JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- On weekdays the Joint Base Lewis-McChord recreational trap and skeet range has been a popular lunch break destination. But when the range closed in September for major renovations, regular shooters spent their lunch hours elsewhere.
Lars Liden is just one of several recreational skeet shooters who was happy to see the range reopen this month.
"We try to use our lunch hour," Liden said. "I'll occassionally come out on the weekends. I try to do this when my schedule and weather allows."
The shotgun range went through a much needed five-month renovation. About 90 percent of the range was redone. Improvements include brand new wall dividers among the six stations, wheelchair accessible pavement added to Range 3. Each station has new concrete and stairs and the clubhouse interior has a fresh coat of paint. A warehouse is also being built to house the all-terrain vehicle available for rent through the Northwest Adventure Center. Construction should finish soon.
"We needed a facelift, that's for sure," Ricardo Quijano, assistant manager of the trap and skeet range, said. Dan Post, another lunchtime regular, paid a visit to the shotgun range during his lunch break last Thursday. The first thing he noticed was the bright white picket fence surrounding the ranges.
The facility reopened Feb. 18 and quickly regained its popularity. Liden was forced to shoot at another location on McChord Field during the renovation and is glad to be able to enjoy his hobby at the more convenient, newly appointed range.
"It's got a good layout with six stations," the skeet veteran said. "When I was stationed in Fort Leavenworth we had four."
For the last decade, Liden and his comrades have shot skeet at the range.
"It's a good way to break up a day," Liden said.
The trap and skeet range hosts a variety of clay shooting events including youth shoots and monthly sporting clays. The range also includes four trap fields with duck tower and five stand and wobble skeet.
Range 15 on East Gate Road is a recreational rifle and pistol range. Rifle shooters can shoot at targets up to 300 yards out.
There is also a range shop on site that stocks cleaning supplies, ammunition and a snack bar.
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