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Missouri's Free MDC Archery Ranges: All 33 Unstaffed Conservation-Area Ranges

Last checked 2026-10-23

Besides its five staffed shooting range centers, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has archery ranges on conservation areas across the state that nobody staffs. MDC's own range map layer lists 33 of them (one, Lake Showme near Memphis, is on a city-owned area that MDC manages under a cooperative agreement). This page puts them all in one table.

The short version

• No fee. MDC's shooting page says: "Unstaffed ranges on MDC areas offer opportunities for shooters to practice their shooting skills at their own pace. No fee required." That covers the 32 MDC-run ranges here. For Lake Showme, check with the City of Memphis.
• Shooting hours. Nearly every area's regulation says: "Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Ranges may be closed to public use at any time for maintenance or department sponsored events or programs."
• Maintenance days. MDC's range layer gives a regular maintenance day for 10 of these ranges (mostly Tuesdays). They're in the table below.
• Archery equipment only on archery ranges. MDC's regulation also bans arrows, bolts or darts with explosive or incendiary material, and notes that "other special regulations may apply to the use of targets on archery ranges", so read the posted rules on site.
• Groups of more than 10 need a special use permit from the area manager before using the range. (At Beaver Creek, MDC sets the threshold at groups of 10 or more.)
• No alcohol on ranges or their parking lots.

Static ranges vs field courses

MDC's range layer splits archery ranges into two types:

• Static target ranges (23 here) have targets at fixed distances, like practice lanes.
• Field target courses (20 here) are walk-through courses with targets spread along a trail, which is the closest thing to 3D-style practice on public land in Missouri. 10 areas have both.

Standouts from MDC's own area descriptions: Grundy Memorial Wildlife Area (Douglas County) has "a 3,370 foot loop trail leading through a field archery range" with "an elevated shooting tower, handicap accessible target and parking, and over 30 archery targets." J. Thad Ray Memorial Wildlife Area (Marion County) has "a field archery range with 10 targets and a practice archery range with five points." Fort Crowder (Newton County) "features a walk through field range as well as a static archery range" on Parrot Road.

All unstaffed MDC archery ranges

Distances are copied from MDC's GIS range layer, which doesn't state units. "Unknown" means MDC doesn't list it. Phone numbers are the area contacts MDC gives on each area page.

Before you go

1. Call the area number if you're driving far. MDC says ranges can close for maintenance or events at any time.
2. Bring your own bow, arrows and targets where needed. MDC lists no rentals at unstaffed ranges.
3. Broadhead and crossbow rules aren't stated for these ranges, so follow the posted range rules.

Want staff, a range officer or lessons instead? See Missouri's staffed MDC archery ranges compared, or the free Forest Park Archery Range in St. Louis. New to public ranges? Start with the first-visit checklist.

Sources: MDC conservation-area pages (linked on each listing), MDC's "Shooting Ranges" GIS layer, and MDC's shooting and archery activity pages, all retrieved 2026-10-23.

Sources

• https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/activities/shooting
• https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/activities/archery
• https://mdc.mo.gov/conservation-areas-search
• https://gisblue.mdc.mo.gov/arcgis/rest/services/Discover_Nature/Area_Feature_Layers/FeatureServer/25