The Department of Natural Resources today announced it will reopen the Pontiac Lake Shooting Range on Thursday, May 21. The range is located in the Pontiac Lake Recreation Area in Waterford in Oakland County.

The Pontiac Lake Shooting Range was temporarily closed to repair the 25/50 yard earthen berm. The earthen berm is designed to stop and contain bullets fired on the range.

In addition, a new firing line roof was constructed over the shooting stations. The new roof will help protect the shooters from the sun, rain, and snow which will make their shooting experience more enjoyable.

The renovations were funded by a Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant, Game and Fish Protection Fund, a restricted fund comprised of hunting and fishing license fees, and federal funding.

The DNR operates six shooting ranges in Michigan where range personnel are present. In addition to Pontiac Lake, they include: Bald Mountain Shooting Range located in Lake Orion in Oakland County, Island Lake Shooting Range located in Brighton in Livingston County, Ortonville Shooting Range located in Ortonville in Lapeer County (temporarily closed until June 1), Rose Lake Shooting Range located in Bath in Clinton County, and Sharonville Shooting Range located in Grass Lake in Jackson County.

The ranges are open Nov. 16 though Sept. 30 five days per week, Thursday through Monday. From Oct. 1 through 31, the ranges are open six days per week, Wednesday through Monday. From Nov. 1-15, the ranges are open seven days a week.

Range hours at Bald Mountain, Ortonville, and Pontiac Lake are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. At Rose Lake and Sharonville, range hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Range fees at Bald Mountain, Pontiac Lake and Ortonville are $4 per day for each shooter age 16 and older. Children under 16 are free. Rose Lake and Sharonville have no fee. The Island Lake Shooting Range is operated under contract by Michigan Shooting Centers, LCC. Please contact Island Lake for hours and fees at (248) 437-2784.

For more information on the DNR-managed shooting ranges, please call the ranges. The telephone numbers are:

Bald Mountain (248) 693-0567
Island Lake (248) 437-2784
Ortonville (248) 627-5569
Pontiac Lake (248) 666-5406
Rose Lake (517) 641-7801
Sharonville (734) 428-8035

Information about the DNR shooting ranges, and other public and private shooting ranges, can be found on the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr under Law Enforcement, and then click on Shooting Ranges on the menu on the left side of the page.

Shooters are reminded to bring eye and ear protection and approved targets with either a bull's-eye pattern or a depiction of legal game. Shooters under age 16 must be supervised by an adult.

All motor vehicles entering a state park or recreation area must display a Motor Vehicle Permit, available for purchase at the park entrance. Cost is $24 for a resident annual and $6 for a resident daily. A non resident annual is $29 and nonresident daily is $8.