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Shooting Range at Little Pine State Park

The shooting range is located on a six-acre site at the north end of the park. It opened to the public in the 1970s and is a popular shooting location.

The range provides an opportunity for shooting rifles and handguns.

The handgun range offers targets at distances of 10, 15, and 25 yards with various uncovered firing stations.

The rifle range has target backers at 50 and 100 yards with covered shooting benches.

Range Permits Required

A valid Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Little Pine State Park Shooting Range Permit is required to utilize this range. Pennsylvania Game Commission hunting licenses and permits are not valid.

A range permit issued for the Little Pine State Park Shooting Range authorizes the permittee to utilize the range during the established operational hours.

Applications for range permits must be made in person at the park office during regular office hours.

Thirty consecutive day and annual range permits are available.

Permittees shall comply with all permit conditions, range rules, prohibited acts, and range postings.

The park manager or designee may deny, revoke, or suspend any permit for any violation of the permit conditions, range rules, prohibited acts, or range postings.

Permit Conditions

  • Permits will only be issued to persons 18 years of age or older. Minors (children under the age of 18) may not use the range unless they are named on a family permit and accompanied by the permit holder.
  • Use of the range is not permitted until a valid permit, issued through the park office, is in possession of the approved permit holder.
  • The issued permit shall be displayed on your vehicle’s rear-view mirror while at the range.
  • The primary permit holder shall be present on the range with any permittee listed as a family member and shall be responsible for the actions of the group.
  • While utilizing the range, all individuals (16 years of age or older) must be in possession of a valid photo identification, which shall be made available for review by DCNR personnel, upon request.

Cost

Permit fees help offset the cost of maintaining the range in a sustainable manner.

Family is defined as immediate family members residing in the same household.

Annual Permits

Pennsylvania Resident Rate -- Individual $30 / Family $40
Non-resident Rate -- Individual $36 / Family $48

Annual permits expire December 31.

30 Day Consecutive Permits

Pennsylvania Resident Rate -- Individual $15 / Family $20
Non-resident Rate -- Individual $30 / Family $35

Hours of Operation

March – October

Monday: 8:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 8:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.
Friday: 8:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.
Saturday: 8:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.
Sunday: 11:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.

November – February

Monday: 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Friday: 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Saturday: 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Sunday: 11:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.

Shooting Range Rules

  1. A valid Little Pine State Park Shooting Range Permit is required to utilize this shooting range. Permits will only be issued to persons 18 years of age or older.

  2. The range is open only during posted hours.

  3. An individual using the range is responsible for keeping the area clean and free of debris, and may not discard, deposit, leave, or throw litter or recyclables except in approved refuse containers.

  4. Range users shall remove targets from range backboards and clean up all spent casings when shooting is completed and prior to leaving the range.

  5. The Commonwealth is not responsible for anyone injured on the range. An individual using the Little Pine State Park Shooting Range does so at their own risk and assumes all responsibility for injuries to a person or property caused by or to them.

  6. When more than one person is using the range, a range officer shall be designated by the range users.

  7. Minors (children under the age of 18) may not use the range unless they are named on a family permit and accompanied by the permit holder.

  8. Individuals must be in legal possession of all firearms present at the range.

  9. The park manager or designee may close the range by posting signs to that effect. The range will be closed on occasion for routine maintenance.

Prohibited Acts

Except when authorized by the park manager or a designee, it is unlawful to:

  1. Possess, load, or discharge a firearm for any reason without a valid Little Pine State Park Shooting Range Permit.

  2. Use, or attempt to use, the range when it is closed.

  3. Possess a loaded firearm, except at an established shooting station on the firing line.

  4. Discharge a firearm, except from an established shooting station on the firing line at a paper target placed on the permanent target backboard. Glass bottles, cans, jugs, or other similar materials shall not be used as targets. Stand-alone targets are prohibited. Users are prohibited from intentionally shooting at or damaging the frames or stands constructed by the park to mount permanent target backboards.

  5. Discharge armor piercing, incendiary, explosive, tracer, or multiple projectile ammunition; this includes all “shot” shells: bird shot, buck shot, etc.

  6. Operate, manipulate, or discharge a firearm in negligent disregard for the safety of other persons present at or nearby the range. This is specifically intended to include loading a firearm, operating or manipulating a loaded firearm, or discharging a firearm anywhere on the firing range while another person is downrange.

  7. Be intoxicated by, use, or possess an intoxicating beverage, substance, or controlled substance on range grounds.

  8. Possess and/or use an automatic weapon.

  9. Possess, load, or discharge a firearm that contains:

    • More than three rounds of single projectile ammunition at the rifle portion of the range.

    • More than six rounds of single projectile ammunition at the handgun portion of the range.

  10. Shoot clay birds/targets.

  11. Use the range in violation of any other requirement or posted signage.

Shooting Range Safety Guidelines

  • Always point your firearm in a safe direction
  • Know how your firearm operates
  • Keep the action open and firearm unloaded until ready to fire
  • Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire
  • Wear eye and ear protection
  • Be sure your firearm and ammunition are compatible
  • Direct all bullets into the proper backstop
  • Before proceeding down range: “Cease Fire” command must be given; firearms must be unloaded with actions open
  • No firearms are permitted down range
  • Shooting under the influence of alcohol and/or controlled substances is prohibited
  • Unsafe firearm handling and behavior will not be tolerated