301 Ky. Admin. Regs. 3:015

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 5, November 1, 2024

Section 301 KAR 3:015 - [Effective 9/20/2025] Shooting ranges on department-owned or managed lands

RELATES TO: KRS 150.025(1)(h)

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 150.025(1) authorizes the department to promulgate administrative regulations to carry out the purposes of KRS Chapter 150. KRS 150.620 authorizes the department to promulgate administrative regulations to acquire or lease land for the operation of public shooting or fishing grounds. This administrative regulation establishes requirements for the safe operation of department-owned or managed shooting ranges.

Section 1. Definitions.

(1) "Archery and crossbow range" means a shooting range that is established for target shooting at stationary targets with archery or crossbow equipment.

(2) "Club-operated shooting range" means a facility that is:

(a) Operated by a department-authorized entity for target shooting; and

(b) Open to the public during club events.

(3) "Firing line" means the area where a weapon is shot or discharged, as designated by:

(a) Signage;

(b) A shooting bench; or

(c) A range officer.

(4) "Pistol pit" means a shooting range that is established for target shooting with pistols.

(5) "Range officer" means an individual designated as a National Rifle Association range officer, a National Shooting Sports Foundation range officer, a department hunter education instructor, or a law enforcement range officer, responsible for supervising a shooting range and ensuring compliance with this administrative regulation.

(6) "Safety zone" means an area downrange of a firing line where all public access is prohibited as designated by department signs.

(7) "Self-service trap shooting range" means a shooting range that is established for people to shoot at moving targets with a shotgun.

(8) "Shooting range" means a public facility on lands owned or managed by the department that is designated for target shooting with:

(a) A rifle;

(b) A pistol;

(c) A shotgun;

(d) Archery equipment; or

(e) Crossbow equipment.

(9) "Shooting station" means a location on the firing line for one (1) person to shoot, as designated by:

(a) Signage;

(b) A shooting bench; or

(c) A concrete pad.

(10) "Tube range" means a shooting range established for target shooting through designated steel tubes.

Section 2.

(1) Except as established in subsection (2) of this section, if a shooting range exists on department-owned or managed lands, then a person shall not target practice, sight in a firearm, or discharge a firearm on any area except the shooting range.

(2) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to:

(a) A person legally hunting a game species;

(b) A department employee, range officer, or certified volunteer hunter education instructor in the performance of an official duty;

(c) A person or group participating in a department-sponsored hunter education class; or

(d) A group participating in a department-approved event pursuant to 301 KAR 3:010.

Section 3. General Shooting Range Requirements.

(1) Except as posted by a department sign or an event permit issued pursuant to 301 KAR 3:010, a person using a shooting range shall only shoot from a designated firing line downrange at a department-provided:

(a) Target stand;

(b) Target; or

(c) Shooting berm.

(2) A person shall not:

(a) Enter a shooting range except at a designated entrance;

(b) Enter a designated safety zone, except as established in subsection (6) of this section;

(c) Discharge a firearm:

1. Before 9 a.m.;

2. After sunset, except on a lighted range during scheduled hours of operation; or

3. At any time prohibited by department signage; or

(d) Be under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicant.

(3) A person shall not use:

(a) A tracer bullet;

(b) Armor piercing ammunition;

(c) A fully automatic firearm;

(d) A rifle cartridge that is .50 caliber or larger;

(e) A muzzle-loading rifle ball, sabot, or bullet larger than .78 caliber;

(f) A cannon or replica thereof;

(g) A mortar or other explosive device;

(h) A grenade; or

(i) An incendiary.

(4) A person shall not:

(a) Leave spent cartridge cases or litter on the range;

(b) Point a firearm in an unsafe direction or otherwise carelessly handle a firearm; or

(c) Use a shooting range at any time or in any manner inconsistent with department-posted signage.

(5) A person under the age of sixteen (16) shall not discharge a firearm on a shooting range unless under the direct supervision of a person at least eighteen (18) years old.

(6) A person actively engaged in shooting or a spectator shall not go beyond the firing line without first clearly communicating to all other shooters to cease fire.

