Most land in Kansas is privately owned, so unlike in many western states there isn't much open public land to shoot on. Most people shoot at one of three kinds of range instead: ranges on state, county or city land, often run by a volunteer Friends group; private clubs that open to the public on certain days; and commercial indoor ranges.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) keeps an official list of public shooting ranges. It's a good starting point, but most entries have no hours or fees, and a few are closed or members-only now. This page pulls together what we found on each range's own site or KDWP page, starting with ranges on public land.
Ranges on state, county or city land
These are the ranges in our directory that sit on government-owned land or are run by a city or county. Most charge a modest fee and open only certain days.
| Range | Area | What you can shoot | Public days | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Afton Public Shooting Range | Goddard (Wichita) | Rifle, handgun, smallbore, archery | 2nd Sat, 2nd Sun, 4th Sat, 9am-4pm | $15 adult, $5 ages 13-17, free 12 and under |
| El Dorado State Park Shooting Range | El Dorado | Rifle, handgun | Summer (Apr-Oct) Wed-Sun; Nov-Mar call first | $15 a day (ages 8-12 free with paying adult) + park permit |
| Hillsdale Shooting Range | Paola (KC area) | Rifle, pistol, trap, skeet | Fri-Sun | $20 a day rifle/pistol + $5 park pass |
| Fancy Creek Range | Randolph (Manhattan) | Rifle, handgun, smallbore | 1st and 3rd full weekends, 10am-4pm | $15 a day + park permit |
| Garden City Indoor Firearms Range | Garden City | Handgun, rifle (indoor) | Tue and Thu 6-9pm, Sat 9am-6pm | $12/hr handgun, $18/hr rifle |
| Hollister Wildlife Area Range | Fort Scott | Rifle, handgun, trap, silhouette | Some weekends, Mar-Nov | $10 a day; trap $5 per 25 |
| Horton Sports Shooting Complex | Horton | Handgun, high-power rifle | Two weekends a month, 10am-4pm | Not posted |
| Glen Elder Wildlife Area Range | Downs | Shotgun, pistol, smallbore rifle | Not posted | Not posted |
A few notes on these:
- Lake Afton is owned by Sedgwick County and run by Young Hunter Safety, Inc. Target stands, foam earplugs and safety glasses are provided. Hours come from its KDWP listing, and the phone is only answered on open days.
- El Dorado is run by Friends of the El Dorado State Park Shooting Range. The range's own site lists $15 a day per adult (children 8-12 free with a paying adult) and says a state park vehicle permit is required. Its posted hours are summer hours (April through October), and it doesn't post November-March hours, so call first at (316) 251-2962 in the off-season. The site wasn't loading when we last checked (Oct. 20, 2026).
- Hillsdale sits inside Hillsdale State Park. It closes when it is under 45F at noon or in snow or ice, and it doesn't rent guns or sell ammo. See hillsdalerange.org.
- Fancy Creek is in Tuttle Creek State Park and run by Friends of Fancy Creek Range. Per the KDWP Tuttle Creek State Park page, it is open the first and third full weekends (Saturday and Sunday) of each month, 10am-4pm, for $15 a day, and every vehicle entering the park needs a daily ($5) or annual park pass.
- Garden City is a city range built in 2022. Walk-ins are welcome during public hours and lanes can be reserved on the city's range page. Eye and ear protection are required.
- Hollister's KDWP page shows hours from 2022, so treat them as a rough guide and call.
- Glen Elder is unsupervised, with no staff on site.
Closed right now
- Cheney Lake Shooting Range (state-owned, near Pretty Prairie): the KDWP Cheney range page said its 2026 season would run from March 21 until renovations began in summer 2026, and it hasn't posted a reopening date. We're treating it as closed until KDWP announces it has reopened. Call 620-459-6922 to check. It has been a popular low-cost option west of Wichita.
- Shawnee State Fishing Lake Hunter Education Range (Topeka): closed for renovation per KDWP.
- Douglas County Rifle and Pistol Club (Lawrence): closed until further notice by order of the City of Lawrence, per the club's site.
Club ranges open to the public
Many ranges on the KDWP list are private clubs that welcome non-members on set days. A few with posted schedules:
- Ark Valley Gun Club, Valley Center: trap and skeet, weekends, no membership required. Non-members pay $12 per round.
- Trigger Guard Public Shooting Range, Wellington: pistol, rifle and shotgun bays Friday to Sunday, $10 per hour for non-members.
- Cedar Hill Gun Club, Baldwin City: trap and sporting clays Thursdays from noon and weekends 10am-5pm.
- Tuttle Creek Shooting Park, Manhattan: public trap Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons through November.
- Pratt Trap Club, Pratt: Thursday evenings, April to October.
- Garnett Gun Club, Garnett: open to the public one day a month.
Some clubs on the KDWP list are not open for walk-ins. Capital City Gun Club in Topeka and Central Kansas Gun Club in Hutchinson both say on their own sites that they are members-only, with the public welcome only at scheduled matches. Hays City Sportsman's Club is open to the public only for scheduled events.
Tips for public ranges
- Call ahead. Volunteer-run ranges change days for weather, matches and maintenance, and many don't post updates online.
- Bring your own targets, eye and ear protection, and staples or clips, unless the range says it provides them.
- State park ranges may need a park vehicle permit on top of the range fee.
- Read the posted range rules when you arrive. Caliber limits, cease-fire procedures and age rules differ from range to range.
FAQ
Are there free shooting ranges in Kansas?
We haven't confirmed a free public range that is open right now. KDWP said the state range at Cheney Lake, west of Wichita, would close for renovation starting in summer 2026, and it hasn't posted a reopening date. The cheapest open public options we list are Lake Afton (free for kids 12 and under, $15 for adults) and Hollister ($10 a day).
Can I shoot on public hunting land in Kansas?
Rules for target shooting on state wildlife areas are set by KDWP and can vary by area. Check the area's KDWP page or call the area office before target shooting anywhere other than a designated range. This page isn't legal advice.
Which public ranges are near Wichita?
Lake Afton in Goddard and El Dorado State Park are the closest public-land ranges. Trigger Guard in Wellington is a private range open to the public.
Which public ranges are near Kansas City?
Hillsdale Shooting Range in Paola is the main public-land range on the Kansas side. For shotgun sports, Powder Creek Shooting Park in Lenexa is a private park open to walk-ups.
Hours, fees and rules change. Confirm with the range before you go. This page is general information, not legal advice.