestown area.
Property being considered is in Seven Mile Coulee and located about 3 miles east of Cavendish Farms or about 6 miles east of Jamestown. The property has some natural terrain that would serve as backstops for the shooting range and has accessible water and electrical service. The property also has a large down-range area with no buildings that is part of the requirements for a shooting range.
Curt Kaseman, president of the board, says if the goals can be reach by August this year, grants could be applied for, with groundbreaking next spring.
The $250,000 goal is toward the first phase of the project and includes the purchase of land and matching funds for a $300,000 grant from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.
North Dakota Century Code prohibits state money from being used to purchase land for conservation programs, although the grant money can be used for improvements to the property once it has been purchased by a local group.
The previous community shooting range at Pipestem Dam was closed in 2015 after signs and other items at the range were damaged by vandalism and stray bullets struck buildings beyond the shooting range, creating safety concerns.
