Pontiac Lake Shooting Range

DNR shooting range operational changes beginning in 2025

Effective in January 2025, all Department of Natural Resources-staffed shooting ranges (Barry County, Dansville, Echo Point, Lapeer, Ortonville, Pontiac Lake, Rose Lake and Sharonville):

Will operate on the same hours on days open, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Will be closed the first Thursday of each month, except October and November.
Will be closed for State of Michigan holidays on New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.

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

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

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 closure dates.

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.