High Lakes Outdoor Alliance shooting range starts work on trap shooting facility

AFTON — The Three Mile shooting range complex is narrowing its sights on the next addition for shooters.

Located on the north side of Three Mile Lake, the 80-acre shooting range already has target ranges set up for pistols and small-bore and long-range rifles.

The new installment will give trap shooters a place to go for practice and future competitions.

“The five trap houses have been put in and have an electrical cable running to them,” said Marc Roberg of High Lakes Outdoor Alliance.

Workers began leveling the area behind the trap houses Monday for the cement shooting pads. They also set the footing for a building to be used for storage, registration and to hold meetings.

“As soon as we get the pads poured for shooting, we will put all our efforts into getting two trap houses going,” Roberg said. “I would like to see them going before the end of the month.”

Starting at the end of August, the inaugural Southwestern Community College shooting team will use the site for practice.

Head coach Charlie Mundy said the first two weeks will focus on safety, then the teams will start live firing drills.

“A squad is five, so we will get them shooting to get them squaded up,” Mundy said. “We’re excited, it’s going to be a great partnership.”

Mundy plans on having 25 to 30 athletes on campus. The team’s largest goal is to reach nationals their first year in San Antonio, Texas.

Southwestern is the first Iowa community college with a shooting team.

In addition to the SWCC shooting team, other groups have shown interest in using the High Lakes Outdoor Alliance facility.

“We have had two or three other counties, along with Union County, show interest for 4-H and FFA shooting,” Roberg said.

High Lakes Outdoor Alliance’s annual banquet in early October will serve as a fundraiser for the shooting range complex and to sell memberships for 2014.

Tom Lesan, treasurer for High Lakes Outdoor Alliance, said the membership has grown to about 340, but he expects an even larger jump once the trap houses are functional.