By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–The morning of Thursday, Dec. 7, marked a special occasion for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and those in Shelby County as the improved Cahaba Wildlife Management Area public shooting range reopened to the public in a grand opening ceremony.

After being closed for more than a year due to the Colonial Pipeline gas leak in September of 2016, officials with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources decided to use that time to also make much needed upgrades to the range.

Officials and visitors alike came to check out the new range, shoot and sight in their firearms and more at the site located off Shelby County 91 near Helena on Dec. 7.

The site now offers visitors improvements to the existing 100-yard range and the addition of 25-yard and 50-yard ranges. Improvements to the existing 100-yard range included a concrete walkway and a covered concrete shooting shelter with benches.

The 100-yard range has six stations, and the 25-yard and 50-yard ranges, which are adjacent to each other, have a combined eight stations with a shelter and benches.

A new gravel parking was installed to serve both ranges and includes access to handicap parking. A shotgun range for shooting at clay targets is located east of the rifle range and is on the left side of the gravel road.

Marisa Futral, who has worked for 13 years as a Hunter Education Coordinator for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, was at the grand re-opening ceremony giving instructions and meeting with visitors at the range.

“This is a great, safe place for people to come sight in their hunting rifles or just come out and have a good time,” Futral said of the renovated range. “It’s a pretty inexpensive way to support your hobby.”

Visitors on Dec. 7, were taking advantage of the new adjustable benches that accommodate both right and left-handed shooters.

After the grand re-opening, the range will be staffed and have regular scheduled hours.

A valid hunting, heritage, fishing, or WMA license is required for all shooting range users between the ages of 16-64. A license may be purchased online, by calling 1-888-848-6887 or by visiting a retail vendor in the community.

The range is located on Localmont Road, approximately 10 minutes southwest of Helena.

Winter hours for the Cahaba River WMA Shooting Range will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each Wednesday through Sunday. The range is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. WFF staff will be onsite during operating hours.

For more information, visit Outdooralabama.com/cahaba-river-wma-shooting-range.