It’s a blast

Just like you, I read Andy Couch’s column every week to find out what’s happening with sportfishing around the Valley. Andy is very knowledgeable and works hard to stay informed about what’s doing in the sportfishing 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 (before, during and after my term on the board), and as fellow members of the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Sportsman’s Committee. When Andy speaks about fishing, I listen.

Now, having said all that, I’m about to preach heresy to all you true believers in the sportfishing world. What is this heinous thing I’m about to say? Simply this: not everybody lives and breathes king salmon sportfishing this time of year. Some folks pursue other recreational interests that have nothing to do with fish, or even water.

There, I said it! Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.

One very popular nonfishing recreational activity to which I am referring is shooting —either plinking, target shooting or participating in shooting matches. The Upper Susitna Shooter’s Association (USSA) has a facility located at Mile 94 of the Parks Highway open to members and the public. The USSA provides a wide array of shooting opportunities that began about mid-May this year.

The facility is open to the public on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, generally from around Memorial Day to Labor Day. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The range is open to shooting on Mondays from 3 to 8 p.m. I don’t know the schedule of the matches, but I do know the range generally hosts monthly action pistol (which I think might include some bowling pin shooting), high power rifle, silhouette and small bore matches, all of which are usually held on either Saturday or Sunday. There are at least two major muzzleloading matches scheduled this year; a three-pistol, two-day match the end of June and the Alaska Territorial Matches for four days in July.

The site has a clubhouse and four covered firing ranges measuring 25, 50, 100 and 200 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 long-term plans for developing this facility call for a 1,000-yard range and discussion about that project is the main buzz among members that I’ve heard this season.

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 and to keep things running smoothly. Since all the RSOs are volunteers, limited in number and donate their time to the facility, the range is only open four 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, I volunteered to help with the Monday shooting. My fellow RSO, Don Ware, and I are beginning our fourth year of working the Monday afternoon shift.

If shotguns are more your firearms 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 registration, shotgun rentals and ammunition sales. There are numerous shooting ranges located around the tree-covered grounds. They have trap, skeet and sporting clays ranges and can configure a shooting setup for whatever is needed to accommodate shooters’ wishes. There is also a large parking area.

The other firearms shooting facility located in this area is the Matanuska Valley Sportsmen indoor 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 12-point indoor shooting range that can accommodate targets out to 25 meters. The classroom area is regularly booked for classes such as personal defense, concealed carry, 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 one of the regular matches held the second Tuesday of each month — a muzzleloading blackpowder handgun match. (To date, I’ve finished fourth once with a side-lock percussion pistol and first one month and second the next with cap-and-ball revolver, but then, who’s bragging?)

If you decide to take a break from chasing the elusive king 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 websites to check schedules. The Grouse Ridge website even has a map showing you how to find the facility.

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

Howard Delo is a retired fisheries biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. You can leave him a message by emailing sports@frontiersman.com.