§ 135.182a. Shotgun ranges.
(a) Shotgun ranges. In addition to § 135.2 (relating to unlawful actions), the following pertain to lands under Commission ownership, lease or jurisdiction designated as shotgun ranges:
(1) Shotgun ranges are open for use from 8 a.m., prevailing time, until sunset Monday through Saturday and from 12 p.m. to sunset Sunday, unless posted otherwise by the Commission.
(2) A person using a shotgun range is responsible for keeping the area clean and free of debris, and may not discard, deposit, leave or throw litter, except in approved refuse containers. Range users shall remove all targets from range backboards, if applicable, and collect used cartridge casings or shotshell hulls when their shooting is completed and prior to leaving the range.
(3) The Commission is not responsible for anyone injured on a shotgun range. An individual using a shotgun range does so at their own risk and assumes all responsibility for injuries to a person or property caused by or to them.
(4) When more than one person is using a shotgun range, a range officer shall be designated.
(5) A person under 16 years of age may not use a shotgun range unless they are properly accompanied and supervised by a person 18 years of age or older.
(6) The Commission or any designated local representative may close a shotgun range by posting appropriate signs to that effect. A person may not use a shotgun range during a period when the range is designated as closed.
(b) Prohibited acts. At a shotgun range located on land under Commission ownership, lease or jurisdiction, except when authorized by the appropriate regional director or a designee, it is unlawful to:
(1) Discharge a firearm from any location other than an established shooting station or shooting location on the designated firing line.
(2) Discharge a firearm on a shotgun patterning range at any target other than a paper target placed on a stationary target backboard mounted by the Commission.
(3) Discharge armor piercing, incendiary, explosive, tracer or single projectile ammunition.
(4) Be intoxicated, use or possess an intoxicating beverage or controlled substance.
(5) Discharge an automatic firearm.
(6) Load or discharge a firearm that contains more than three rounds of multiple projectile ammunition.
(7) Target or shoot at clay birds anywhere on the range except areas designated by the director by signs stating that clay bird shooting is permitted.
(8) Load or discharge a firearm or use a range facility for any reason without possessing a valid Pennsylvania hunting or furtaker license or a Commission-issued range permit signed by its holder. This prohibition does not apply to persons 15 years of age or younger or up to one person accompanying another person in possession of a valid Pennsylvania hunting or furtaker license or a Commission-issued range permit.
(9) Operate, manipulate or discharge a firearm in negligent disregard for the safety of other persons present at or nearby the range. This prohibition is specifically intended to include loading a firearm, operating or manipulating a loaded firearm, or discharging a firearm anywhere on a shotgun range while another person is downrange of the firing line.
(10) Use or discharge any single projectile ammunition.
(11) Use or discharge multiple projectile ammunition on a clay bird range that is larger than # 4 lead, # 2 steel or # 4 of any other composition or alloys of nontoxic shot approved by the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service or an authorized representative under 50 CFR 20.134 (relating to approval of nontoxic shot types and shot coatings).
(12) Throw, target or shoot clay birds on a clay bird range that are composed of any substance other than baked clay, limestone or other biodegradable material.
(13) Throw clay birds on a clay bird range from any location other than the designated firing line.
(14) Use the range in violation of any other requirement of this section or posted signage.
Authority The provisions of this § 135.182a added under 34 Pa.C.S. § 721(a).
Source The provisions of this § 135.182a added November 4, 2022, effective November 5, 2022, 52 Pa.B. 6858.
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