Amends and adds to existing law to establish provisions for the opening of the shotgun sporting complex adjacent to Farragut State Park.
Senate Bill 1348 creates a new section of Idaho law directing the Idaho Fish and Game Commission to develop and carry out a long-term plan for a public shotgun sporting complex on Fish and Game lands adjacent to Farragut State Park. The bill is tied to earlier legislative action in 2023 that appropriated federal Pittman-Robertson wildlife restoration funds and state matching dollars for land acquisition and continued operation of the Coeur d’Alene skeet and trap range. It finds that the originally contemplated land purchase may not be possible and instead authorizes a lease-based transition plan that keeps the existing Kootenai County range operating until a new public complex is opened.
The bill sets detailed requirements for the future complex, including trap and skeet fields, sporting clays stations, a five-stand area, supporting infrastructure, and public access features. It also requires the commission to make the plan public, review it at least every five years, coordinate with the Department of Fish and Game, and report annually to legislative committees. The target opening date for the new complex is no later than December 31, 2040, and the bill states that the current Kootenai County range may not cease operations before the new facility opens.
In practical terms, the bill affects Idaho Code Title 36 governing fish and game by adding a statutory mandate for planning, leasing, acquisition authority, and reporting related to public outdoor target ranges. It gives the commission authority to use previously appropriated federal and state funds, and if those funds are insufficient, to seek additional legislative appropriations. It also reinforces the Department of Fish and Game’s responsibility for ongoing operation of the existing range if a concessionaire is unavailable or fails to perform.
The overall sentiment reflected in the bill text and voting history is strongly supportive. The measure passed the Senate 35-0 and the House 65-0, indicating broad bipartisan agreement. The findings emphasize the value of the Coeur d’Alene skeet and trap club to north Idaho and frame the bill as both a recreation and community-support measure.
There is little visible opposition in the available record, but the main practical point of contention appears to be the feasibility of the original land acquisition and the need to shift to a lease-and-build approach. The bill addresses that uncertainty by requiring continued operation of the existing range and by setting a long-term planning framework for the new complex, suggesting that the central issue was implementation rather than policy disagreement.
This bill adds a new statutory section to Idaho Code governing public outdoor target ranges and directs the Idaho Fish and Game Commission and Department of Fish and Game to plan, fund, and oversee a shotgun sporting complex near Farragut State Park. It authorizes use of Pittman-Robertson wildlife restoration funds and related appropriations, allows leases or acquisitions to be negotiated on the state’s behalf, requires annual reporting to legislative committees, and preserves operation of the existing Kootenai County skeet and trap range until the new facility opens. It also creates ongoing planning and review obligations for the commission and establishes a detailed facility and infrastructure framework for the future complex.
The bill appears to have enjoyed strong, near-unanimous support. It passed the Senate 35-0 and the House 65-0, suggesting broad agreement that the existing range should be preserved and that a new public shotgun sporting complex should be developed. The bill’s findings frame the project as beneficial to recreation, community service, and the north Idaho economy, and there is no recorded committee transcript showing opposition.
The main issue reflected in the bill is not ideological opposition but logistical uncertainty: the originally planned land acquisition may not be possible, requiring a lease-based alternative and a longer-term transition to a new site. Any potential contention would likely center on land use, funding sufficiency, and the timeline for opening the new complex, including the requirement that the current Kootenai County range remain open until the Farragut-area facility is completed. The bill resolves these concerns by mandating continued operation, authorizing additional appropriations if needed, and requiring periodic legislative reporting.