The Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation Creighton Branch rifle range outside Creighton has a noticeable new safety feature. The range has a new structure designed to prevent shooters from seeing sky while shooting. The design is meant to reduce the risk of stray bullets flying out of the range.
Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation Creighton Branch president Scott Rosenberger said the “no sky roof shelter” is required to be in place by their next certification, otherwise the range couldn’t be active.
“We were basically told that if we don't have that installed before our next certification, they wouldn't recertify the range,” he said.
“It is very important to most of our membership that we have a range.”
The Wildlife Federation applied for and received a Northern Neighbours Foundation grant two years ago, but were not able to begin construction until recently.
“We just had a little bit of trouble getting a carpenter in line to get the project going, so they extended the line for us,” Rosenberger said.
“This summer seemed to be the year that everything came together - we got the bulk of the project done.”
Rosenberger said the no sky roof shelter is just the first phase of upgrades to the range. The second phase of the project will be putting in shooting benches.
“What they want to want to prevent is stray bullets. Basically, what they're after is, if you can't see anything higher, the chances of you shooting that high are slim,” he said.
“Whether or not it actually works or is needed here, I don't know, but that was kind of what we were told anyway.”
Regardless of any safety benefits, Rosenberger is happy to see a structure go up to help the members avoid the elements.
“It's going to be nice even for our membership to go and use it,” he said.
“Even a day where it's a little overcast, a little drizzle, a little wet - at least your equipment stays dry and you stay dry shooting, so it'll definitely be it'll be welcomed by everybody.”
The structure should help with equipment upkeep.
“Even just just being out of the sun... they said it's better because your barrel heats up after you shoot a little bit,” he said.
“There's definitely a lot of advantages to it. It's not just the government forcing things that really have no use - it is welcome by the membership.”
The Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation Creighton Branch has around 200 members and volunteers helped carpenter Dustin Law put up the structure.
“More hands is always better, we had a fairly good turnout,” Rosenberger said.
“Everybody worked together with not one carpenter in the bunch, so I'm sure [Law] was pulling his hair out a few times, but we made it happen anyway.”
With the no sky structure a priority, the Creighton branch’s usual public shoot is up in the air for 2019, but Rosenberger said he hopes to still have it before hunting season kicks into full gear.
Bear hunting in Creighton’s Wildlife Management Area begins on Aug. 25, with deer hunting beginning on Sept. 15.
