An approved Michigan Department of Natural Resources land use order of the director implementing this target shooting closure was brought forward due to growing concern for public safety.
Despite efforts to create safe and clean target shooting sites, the amount and type of target shooting have increased substantially at these areas over the last two years. Increased use has led to concerns about target shooting in unsafe locations without proper backstops, target shooting after shooting hours, shooting beyond existing berms into adjacent game area property, causing damage to forested wetlands, and disrupted flow of traffic due to parking along county roads.
The order will help protect the state game areas from damage and help prevent further safety issues, trash and noise complaints, and conflicts with trail users and hunters.
For more information, please call the DNR Plainwell Customer Service Center at 269-685-6851.
Target shooting activities are indefinitely prohibited at the Rogue River State Game Area and the Rogue River State Game Area Extension Unit in Kent County and the West Unit of the Muskegon State Game Area in Muskegon County.