(7) Upon hearing a cease fire command or seeing a person move beyond the firing line, a person shall:

(a) Immediately cease firing;

(b) Unload all firearms;

(c) Leave the action open on all firearms;

(d) Place all firearms:

1. In a holster;

2. On a table at the shooting station; or

3. On the ground; and

(e) Not handle a firearm while a person is beyond the firing line.

(8) There shall not be more than one (1) person at a shooting station at the same time, unless one (1) person is an instructor and the other is a student.

(9) A person shall immediately obey the range officer's command.

(10) Any spectator and a person handling a firearm shall wear protective eye and ear wear.

(11) Each person shall be limited to one (1) hour of shooting time if anyone is waiting to use the shooting range.

(12) If a scheduled event or department maintenance activities preclude open public use of a shooting range, then the department shall notify the public by:

(a) Posting the closure on the department's Web site at fw.ky.gov; and

(b) Posting a notice at the shooting range or a kiosk or bulletin board on the department-managed area.

(13) A shooting range may be reserved for group use, if:

(a) The group has obtained a department event permit pursuant to 301 KAR 3:010; and

(b) The group designates a range officer who shall oversee the event and ensure that all participants are in compliance with this administrative regulation.

Section 4. Special Shooting Range Requirements.

(1) In addition to the general shooting range requirements established in Section 3 of this administrative regulation, a person shall comply with the special shooting range requirements established in subsections (2) through (8) of this section.

(2) A person using a tube range shall only:

(a) Shoot from a designated shooting station;

(b) Shoot a firearm through the tube provided at a shooting station;

(c) Use the department-provided target frames;

(d) Place target frames in the ground inserts provided on the tube range; and

(e) Attach paper targets to the target frames.

(3) A person using a tube range shall:

(a) Not shoot a pistol;

(b) Close tube doors when any person is downrange of the firing line;

(c) Not smoke or have any open flame;

(d) Not shoot at any objects on the ground; or

(e) Not use the range on a Monday, except if participating in a department-approved event pursuant to 301 KAR 3:010.

(4) A person may target shoot on a club-operated shooting range on Curtis Gates Lloyd WMA, Jones-Keeney WMA, Miller Welch-Central Kentucky WMA, and West Kentucky WMA if the person:

(a) Attends a regularly scheduled event coordinated and sponsored by a department-authorized club;

(b) Complies with the requirements of this administrative regulation and posted signage on the area; and

(c) Complies with the rules of operation established by the club and the club's range officer.

(5) On a club-operated shooting range, a club or organization shall:

(a) Comply with all WMA event permit requirements pursuant to 301 KAR 3:010;

(b) Post all approved event dates and times that are open to the public:

1. In the WMA clubhouse, if present;

2. On a WMA bulletin board or kiosk; and

3. On the department's Web site at fw.ky.gov; and

(c) Provide a range officer who shall oversee each event to ensure that all participants shall be in compliance with the requirements of this administrative regulation.

(6) A person who is using an archery and crossbow range shall only use:

(a) The department-provided targets; and

(b) Broadhead-tipped arrows or crossbow bolts on department-provided broadhead targets, and in compliance with area signage.

(7) A person using a pistol pit shall:

(a) Only shoot from a designated firing line;

(b) Only use department-provided target frames;

(c) Only attach paper targets to the target frames;

(d) Only use single projectile ammunition;

(e) Not shoot any firearm except a pistol;

(f) Not shoot at any objects on the ground; and

(g) Not use the range on a Monday, except when participating in a department-approved event pursuant to 301 KAR 3:010.

(8) A person using a self-service trap shooting range shall:

(a) Only use a shotgun with shotshells containing multiple projectile pellets no larger than number two (2);

(b) Provide clay targets and portable target throwers; and

(c) Not target shoot anywhere except at a designated self-service trap shooting station.

301 KAR 3:015

26 Ky.R. 1265; Am. 1535; eff. 2-14-2000; 29 Ky.R. 518; 927; eff. 10-9-2002; 43 Ky.R. 1261, 1555; eff. 3-31-2017; Certified to be Amended; filing deadline 9/20/2025.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 150.025(1)(h), 150.620