Catastrophic Flooding Closes Asotin Gun Range for Good

One of two public gun ranges on Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Lands is closing permanently.

   Now, There’s Only One WDFW Gun Range Left in WA State

The exact timetable is not known, but for a number of years hunters, sportsmen and target shooters have utilized a public gun range located near Asotin Creek, on land managed by the WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife. One of only two such ranges in WA, it’s located about ten miles southwest of Asotin, WA. in Asotin County.

It began years ago with a group of hunters and rifle-sighters who, with WDFW permission, set up the gun range.  WDFW Volunteers helped build some amentities, and over time, it became a very popular shooting area. 

Now, the only other one will be the Methow Valley Gun Range.

  What was called catastrophic flooding earlier this spring took place with Asotin Creek, according to WDFW.

Some flooding is not unusual, but this spring, the creek overflowed its boundaries to the point where it carved a new path across the middle of the gun range.  WDFW said in a release on Monday, July 13, the extent of the flooding, and the ‘new’ path the creek has carved leaves the target area and the shooting benches flooded with water.

The image with our story shows some of the damage, from WDFW

After a cost-analysis study, WDFW determined trying to ‘re-route’ the creek to its original path was far too costly. Officials say this is not unusual, over time, creeks and even rivers will erode shorelines and change their flow patterns.

  WDFW Will Allow Nature to Reclaim the Gun Range

From this week on, the area will be fenced off with No Trespassing signs. WDFW plans to remove the targets, benches and other amenities and allow the area to return to its natural state.