Education

It is always great to spend the day at a park, enjoying the bright summer sunshine and wildlife. Hike the trails, breathe in the fresh air, and generally relax and get away from the daily grind. Few things are more enjoyable than taking your family and friends to an outdoor range to test out your skills. Unfortunately, our local Delaware outdoor range is currently under construction for upgrades, and it will be a while before it reopens. In the meantime, these three outdoor ranges will make the ideal day trip!

Wyandot Wildlife Area

Located off of Wyandot Country Road in Northwestern Ohio, this 338-acre preserve is generally flat and contains a small lake as well as a wide variety of wildlife and fish. If you're not in the mood for shooting, take your fishing tackle and gear, and you'll find some largemouth bass and channel cats. These sly species are best captured with a nightcrawler and a fly rod or spinning rod. 

Deer Creek Wildlife Area 

Got your rifle, pistol or shotgun handy and ready for action? The Deer Creek Wildlife Area offers plenty of options and a range of hours to suit every shooter. Open from March through December; you'll find rifle and pistol ranges with 25, 500 and 100-yard stands. Come at sunrise and stay until sunset any day of the week — but be sure to purchase your inexpensive shooting permit before getting to the location. If you prefer your shooting to be done with a bow and arrows, no problem! An archery range is nearby and has plenty of space to host multiple archers.

Woodbury Wildlife Area

The Woodbury Wildlife Area shooting range starts at 25 yards and goes up to 200 yards for your far-shooting pleasure. While it is closed all major holidays, this range is available Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. on Sundays. The walk-through archery course is unique and offers targets from 10 up to nearly 50 yards away. Ready to shoot a little skeet? Trap and skeet shooting is available at a modest additional charge right at the range. Shooters under the age of 17 are not required to have a permit, and there is no charge for them to shoot at the range.

Enjoying a lovely day together outdoors with your family is so much more fun when you add in an activity! These outdoor ranges are sure to get your blood pumping. Before you go, don't forget to stock up on ammunition and everything else that you'll need at Norton Sporting Goods in Waldo, Ohio. Our friendly and professional team will ensure that you are always properly outfitted and safe for your outdoor activities. Call us today at 740-726-2616 or contact us online.