shooting range
Published 12:00 am Thursday, May 5, 2016
Supervisors (from left) Vernice Avant, John Thomas, Cole Flint and James Birge were all on board with MDWFP putting a shooting range in Panola County as was Supervisor Donald Phelps, not pictured. MDWFP Shooting Range Coordinator Scottie Jones (right) made the announcemencent Monday.
The proposed shooting facility at Charles Ray Nix WMA near Sardis will feature many of the same amenities found in the state’s other two WMA shooting facilities.
By Rupert Howell
It looks like Panola County, Charles Ray Nix Wildlife Management Area more specifically, will soon be the home of a shooting range similar to two others operated by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks.
MDWFP Shooting Range Coordinator Scottie Jones made the announcement to Panola County Supervisors Monday in Sardis during their regular meeting there.
The proposed range would include a 15 station sporting clay range, two skeet trap ranges, five-stand sporting clay range, two rifle ranges (100 yard and 300 yard), a pistol range and three dimensional archery range.
Jones said ground should be broken in August if all goes as planned, telling supervisors chances of the proposal coming to fruition were, “pretty good.”
MDWFP currently operates two shooting ranges, Turcotte near Canton and McHenry near Perkinston in mid and south Mississippi respectively.
Charles Ray Nix WMA is located south and west of Sardis near the bluff with McIvor Creek running through the 4,000 acre park. Jones said approximately 300 acres would be used for the ranges tentatively named McIvor Creek Shooting Facility.
Jones said fees are charged either by the hour or year ranging from annual fees of $42.29 for residents, $22.29 for seniors and $84.29 for non-residents.
Hourly rates are $5.50 according to Jones.
Supervisors unanimously passed a motion by District Two Supervisor Vernice Avant, whose district encompasses Charles Ray Nix WMA, to send a letter in support of the proposal.
Panola County Sheriff Dennis Darby was present at Monday’s meeting and said his office would also send a letter of support.
A look at the Web site of the other two state shooting facilities revealed that classes on handgun instruction are offered on one week or two week intervals in the area of basic handgun classes and enhanced carry permit classes with many of those classes filled through August.
Jones said approximately five employees are needed to operate the facility and buildings would be constructed at the site. (See additional photo page A2)
