An alternate activity to fishing

Just like you, I read Andy Couch’s column every week to find out what’s happening with sportsfishing around the valley. Andy is very knowledgeable and works hard to stay informed about what’s doing in the sportsfishing world. I’ve known Andy for a long time and have worked with him regarding fishing issues on fish and game advisory committees, in dealings with the Alaska Board of Fisheries, and as fellow members of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission. When Andy talks fishing, I listen.

Now, having said all that, I’m about to preach heresy to you true believers in the sportsfishing world. What is this heinous thing I’m about to say? Simply this: not everybody lives for freshwater sportsfishing this time of year – some folks pursue other recreational interests which have nothing to do with fish or even water. There, I said it!

One extremely popular non-fishing recreational activity I am referring to is shooting – either plinking, target shooting, or participating in shooting matches. The Upper Susitna Shooter’s Association (USSA) has a shooting facility located at Mile 94 of the Parks Highway which is open to members and the public. The USSA provides a wide array of shooting opportunities.

The facility is open to the public on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays, generally from about mid-May through October. The hours are 10 am to 6 pm. I don’t know the match schedules, but I do know the range generally hosts monthly action pistol, high power and precision rifle, and small-bore matches, along with various firearms training classes, all of which are often held on either Saturday or Sunday.

The site has a clubhouse and five covered firing ranges: 25, 50, 100, 200, and 1000-yards. Each range has shooting benches, seats, a broom, and garbage can to clean up when you’re done and a brass bucket for folks who don’t reload to dispose of their fired but salvageable brass. Range rules are posted at each range.

The USSA facility has a hard and fast rule that no shooting will be allowed unless a certified range safety officer (RSO) is on site. This is done for safety, insurance, and to keep things running smoothly. Since all the RSO’s are volunteers and donate their time to the facility, the range is only open five days per week rather than all seven.

I joined as a member several years ago. The first thing I eventually did was take the RSO certification class when it was offered and, after successfully passing the test and receiving my National Rifle Association RSO certification card, volunteered to work a few days each year at the range.

If shotguns are more your firearm of choice, then you need to know about the Grouse Ridge Shooting Grounds, located north of Wasilla off Tex Al Drive. This facility is first-class with a beautiful log structure main building, complete with lounge and dining areas and a main desk for registering, shotgun rentals and ammunition sales. There are numerous shooting ranges located around the tree-covered grounds. They have trap, skeet, and sporting clays ranges, among others, and can configure a shooting setup for whatever is needed to accommodate shooters’ wishes. There is also a large parking area which can accommodate a lot of vehicles.

The other firearms shooting facility located in this area is the Matanuska Valley Sportsmen indoor/outdoor shooting range, located on the Glenn Highway south of Palmer. This is the oldest of the three shooting developments in the valley, but has a nice, recently ungraded indoor shooting range which can accommodate targets out to 25-meters. The classroom area is regularly booked for classes such as personal defense, concealed carry, a basic introduction to handguns for women, and several other types of firearms related classes. I took my RSO class there.

The range has open shooting on specific days of the week and matches or classes scheduled for the remaining open times. I’ve written about a couple of the regular muzzleloading matches held monthly there.

If you decide to take a break from chasing salmon around the valley or need a rest from all the lake fishing you’ve been pursuing, consider spending a day at the shooting range of your choice. All three facilities are listed in the phone book, and you can Google any of them to find their website to check schedules and upcoming shooting events.

Remember, a well-rounded Alaskan Sourdough or Sourdoughette can shoot as well as fish, and it takes practice to do both well!