The kansas department of wildlife and parks has played a key role in promoting and teaching the safe and proper use of firearms by hunters since 1973 when the kansas hunter education program began

The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) has been awarded a $943,700 Formula Grant under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety program (CFDA 15.611). The grant will fund KDWPT's efforts to promote and teach the safe and proper use of firearms by hunters and the broader public through the construction and operation of modern gun ranges in Kansas.

The grant will enable KDWPT to provide full-time staff to supervise volunteers and the public users of these shooting range facilities, which are designed to offer a safe experience for participants. This aligns with the agency's mission to protect and enhance the state's natural resources and provide outdoor recreational opportunities. The grant period runs from July 2024 through December 2029.

The department has prioritized the construction and operation of modern gun ranges for anyone to learn safe gun handling and improve shooting skills the resulting constituency that participates in the shooting sports has expanded far beyond hunters. Since 2020 the fastest growing demographic of gun owners in the U.S. Are of the ages 18 to 34 and 78 percent of their purchases were non hunting related items. As a majority of pittman robertson revenues are derived from non hunting sales related to firearms and ammunition provision of safe and accessible shooting range locations will support this demographic and further aid long term PR funding. These facilities are structurally designed to provide a safe experience for participants. To ensure the proper operations and maintenance of the facilities the department intends to provide fulltime staff for the supervision of volunteers the public users and all range activities.