Pennsylvania Game Commission will reopen shooting ranges in 'yellow' counties

The Pennsylvania Game Commission on Friday will reopen public rifle, shotgun, pistol and archery ranges in counties the state has moved into the “yellow” phase of coronavirus mitigation efforts.

Ranges in red-phase counties, including Allegheny, Westmoreland and the rest of Southwestern Pennsylvania, will remain closed.

The shooting ranges on state game lands to reopen this week include No. 176 in Centre County, No. 72 in Clarion County, No. 77 in Clearfield County, No. 109 in Erie County and No. 24 in Forest County.

The game commission will announce further openings as they are approved.

“The closing of shooting ranges on game lands impacted hunters and target shooters who rely on those ranges for practice,” Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans said in a statement. “I’m pleased to announce this round of range openings and look forward to the next.”

State ranges have been closed since late March.

The commission maintains about 30 shooting ranges on game lands statewide, which are usually open to anyone with a valid hunting or furtaker license, or shooting-range permit.

State game lands remain open to the public.

Gov. Tom Wolf has given no indication when more counties would be upgraded to yellow phase, but said Tuesday he hopes southwestern Pennsylvania will get there “really quickly.”