I stay in Cape Coral for the winter from central NY. The one thing I really miss in Florida is the total lack of decent firing ranges and/or sportsmen clubs where people can go and shoot and meet people. In upstate NY there are a minimum of 6 ranges or clubs within a 10 mi radius of my home. The smallest range goes to 100 yds with the largest out to 600 yds. including handgun and shotgun ranges. In addition, within a 10 mi radius are hundreds of acres of fields/woodlands where hunting/shooting is permitted either by owner permission or open state reforestation.
By contrast I have found only ONE public range with any kind of decent yardage near (20 mi away) Cape Coral. The Cecil Webb area. Unfortunately because it is the only range, it is always very crowded and sometimes requires an hour wait just to get a shooting spot. It is a max 200 yd range with pistol and shotgun stations. On a recent visit I experienced other shooters who only shoot once in a while and have trouble even operating their own firearms let alone know how to safely use a range. Some of the other so-called "ranges" are only indoor pistol where you have to pay $300 to $400 to join and make an appointment to shoot !!!! One so-called club even refused to let me look at the range set-up unless I joined !!!!! As far as other clubs, I have tried to join SW Florida Sportsmen club but they are so crowded and have a 300 member limit - I was told I am number 60 on a waiting list and when my turn comes up I will be called. You can also forget "going out into the woods" as all the land around here is private and NO ONE wants an "outsider" shooting on their property.
I find this very perplexing as Florida is a shooter friendly, open state compared to NY which, to say the least, is very un-friendly and restrictive. Can anyone explain to me why this is ??? or how to get around these short comings and continue to enjoy the shooting sports.
By contrast I have found only ONE public range with any kind of decent yardage near (20 mi away) Cape Coral. The Cecil Webb area. Unfortunately because it is the only range, it is always very crowded and sometimes requires an hour wait just to get a shooting spot. It is a max 200 yd range with pistol and shotgun stations. On a recent visit I experienced other shooters who only shoot once in a while and have trouble even operating their own firearms let alone know how to safely use a range. Some of the other so-called "ranges" are only indoor pistol where you have to pay $300 to $400 to join and make an appointment to shoot !!!! One so-called club even refused to let me look at the range set-up unless I joined !!!!! As far as other clubs, I have tried to join SW Florida Sportsmen club but they are so crowded and have a 300 member limit - I was told I am number 60 on a waiting list and when my turn comes up I will be called. You can also forget "going out into the woods" as all the land around here is private and NO ONE wants an "outsider" shooting on their property.
I find this very perplexing as Florida is a shooter friendly, open state compared to NY which, to say the least, is very un-friendly and restrictive. Can anyone explain to me why this is ??? or how to get around these short comings and continue to enjoy the shooting sports.
