Welcome to the New Mexico Department of Wildlife shooting program and shooting range page. Here you will find information about upcoming shooting events and programs, learn about Department ranges, submit a comment card, apply for shooting event grant supplies and apply for shooting range development grant funding.

Click here for shooting range locations and information
Education Shooting Range

Shooting Program

The Department is pleased to offer the citizens of New Mexico and visitors the opportunities to participate in and learn new shooting disciplines through Department offerings and Department-sponsored events and programs.

Click here to see upcoming shooting opportunities

Below you will find a link to non-Department shooting sport organizations for youth and adults, where you can learn about different shooting disciplines, how to get involved, join a club and learn about training opportunities.

https://cahss.org/hunting-and-shooting-overview/shooting-sports-organizations-programs/

Each year on the first weekend of June, youth from around the state compete in the Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, NM. This FREE event is open to all youth who have completed a hunter education class. Each youth will participate in their age class in 8 different categories.

  • Archery
  • Muzzleloader
  • Orienteering
  • Rifle
  • Shotgun
  • Safety Trail
  • Wildlife ID
  • Knowledge Exam

To learn more and register, visit the New Mexico Youth Hunter Education website at

https://www.nmyhec.com/

New Mexico Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC)

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Shooting Sports Event Grant Program

The New Mexico Department of Wildlife is excited to announce a shooting event grant program for statewide shooting ranges and NGO’s that want to host public events.

If you are a public shooting range or NGO that would like to host an event but needs assistance with supplies or loaner firearms/equipment, the Department has opened a grant application process to assist you.

Below are the various supplies and equipment the Department can provide to make your event a success, as well as the requirements your range must meet to be eligible.

Please note, this program is on a first come, first served basis, and is based on available funding. Submitting an application is not a guarantee of receiving supplies or equipment.

The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is excited to announce a shooting event grant program for statewide shooting ranges and NGO’s that want to host public events.

If you are a public shooting range or NGO that would like to host an event but needs assistance with supplies or loaner firearms/equipment, the Department has opened a grant application process to assist you.

Below are the various supplies and equipment the Department can provide to make your event a success, as well as the requirements your range must meet to be eligible.

Please note, this program is on a first come, first served basis, and is based on available funding. Submitting an application is not a guarantee of receiving supplies or equipment.

Shooting Sports Event Grant Program

  • Items available to help a club, range, etc., host an event for the public
    • Loaner shotguns
    • Loaner .22 rifles
    • Loaner .22 pistols
    • Shotgun and .22 ammunition
    • Safety equipment (eye/ear protection)
    • Clay throwers
    • Clays
    • Metal targets
  • Requirements
    • Must fill out an application stating the request and the needs
    • Applications must be submitted no later then 60 days before the event
    • Must be open to the public
    • Must be free
    • Must advertise event locally, and provide info on how you will advertise
    • Must provide Department with an accurate headcount for the number of participants at the end of the event
    • Must return unused and borrowed equipment in a timely manner
    • Must complete an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department

For more information and an application, please contact:

Cody Johnston
Shooting Program Coordinator
cody.johnston@dgf.nm.gov

Range Development Grants

The New Mexico Department of Wildlife promotes and supports the development of safe, accessible target and sport-shooting facilities by taking a leadership role in partnering with ranges, industry, and communities. The Department provides statewide range development assistance through a variety of technical, educational and financial resources consistent with our goal of preserving current shooting opportunities while developing new ones, all available to present and future generations.

The Department is now assisting current and future ranges with grant funding to improve shooting range facilities or building new shooting ranges. See below for eligibility requirements

Eligible Projects

  • Construction of new shooting ranges, which can include rifle, pistol, shotgun or archery shooting
  • Improvements and additions to existing facilities that will increase shooting opportunities for the public, which can include rifle, pistol, shotgun or archery shooting
  • Additions that will increase the safety and comfort of new and existing shooters (e.g., shade structures, vault toilets, instructional signage, etc.)
  • Permanent targets such as secured steel targets
  • Purchase of clay target machines
  • Educational training facilities

Ineligible projects

  • Construction of clubhouses
  • Storage warehouses/workshops
  • Engineering and design documents and plans
  • Environmental and archeological clearance planning and fees
  • Lead reclamation
  • Lead remediation for closed or closing ranges
  • For-profit range projects not open to the public
  • Projects for ranges restricted to law enforcement only
  • Funding for staff to run a range

 Please see the range application for grant funding requirements.

This application is the only accepted method for requesting federal Pitman-Robertson funding for new shooting range construction and improvements to current shooting range facilities. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Shooting Range Development and Improvement Grant Application

Note: Applications will be reviewed, and a decision to pursue a federal funding grant will be made by a Department committee. The decision to fund a particular project will be based on the New Mexico Department of Wildlife’s allocated federal funding, other Department funding needs, and the benefit of the project to the citizens of New Mexico.

Submitting an application does not guarantee funding for your project. 

Approved projects may be funded and constructed in phases over multiple fiscal years depending on the size and scope of the project and available funding the Department receives. All funding decisions are at the sole discretion of the Director of the New Mexico Department of Wildlife.

You must reapply each year for funding if your project was not approved and you still wish to request funding.

Applications for funding will open July 1 and close September 1 of each year.

The Department reserves the right not to open the application period if funding is unavailable.

Please be aware that if approved for funding and you accept, your organization will, for the useful life of the new range or improvement, be subject to state and federal audits, which could be up to 30 years or more. The organization will be legally and financially liable for noncompliance with contractual obligations to the New Mexico Department of Wildlife and the State of New Mexico if facilities are not maintained or do not provide continual public shooting opportunities for the useful life of the new range or improvement.

For more information, please contact:

Cody Johnston
Shooting Program Coordinator
cody.johnston@dgf.nm.gov

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