Target shooting closures at Rogue River State Game Area and West Unit of Muskegon State Game Area

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- DNR News -

May 20, 2021
Media contact: Nik Kalejs, 231-735-0500

Target shooting closures at Rogue River State Game Area and West Unit of Muskegon State Game Area 

Rogue River State Game Area with trash strewn around

Target shooting activities are indefinitely prohibited at the Rogue River State Game Area and the Rogue River State Game Area Extension Unit in Kent County and the West Unit of the Muskegon State Game Area in Muskegon County.

An approved Michigan Department of Natural Resources land use order of the director implementing this target shooting closure was brought forward due to growing concern for public safety. 

Despite efforts to create safe and clean target shooting sites, the amount and type of target shooting have increased substantially at these areas over the last two years. Increased use has led to concerns about target shooting in unsafe locations without proper backstops, target shooting after shooting hours, shooting beyond existing berms into adjacent game area property, causing damage to forested wetlands, and disrupted flow of traffic due to parking along county roads. 

The order will help protect the state game areas from damage and help prevent further safety issues, trash and noise complaints, and conflicts with trail users and hunters.  

For more information, please call the DNR Plainwell Customer Service Center at 269-685-6851.  


/Note to editors: An accompanying photo is available below for download. Caption information follows.

Rogue_RIver_SGA: The target shooting site at Rogue River State Game Area in Kent County. Target shooting is now prohibited at the state game area to help prevent safety issues and trash and noise complaints./

DNR COVID-19 RESPONSE: For details on affected DNR facilities and services, visit this webpage. Follow state actions and guidelines at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus.