Pennsylvania public shooting ranges are funded through Pennsylvania hunters and shooters dollars. The excise tax placed on firearms, ammunition and archery equipment funds range projects like this all across the state. Please keep this in mind while the ranges. Thank you for being a Pennsylvania Hunter and Shooter!
Range Rules and Regulations
- Each licensed hunter or range permit holder may have one guest.
- Unless otherwise posted, ranges are open year-round, from 8 a.m. until sunset, Monday through Saturday, and noon to sunset on Sundays.
- Please contact our centralized dispatch center to check the daily status of ranges you wish to visit.
- Shooters should show consideration for others waiting for an open bench.
- It is common, especially leading up to the bear and deer seasons, to find an adult teaching a youngster how to shoot, or to find someone having difficulty sighting-in a rifle. Please be patient in such circumstances, and if it seems appropriate, offer assistance.
- Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by someone 18 or older.
- Do not collect the brass of shooters while the range is active.
- Range permits and hunting or furtaker licenses do not need to be displayed while using a state game lands public shooting range, but must be in possession, as well as a secondary form of identification.
Accordion [1]
1. Archery ranges are open from sunrise until sunset.
2. Individuals or groups using the range shall be responsible for keeping the area clean and free of debris and may not discard, deposit, leave or throw litter. Targets must be removed and discarded in an appropriate manner after use.
3. Arrows with broadheads may only be utilized on targets designated for broadhead use.
4. Individuals using the range do so at their own risk and assume all responsibility for injuries to persons or property caused by or to them.
5. An individual under sixteen (16) years of age may not use the range unless accompanied by a person eighteen (18) years of age or older.
6. When more than one person is using the range, a range officer shall be designated.
7. Individuals may not use the range when it is reserved and being used by an organized group.
8. Ranges may be reserved by organized groups from January 1 through September 1 after making arrangements through the appropriate Pennsylvania Game Commission Regional Office at least 20 days in advance and securing the appropriate permit.
9. Designated Pennsylvania Game Commission personnel may close a range by posting signs to that effect. An individual or organized group may not use the range during any period when it is posted as closed.
1. Rifle and handgun ranges are open from 8:00 AM, prevailing time until sunset Monday through Saturday and from 12 Noon to sunset Sundays, unless otherwise posted; except the Sunday immediately preceding and any Sunday throughout the duration of the regular firearms deer seasons and regular firearms bear seasons, when the hours shall be 8:00 AM to sunset.
2. Individuals using the range shall be responsible for keeping the area clean and free of debris, may not discard, deposit, leave or throw litter and shall remove targets from range backboards prior to leaving range.
3. The Commission is not responsible for anyone injured on the range.
4. Individuals using the range do so at their own risk and assume all responsibility for injuries to persons or property caused by or to them.
5. When more than one person is using the range, a range officer shall be designated.
6. An individual under sixteen (16) years of age may not use the range unless accompanied by a person eighteen (18) years of age or older.
7. The Regional Director or designee may close the range by posting signs to that effect.
Accordion [2]
Shooting Range Permits
For your shooting enjoyment and to make you a better hunter, the Game Commission maintains public shooting ranges across the state. Those who shoot firearms at the Pennsylvania Game Commission's state game lands public shooting ranges must possess and carry with them either an annual $31.97 range use permit or a current Pennsylvania general hunting or furtaker license. Individuals without a range use permit or hunting or furtaker license may be fined. Each licensed hunter or range permit holder may have one guest.
2023 Update to Shooting Range Permits: The Shooting Range Permit was recently updated and is now valid for 365 days from the date of purchase. A permit purchased after April 10, 2023 will have access to PGC shooting ranges for an entire year after the date of purchase.
Permit required for state game lands public shooting range users
Current hunting/furtaker license also provides range privilege
Unlike online hunting and furtaker license purchases, range use permits will be printed at the time of purchase. Consequently, you must have a functioning printer for your personal computer to complete the permitting process. Range permits also can be purchased at any hunting license issuing agent, the agency’s Harrisburg Headquarters and all six region offices, and require either a credit or debit card.
Historically, hunter and furtaker license dollars have provided most, if not all, of the funding needed to keep the agency’s shooting ranges open to the public. But, in many cases, hunters and furtakers today are outnumbered on state game lands ranges by firearms enthusiasts who do not hunt or trap. The range permit fees ensure everyone who shoots at the agency’s ranges pays for range maintenance and development.
The Game Commission has completed lead remediation and safety upgrade projects at all public shooting ranges. Routine maintenance, including rebuilding target-line stations, cutting grass and other clean-up activities, often required the closure of ranges for several hours every month. More than $200,000 is spent annually on shooting range maintenance. To help keep costs down, and allow these funds to be diverted to other projects and programs, users should:
- Avoid shooting up the framework used to hold the backstop material and
- Clean up spent cases, remove targets from backstops, keep shooting benches clean and dispose of all other litter.
