Public shooting ranges in North Carolina
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission lists ten public shooting ranges, spread from the Smokies to the coast. Some are run by the Commission itself and are free; others are run by a county or a YMCA camp in partnership with the Commission and charge a fee. Most require a range pass, which you get on site after watching a short safety video and going over the rules with a range safety officer. Hours change with the season and holidays, so check the range's NCWRC page before you drive.
Mountains
Wayne E. Smith Cold Mountain Shooting Range, Haywood County
On Lake Logan Road south of Canton, this Commission range has a 100-yard rifle line and a 50-yard pistol line with five lanes each. It is free with a range pass and open Wednesday through Sunday, with shorter Sunday hours. The range is universally accessible.
McDowell County Shooting Range, McDowell County
Near Marion, run by McDowell County with the Commission. It has 100-yard and 25-yard firearm lines, a practice archery range and a 3-D archery course. A day pass is $7, and annual passes are sold at several prices. Open Wednesday through Saturday.
Foothills and Piedmont
Foothills Public Shooting Complex, Cleveland County
Near Cherryville, run by Cleveland County with the Commission, and the largest facility on the list: a 250-yard rifle range with stands at 100 to 250 yards, a 50-yard rifle and pistol range, a 20-yard pistol range, a 50-yard steel range, three skeet and trap fields, a 5-stand and archery. A daily pass is $12 for adults. Closed Mondays.
Van Camp Family Shooting Range at YMCA Camp Hanes, Stokes County
Near King, run by YMCA Camp Hanes with the Commission. It has a 50-yard rifle line limited to .22 rimfire and a practice archery range, which makes it a good place to teach a new shooter. Fees are charged by the hour, public hours are limited in spring and fall, and the range closes to the public in summer when camp is in session.
R. Wayne Bailey-Caswell Shooting Range, Caswell County
On NC 86 south of Yanceyville, on Caswell Game Land. It has a 100-yard rifle range, a 25-yard pistol range and a roaming 3-D archery course. Free with a range pass. It closes during special permit hunts on the game land, with dates posted at least two weeks ahead.
Flintlock Valley Shooting Range, Montgomery County
In the Uwharrie National Forest near Troy. Covered firing lines at 100 yards for rifles and 25 yards for pistols. A daily pass is $10 and an annual pass $60; shooters 15 and younger shoot free with a paying adult. Passes are sold at a fee machine on site and at several local stores. Open Tuesday through Saturday.
John Lentz Hunter Education Complex, Richmond County
Near Ellerbe in the Sandhills. Rifle ranges at 50 and 100 yards, a 25-yard pistol range, a 5-stand, two combination skeet and trap fields, and a 40-target 3-D archery course. Shooting is free with a range pass; clay targets are sold by the round, card only.
Wake County Firearms Education and Training Center, Wake County
In Apex, run by the Commission. Rifle lines at 100 and 50 meters and a 25-meter pistol line. Use is free but by reservation through the online system. Open Monday and Friday evenings and on weekends, and closed through August for maintenance.
Coastal Plain
Odom Shooting Range, Northampton County
Near Jackson, run by the Commission. A 100-yard rifle range and a 25-yard pistol range with eight stations each, plus a target archery range. Free with a range pass; bring your own targets and ammunition.
Holly Shelter Shooting Range, Pender County
On Shaw Highway near Rocky Point, at the edge of Holly Shelter Game Land, run by Pender County Parks and Recreation with the Commission. A 200-yard rifle range, a 50-yard pistol range, target archery and an 18-station 3-D course. Adults pay a daily fee; shooters 17 and under are free. Watch the safety video and sign the waiver before your visit.
Range rules you can expect
- Eye and ear protection on the firing line.
- Paper targets at the posted frames only; no glass, bottles or exploding targets.
- Cold-range ceasefires called by the range officer; hands off guns while people are downrange.
- Many ranges limit the type of ammunition, for example no tracer or steel-core rounds.
Before you go
Read the NCWRC page for the range you plan to visit on the day you go. Several ranges list the safety video online so you can watch it at home and save time at the gate, and some list closures for special hunts, maintenance or holidays only a few weeks ahead. Cell service is weak at the mountain and Uwharrie ranges, which is why some range managers ask for email rather than a phone call. Bring cash and a card, since payment methods differ by range, and bring your own targets, staple gun and ammunition. The Commission also runs a lead reclamation project at its ranges, which recovers spent bullets from the berms; shoot only into the designated backstops.
National forests and game lands
Outside these ranges, target shooting on national forest land and game lands is limited by posted rules and closures, and some game lands ban it outright. Use the developed ranges above whenever you can. Our city pages list the nearest range for each city, and the deer season guide covers when to sight in before your zone opens.
Bring the right gear
Before a range trip, check that your rifle's scope mounts are tight and bring enough ammunition for a full zero: three or four groups at 25 yards, then at 100. If you are new to handguns, a range with a pistol line and a safety officer on duty is a good first stop before a concealed carry course; see our permit guide. Rifles, pistols and shotguns from our catalog ship to a North Carolina dealer near you.
General information, not legal advice. Current as of October 2026. Laws change; check the official source before you act.
