What many residents may not realize is that the Natchitoches Shooting Range sits on a site rich in local history. Long before it became a destination for shooting sports, the property was home to an outdoor theater that hosted the historical production “Louisiana Cavalier,” presented by the Louisiana Outdoor Drama Association in the 1970s. As attendance declined, the site was transformed into the firearms range that has now served the community for more than 40 years.
Today, the Natchitoches Shooting Range is a nonprofit, volunteer-supported facility that combines community pride, competition, and recreation in a single location. The range features a 10-station rifle range, an 18-station pistol range, and a wide variety of shotgun sports, including skeet, trap, five-stand, and a full sporting clays trail. Two newer shotgun venues have also been added, offering less walking and covered areas for use during inclement weather.
The range is a popular spot for hunters looking to prepare ahead of hunting season and for shooters of all experience levels. NRA-certified and state-approved instructors are available by request to offer concealed carry classes, home safety and defense instruction, basic pistol courses, defensive rifle, pistol and shotgun training, and hunter rifle and shotgun education. Instruction can take place on the range or in one of the on-site classrooms.
Throughout the year, the facility hosts several national events, including National Sporting Clays Association tournaments, pistol competitions, benefit shoots, and corporate or private events. The range is also used by 4-H youth shooting teams, Delta Waterfowl events, and local law enforcement agencies for training. It is affiliated with the NRA, the Civilian Marksmanship Program, and both the National and Louisiana Sporting Clays Associations.
In recent years, significant improvements have been made to enhance the shooter experience. Upgrades include new trap machines, new roofs on multiple buildings, repairs to the sporting clays trail, the addition of card readers on select trap machines, pistol berm repairs, a new safety wall, an extended five-stand layout, tree trimming and cleanup, weed removal, and various plumbing and carpentry projects.
The range is open to the public with a daily use fee, and annual memberships are also available. Excluding holidays and special closures, the range operates approximately 260 days per year. Individual memberships break down to roughly 48 cents per day, while a family of four averages about 77 cents per day. Discounted memberships are offered for military personnel, law enforcement officers, and students.
As a nonprofit organization, the range relies primarily on membership dues and competitive tournament activities to fund maintenance, repairs, and daily operations. The board of directors serves entirely as volunteers, donating their time, skills, and resources to keep the facility active and affordable for the community.
Range officials say continued public support is key to its success. Members, hunters, competitors, and first-time visitors all play a role in keeping the Natchitoches Shooting Range open, growing, and accessible, making it a unique recreational and competitive asset for the region.