Scotia Range:
Permit, pistol and two auxiliary ranges
Enter the north side of Scotia Range Road from Scotia Road. Between January after the flintlock deer season until around the middle of March (depending on weather conditions), Range Road will be closed (PDF) north of the shooting ranges to Heritage Trail Road. During that time users will need to enter the south side of Scotia Range Road from West Gatesburg Road. This is being done to minimize impacts to the road during freeze/thaw and to reduce vehicle accidents.
Rifle, archery and clay target range
Enter the south side of Scotia Range Road from West Gatesburg Road. The seasonal access gates (PDF) to prevent thru traffic on Scotia Range Road will be closed June 1st.
Shotgun/claybird shooting areas:
- Northcentral Region, SGL 176: The shotgun only area is part of the Scotia Range complex.
- Northeast Region, SGL 300: The shotgun only area is adjacent to the existing public shooting range.
- Southeast Region, SGL 205: The shotgun only area is next to the parking area, 200 yards south of the rifle range along Game Warden Rd. in Lowhill Township.
NEW RANGES IN 2024:
- SGL #77 Archery
- SGL #77 Rifle/Pistol
- SGL #108 Shotgun
- SGL #109 Archery
- SGL #127 Rifle/Pistol
- SGL #141 Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun
- SGL #159 Rifle/Pistol
- SGL #176 Archery/Shotgun/Rifle/Pistol
- SGL #179 Rifle
- SGL #180 Archery
- SGL #205 Pistol
- SGL #216 Archery
- SGL #248 Archery
- SGL #248 Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun
Range Locations
Northwest Region
| Rifle Range | Pistol Range | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | SGL | Firing Points | Yards | Firing Points | Yards | Location |
| Forest | 24 | 4 | 200 | -- | -- | View Map |
| Clarion | 72 | 6 | 100 | -- | -- | View Map |
| Erie 8 AM - Sunset ( Tuesday - Saturday ) Noon - Sunset ( Sunday & Monday ) | 109 | 6 | 100 | 3 | 25 | View Map |
Southwest Region
| Rifle Range | Pistol Range | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | SGL | Firing Points | Yards | Pistol Firing Points | Pistol Yards | Location | |
| Allegheny | 203 | 3/5/20 | 25/50/100 | 10/10 | 10/25 | View Map | |
| Cambria | 108 | 2 | 100 | 3 | 25 | View Map | |
| Fayette | 51 | 4 | 100 | -- | -- | View Map | |
| Greene | 179 | 7 | 300 | -- | -- | View Map | |
| Greene | 223 | 5 | 100 | -- | -- | View Map | |
| Indiana Temporary Range Closure Mar 4, 2024 - until further notice. | 248 | 4 | 100 | 5 | 25 | View Map | |
| Somerset | 50 | 8 | 50/100 | 8 | 15/25 | View Map | |
| Washington | 245 | 6 | 100 | -- | -- | View Map | |
| Westmoreland | 42 | 6 | 100 | 3 | 25 | View Map | |
| Westmoreland | 42 | 4 | 100 | -- | -- | View Map | |
| Archery Range | | | | ||||
| Allegheny | 203 | 13 | 10//20/30/40/50 | | | View Map | |
Northcentral Region
| Rifle Range | Pistol Range | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | SGL | Firing Points | Yards | Firing Points | Yards | Location |
| Centre Scotia Range News Release 2024 | 176 | 25 | 200 | 25 | 50 | View Map |
| Clearfield Temporary Range Closure Mar 18, 2024 - until further notice. | 77 | 6 | 100 | -- | -- | View Map |
| Archery Range | | | | |||
| Centre | 176 | 11 | 10/20/30/40/50 | View Map | ||
Southcentral Region
| Rifle Range | Pistol Range | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | SGL | Firing Points | Yards | Firing Points | Yards | Location | |
| Cumberland | 230 | 9 | 300 | 25 | 25 | View Map | |
| York | 242 | 8 | 100 | 12 | 50 | View Map | |
| Archery Range | | | | ||||
| Cumberland | 230 | 12 | 10/20/30/40/50 | | | View Map | |
Northeast Region
| Rifle Range | Pistol Range | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | SGL | Firing Points | Yards | Firing Points | Yards | Location |
| Carbon | 141 | 7 | 100/200/300 | 11 | 25/50 | View Map |
Columbia | 58 | 7 | 50/100 | 7 | 10/15/25 | View Map |
| Lackawanna | 300 | 17 | 50/100/200 | 6 | 10/25 | View Map |
| Luzerne | 91 | 10 | 50/100 | -- | -- | View Map |
| Luzerne | 206 | 10 | 50/75/100 | 8 | 25 | View Map |
| Monroe Temporary Range Closure April 8, 2024 - Mid-June 2024 | 127 | 12 | 50/100 | 12 | 10/25 | View Map |
| Pike | 183 | 11 | 100 | 6 | 25/50 | View Map |
| Wayne Temporary Range Closure April 4, 2024 - Mid-June 2024 | 159 | 11 | 50/100 | 12 | 25 | View Map |
Southeast Region
| Rifle Range | Pistol Range | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | SGL | Rifle Firing Points | Rifle Yards | Pistol Firing Points | Pistol Yards | Location |
| Berks | 106 | 6 | 50/100 | -- | -- | View Map |
| Chester | 43 | 12 | 25/50/100 | -- | -- | View Map |
| Dauphin | 211 | 7 | 25/50/100 | -- | -- | View Map |
| Lehigh Temporary Range Closure | 205 | 13 | 50/100 | -- | -- | View Map |
| Archery Range | ||||||
| Montgomery | 234 | 8 | 10/20/30/40 | View Map | ||
| Lancaster | 46 | 12 | 10/20/30/40/50 | | | View Map |
| Lehigh Temporary Range Closure | 205 | 12 | 10/20/30/40/50 | | | View Map |
| Shotgun Patterning Range | | | | |||
| Lehigh Temporary Range Closure | 205 | | | | View Map | |
1. Archery ranges are open from sunrise until sunset.
2. Individuals or groups using the range shall be responsible for keeping the area clean and free of debris and may not discard, deposit, leave or throw litter. Targets must be removed and discarded in an appropriate manner after use.
3. Arrows with broadheads may only be utilized on targets designated for broadhead use.
4. Individuals using the range do so at their own risk and assume all responsibility for injuries to persons or property caused by or to them.
5. An individual under sixteen (16) years of age may not use the range unless accompanied by a person eighteen (18) years of age or older.
6. When more than one person is using the range, a range officer shall be designated.
7. Individuals may not use the range when it is reserved and being used by an organized group.
8. Ranges may be reserved by organized groups from January 1 through September 1 after making arrangements through the appropriate Pennsylvania Game Commission Regional Office at least 20 days in advance and securing the appropriate permit.
9. Designated Pennsylvania Game Commission personnel may close a range by posting signs to that effect. An individual or organized group may not use the range during any period when it is posted as closed.
1. Rifle and handgun ranges are open from 8:00 AM, prevailing time until sunset Monday through Saturday and from 12 Noon to sunset Sundays, unless otherwise posted; except the Sunday immediately preceding and any Sunday throughout the duration of the regular firearms deer seasons and regular firearms bear seasons, when the hours shall be 8:00 AM to sunset.
2. Individuals using the range shall be responsible for keeping the area clean and free of debris, may not discard, deposit, leave or throw litter and shall remove targets from range backboards prior to leaving range.
3. The Commission is not responsible for anyone injured on the range.
4. Individuals using the range do so at their own risk and assume all responsibility for injuries to persons or property caused by or to them.
5. When more than one person is using the range, a range officer shall be designated.
6. An individual under sixteen (16) years of age may not use the range unless accompanied by a person eighteen (18) years of age or older.
7. The Regional Director or designee may close the range by posting signs to that effect.
Permit required for state game lands public shooting range users
Current hunting/furtaker license also provides range privilege
Unlike online hunting and furtaker license purchases, range use permits will be printed at the time of purchase. Consequently, you must have a functioning printer for your personal computer to complete the permitting process. Range permits also can be purchased at any hunting license issuing agent, the agency’s Harrisburg Headquarters and all six region offices, and require either a credit or debit card.
Historically, hunter and furtaker license dollars have provided most, if not all, of the funding needed to keep the agency’s shooting ranges open to the public. But, in many cases, hunters and furtakers today are outnumbered on state game lands ranges by firearms enthusiasts who do not hunt or trap. The range permit fees ensure everyone who shoots at the agency’s ranges pays for range maintenance and development.
The Game Commission has completed lead remediation and safety upgrade projects at all public shooting ranges. Routine maintenance, including rebuilding target-line stations, cutting grass and other clean-up activities, often required the closure of ranges for several hours every month. More than $200,000 is spent annually on shooting range maintenance. To help keep costs down, and allow these funds to be diverted to other projects and programs, users should:
- Avoid shooting up the framework used to hold the backstop material and
- Clean up spent cases, remove targets from backstops, keep shooting benches clean and dispose of all other litter.