[TheGrouch]

Seem to have found my way to Illinois temporarily. Darnall's Range in Bloomington is the only range that I have found. Any other ranges I should know about?

I got spoiled in Indy. Marion County Fish and Game had steel plate matches, bowling pins and trap leagues. Looking for similar here.


Any help is greatly appreciated. :)

[dmftoy1]

I don't know if they've reopened the "Bloomington Gun Range" to the public or not. Out east on route 9 they built up a really nice facility. (Indoor pistol range, outdoor shotgun, etc.) I was a member for 3-4 years and then it was turned over to the county who was supposed to run it as a public range. Last time I checked (4-5 years ago) it was being run as a club for area LEO's. I do see cars there when I drive by so I know it's up/running, I just don't know if it's a public range anymore or ??

FWIW.

[XnaV80]

Well if you make it up to Peoria area, there's a good one at the Chillocothe sportsman's club. Open trap a few days during the week and a 300yd range. Plus more of course. I don't have the details, but the brochure is around here somewhere if you'd like to know more. Also there's a dug out gravel pit that's a member range more toward Lacon, 150 yd range there, that's a more do it yourself type (MGCA Midwest gun collectors Ass.)

[XnaV80]

Darnell's was nice, went there last spring for the Appleseed shoot, had a good time on sunday. Were any of you guys there too?

[SeanSw]

Darnall's is kind of a ripoff with their lane rates and ammo restrictions. I had to share a lane with a friend yet still had to pay the two lane rate. $24 for each of us to trade shots with a .22 for an hour, because we were not allowed to use our aluminum cased 9mm and .38.

Although we were warned not to use the cci blazer ammo we had brought with us they were happy to sell it to you at their counter :rolleyes: That's just the kind of thing I don't want to be a part of and I won't be returning.

[Autolycus]

Is there any public land we can shoot on?

[AirplaneDoc]

Tecumseh


Is there any public land we can shoot on?


I would live to find some as well, untill i can get out of this state. Im in Degutter and there is none this wat that i know of. If you findsome let me know

[Autolycus]

Will do.

When I was going to school in Carbondale, it was a matter of driving out into the woods.

I am going to call our states DNR and possibly the county to see what they say.

I went to Darnells and had an unpleasant experience wiht the management when I went.

[distra]

I'll be hitting grandma's back 40 over Christmas to break a few clays. :D A little too far north for Bloomington though.

[scout26]

Tecumseh,

Where are you at ??

The only public land you're going to be able to shoot on is The Shawnee National Forest. The DNR frowns on going out on their land and blasting away, unless you're hunting. Private Land or at a range is probably all you're going to find.

[Wild Deuce]

Everything I know about is pretty far north of you. Closest one (that's free) is the Indiana DNR range at Willow Slough (95 miles ENE of Darnall's). It is an outdoor range with shooting positions at 25, 50 and 100 yards as well as a shotgun and archery areas.

Jasper-Pulaski DNR is even further (124 miles ENE of Darnall's) but does have a 200 yard range.

Kingsbury DNR is even further still (150 miles NE of Darnall's) but is by far the best outdoor facility of the three. It is semi enclosed with all of the shooting positions completely covered and well maintained. It only goes out to 100 yards though. It is also the only one that charges a fee ... $4 for the day per person.

The ISRA range at Bonfield (http://www.isra.org/range/) (west of Kankakee) might be a closer option if you are going to be in the area for any length of time. It is only 76 miles NNE of Darnall's. There is a membership fee.

I know everything I mentioned is extremely long range but the only reference point you gave was Darnall's. You might be staying in Kankakee for all I know, in which case all the stuff I told you about would be a lot closer. Likewise, you could be west of Darnall's, in which case you might as well drive back to Indy to shoot.

Hope this helps. If not, I hope you find something.

[Don Gwinn]

Springfield has Bullet Express just off I-55; that would only be about an hour, maybe an hour and a half from Bloomington, but it's still a pain. Sorry to hear Darnall's didn't work out.

[AirplaneDoc]

Tecumseh,

I had the same experience in C-dale, tons of places to go shoot outdoors, I had a place on all 4 sides of town at one time or another. Sure do miss those days. I am not too into shooting inside a concrete tunnel, like at Bullet Express over in Springfield. My big bore stuff is kind of loud outside. Best I have found here is Windson gun club. Its about 40 miles for me door to gate for me from Decatur. It is a great place $40/year to be a member, but it is a all day event time I get readyto go and get back home.