Subchapter J. SHOOTING RANGES
Sec.
135.181. Rifle and handgun ranges.
135.182. [Reserved].
135.182a. Shotgun ranges.
135.183. Archery ranges.
Cross References This subchapter cited in 58 Pa. Code § 135.41 (relating to State Game Lands).
§ 135.181. Rifle and handgun ranges.
(a) General provisions. In addition to § 135.2 (relating to unlawful actions), the following pertain to lands under Commission ownership, lease or jurisdiction designated as rifle or handgun ranges:
(1) Rifle and handgun ranges are open from 8 a.m., prevailing time, until sunset Monday through Saturday and from 12 noon to sunset Sunday, unless otherwise posted; except the Sunday immediately preceding and any Sunday throughout the duration of the regular firearms deer seasons and the regular firearms bear seasons, when the hours are 8 a.m. to sunset.
(2) A range may be reserved for exclusive use by an organized group from January 1 through October 1. Applications for a range reservation shall be made through the appropriate regional director or a designee at least 20 days in advance.
(3) An individual may not use the range during any period reserved by an organized group.
(4) An individual or an organized group using the 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 targets from range backboards when shooting is completed and prior to leaving the range.
(5) The Commission is not responsible for anyone injured on the range. An individual using Commission- owned ranges does so at his own risk and assumes all responsibility for injuries to a person or property caused by or to him.
(6) When more than one person is using the range, a range officer shall be designated.
(7) An individual under 16 years of age may not use the range unless accompanied by a person 18 years of age or older.
(8) The appropriate regional director or designee may close a range by posting signs to that effect. An individual or organized group may not use the range during a period when it is posted as closed.
(b) Prohibited acts. At a rifle and handgun 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 on the range other than an established shooting station on the firing line.
(2) Discharge a firearm at any target other than a paper target placed on a permanent target backboard mounted by the Commission. Users are prohibited from intentionally shooting at or damaging the frames or stands constructed by the Commission to mount permanent target backboards.
(3) Discharge armor piercing, incendiary, explosive, tracer or multiple projectile ammunition.
(4) Be intoxicated, use or possess an intoxicating beverage or controlled substance on the range.
(5) Discharge an automatic firearm.
(6) Load or discharge a firearm that contains more than six rounds of single projectile ammunition.
(7) Shoot clay birds anywhere 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 is specifically intended to include loading a firearm, operating or manipulating a loaded firearm, or discharging a firearm anywhere on the firing range while another person is downrange.
(10) Use a Commission range in violation of any other requirement of this section or posted signage.
(c) Range designation. The default designation for Commission ranges, regardless of length or size, is as a rifle range. The Commission may designate any range as a handgun only range by posting appropriate signage.
Authority The provisions of this § 135.181 amended under 34 Pa.C.S. § § 322(c)(4) and (6), 721(a), 2102(a) and 2901(b).
Source The provisions of this § 135.181 adopted June 19, 1987, effective July 1, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 2464; amended December 1, 1995, effective January 7, 1995, 25 Pa.B. 5508; amended March 23, 2007, effective March 24, 2007, 37 Pa.B. 1309; amended April 1, 2011, effective April 2, 2011, 41 Pa.B. 1764; amended May 12, 2017, effective May 13, 2017, 47 Pa.B. 2715; amended November 4, 2022, effective November 5, 2022, 52 Pa.B. 6858. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (392065) to (392067).
Cross References This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 147.1003 (relating to range permit).
§ 135.182. [Reserved].
Authority The provisions of this § 135.182 deleted under 34 Pa.C.S. § 721(a).
Source The provisions of this § 135.182 adopted June 19, 1987, effective July 1, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 2464; amended March 8, 1991, effective March 9, 1991, 21 Pa.B. 949; deleted November 4, 2022, effective November 5, 2022, 52 Pa.B. 6858. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (392067).
§ 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.
§ 135.183. Archery ranges.
(a) General provisions. In addition to § 135.2 (relating to unlawful actions) the following provisions pertain to lands under Commission ownership, lease or jurisdiction designated as archery ranges:
(1) Archery ranges are open from dawn until dusk each day of the week.
(2) A range may be reserved for exclusive use by an organized group from January 1 through October 1. An application for a range reservation shall be made through the appropriate regional director or a designee at least 20 days in advance.
(3) An individual may not use the range during any period reserved by an organized group.
(4) An individual or an organized group using the 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 targets from range bales when shooting is completed and prior to leaving the range.
(5) The Commission is not responsible for anyone injured on the range. Individuals using Commission-owned ranges do so at their own risk and assume all responsibility for injuries to a person or property caused by or to them.
(6) When more than one person is using the range, a range officer shall be designated.
(7) An individual under 16 years of age may not use the range unless accompanied by a person 18 years of age or older.
(8) The appropriate regional director or a designee may close a range by posting signs to that effect. An individual or organized group may not use the range during a period when it is posted as closed.
(b) Prohibited acts. At an archery 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 bow or crossbow from any location on the range other than an established shooting station on the firing line.
(2) Discharge a bow or crossbow at any target other than a paper target placed on a permanent target bale mounted by the Commission. Users are prohibited from intentionally shooting at or damaging the frames, stands or other structures constructed by the Commission to mount permanent target bales.
(3) Discharge any arrow or bolt equipped with a broadhead or other cutting device, except at a broadhead shooting station designated by the Commission.
(4) Be intoxicated, use or possess an intoxicating beverage or controlled substance on the range.
(5) Discharge a bow or crossbow more than six times successively if another person is using the range.
(6) Discharge a firearm or use firearm ammunition or other explosive materials.
(7) Operate, manipulate or discharge a bow or crossbow in negligent disregard for the safety of other persons present at or nearby the range. This is specifically intended to include loading a bow or crossbow, operating or manipulating a loaded bow or crossbow, or discharging a bow or crossbow anywhere on the firing range while another person is downrange.
(8) Use a Commission range in violation of any other requirement of this section or posted signage.
Authority The provisions of this § 135.183 issued under 34 Pa.C.S. § 721(a).
Source The provisions of this § 135.183 adopted May 25, 2018, effective May 26, 2018, 48 Pa.B. 3082.
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