Alliant Techsystems has expressed interest in having a proposed
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) shooting sports
facility at its site in Nowthen.
by Joni Astrup
Associate editor
Alliant Techsystems has expressed interest in having a proposed Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) shooting sports facility at its site in Nowthen.
{snippet instory} The site is Alliant Techsystems’ 3,200-acre proving ground located at 23100 Sugar Bush Rd. NW.
The other locations interested in the proposed $22 million DNR shooting sports complex and under consideration are:
–The Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club in Prior Lake
–A former golf course in the Monticello area
–A sod farm in Lino Lakes
The plan calls for a shooting sports complex with a variety of outdoor ranges and fields, an RV campground and an office and education building with indoor ranges and classrooms.
Chuck Niska, DNR shooting range coordinator, said if built with the proper size and scale, the complex would have the capacity to host regional and national shooting sports events.
He likened the proposed facility to something on the order of the Ben Avery shooting facility outside of Phoenix, Ariz.
‘An opportunity that really fits well’
Earlier this year the DNR had put out a Request for Information (RFI) in researching the siting of a proposed new shooting range complex in the metro area.
The purpose of the RFI was for the DNR to determine interest in, and obtain information from, parties that might be interested in researching the siting of a new shooting range on either public or privately owned lands in the seven-county metro area. It specified that a minimum of 530 acres of land would be needed.
Alliant Techsystems responded to that Request for Information, expressing interest in being considered for the proposed shooting sports complex.
“We look at it as an opportunity that really fits well with our business,” said Jarrod Krull, communications manager for Alliant Techsystems Advanced Weapons. “We have expertise in this area, we have the land and we kind of thought it made sense to respond to that Request for Information and see what happens next.”
Alliant Techsystems is in the business of producing defense products such as weapons and munitions, Krull said. The proving ground in Nowthen is the company’s primary testing area, he said.
If the DNR were to locate the shooting sports complex at the Alliant Techsystems site, Krull said the location could continue to be used as a proving grounds.
“We do have a lot of land out there,” he said.
Legislator likes idea, but money a question
A few years ago, the Minnesota Legislature provided $300,000 for the planning, design and site placement of a shooting sports complex in the seven-county metro area.
However, no money has been appropriated to build the proposed complex.
State Rep. Tom Hackbarth, R-Cedar, said there is a need for gun ranges and he doesn’t see a problem possibly putting one on the Alliant Techsystems property.
But given the economic times and the fact that the state is facing a budget deficit, he doesn’t know that it’s even going to happen.
“We’re facing a $6 billion deficit and we’re going to have to make cuts in places, and I just don’t know if there’s any room in there for a shooting range,” he said. “I’m a little bit surprised that we’re talking about something like this when we really can’t afford it right now. It’s a nice idea. I think it (AlliantTechsystems) is a good location for it if we can move forward with it. But I just don’t see it happening anytime in the near future.”
Niska, meanwhile, said a survey found that a majority of hunters polled would be willing to pay an extra tax on firearms or ammunition to pay for a shooting sports complex. The survey of 1,000 hunters living within 50 miles of the Twin Cities was done about five years ago by Responsive Management.
“There are mechanisms through which this could be funded without having an extra burden placed on the rest of the non-using public,” Niska said.
What the proposed complex could include
Here are some of the proposed components the shooting sports facility could include, according to a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources report by Architectural Resources Inc.
Outdoor ranges
–30 trap fields
–10 skeet fields
–1 international trap field
–1 international skeet field
–10 sporting clays range loops
–Rifle range
–Pistol range
–Static archery range
–Two interactive ranges with elevated platforms
–Broadhead pit
–Two walking field archery ranges
Campground
–232 RV sites
–Pump station
–Two buildings with toilets, showers and laundry
–Picnic area
–Shelter
–Playground
Office/Education Building
–Office
–Meeting room
–Commercial kitchen
–Restrooms
–Firearm and archery ranges
