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Pontiac Lake Shooting Range 

Pontiac Lake Shooting Range handgun range shooting stations

Pontiac Lake Shooting Range 

What to expect when visiting and safety rules
Check out our welcome video to learn more about what to expect when visiting and safety rules at Michigan Department of Natural Resources shooting ranges.

Upcoming schedule at a glance

Click on calendar thumbnail to expand.

Accessible PDF version of the three-month shooting range calendar.

  • The DNR-staffed Pontiac Lake Shooting Range offers a safe shooting environment for you and your friends and family, with customer-friendly, highly trained employees and amenities like a handgun range and modern restrooms.

    You will notice continued improvements to our ranges. These renovations are funded by grants through the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

    Location

    7800 Gale Road
    Waterford, MI 48327
    (Williams Lake Road, north of M-59, then west on Gale)
    Located within Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, Oakland County
    GPS coordinates: 42.67890N; 83.44116W
    248-666-5406

    Hours

    Days open:

    • Oct. 1-31: Wednesday through Monday (closed Tuesday)*
    • Nov. 1-15: every day*
    • Nov. 16 - Sept. 30: Thursday through Monday (closed Tuesday and Wednesday)*

    *See upcoming exceptions: holidays and maintenance days.

    Hours open:

    10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Last shot fired at 4:45 p.m.

    Fees

    Range fees are $4 per shooter, age 16 and older, per day. Payment at the range is by cash or check only (credit and debit cards are not accepted); can pay with credit card through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app. Shooters under the age of 15 shoot free. Shooters under the age of 16 must be directly supervised by an adult.

    A Recreation Passport is required for entry.

    Offerings

    Rifle/pistol range (rifles, muzzle loaders, handguns and shotguns with slugs only)

    • 15 stations at 100 yards
    • Nine stations at 50 yards.
    • Ten stations at 25 yards
    • Ten stations at 10 yards.

    Visitors should bring their own targets. Paper targets with a bull's-eye pattern or a depiction of legal game may be used. No human-form silhouettes or metal targets. Targets can be secured to a foam board backing using toothpicks provided by the range.

    .50-caliber BMG and larger centerfire rifles and muzzleloaders larger than .80 caliber are prohibited.

    Hand trap range (shotguns/clay targets)

    • 10 stations.

    Note: Target and low brass shells with light loads only, 7½ - 9. Shooters are to bring a target thrower and clay targets.

    Archery range

    • One station at 40 yards.
    • One station at 30 yards.
    • One station at 20 yards.
    • One station at 15 yards.

    Shooters may bring their own targets, which must be removed when finished, or use the targets provided. No broadhead arrow shooting allowed. Crossbows are allowed.

    Knife range (knives and axes)

    • Two stations.

    Modern restrooms

    Accessibility

    Accessible features include:

    • Twelve accessible parking spaces; four (two van) accessible spaces near the handgun/rifle ranges and eight (four van) accessible spaces in the main parking lot area.
    • Accessible pathways.
    • Accessible shooting stations: station #1 on the 100-yard range, station #16 on the 50-yard range, station #27 and #34 on the 25-yard range and 10 accessible stations on the 10-yard range.  
    • Accessible four-lane archery range.
    • Ten accessible trap range stations.
    • Accessible modern restrooms.

    Programs/classes

    The range is available for youth groups and hunter education programs. Please contact the range at 248-666-5406 for information and scheduling.

    Photos

    To see larger photos of the Department of Natural Resources Pontiac Lake Shooting Range, click on the thumbnail images below.