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For Athens shooters
Athens Shooting Range Guide, Every Range in 35 Miles
Around Athens, the 35-mile ring holds 5 rifle and pistol ranges, 4 clay target ranges, 3 archery ranges, 3 indoor ranges and 1 public range.
Photo: Bob n Renee (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Athens
Starting points around Athens
Rivers, lakes and ridges stretch these drives, so allow extra time.
ADCNR range
Indoor lanes
Rifle and pistol
Clay targets
Archery lanes
Madison County supplies 8 of the 16; 3 other counties give the rest. Athens shooters have ADCNR benches close by at Swan Creek WMA Range. Athens Community Archery Park offers free known-distance lanes 2 miles from Athens. 4 listings say members only and 8 do not state an access rule. 375 yards at Hobbs Island Shooting Range is the most any listing here posts. 3 are short hops of under 10 miles, 6 take 10 to 20 and 7 take longer.
Athens ranges on the map
Bright pins are ADCNR ranges, archery parks and other public ranges.
| Range or club | Mi | Location | Lines | Entry rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
X-Ring Rangers Jr. Air Rifle Club gun club | 0 | Athens | rifle/air gun | Members only |
| Athens Community Archery Park ADCNR archery park | 2 | Athens | target archery/elevated stand/youth targets | Public, license needed |
| Swan Creek WMA Range ADCNR shooting range | 7 | Tanner | shotgun/rifle/handgun/muzzleloader/100 yd line | Public, license needed |
| Last Resort Guns indoor range | 11 | Madison | handgun/rifle/smallbore rimfire/3-gun | Access not stated |
| Easter Ferry Hunting Preserve sporting clays course | 12 | Elkmont | sporting clays/shotgun | Access not stated |
| Decatur Community Archery Park ADCNR archery park | 14 | Decatur | target archery/elevated stand/3D course/youth targets | Public, license needed |
Limestone Hunting & Sporting Clays sporting clays course | 14 | Ardmore | sporting clays/shotgun/skeet/5-stand | Access not stated |
Alabama State Rifle & Pistol Assoc. gun club | 17 | Huntsville | rifle/handgun | Members only |
| Hartselle Gun Club, Inc. gun club | 17 | Huntsville | rifle/handgun/smallbore rimfire/silhouette | Members only |
| Larry's Pistol and Pawn indoor range | 21 | Huntsville | handgun | Access not stated |
| Bullet and Barrel indoor range | 21 | Huntsville | handgun/rifle | Access not stated |
| Southside Community Archery Park ADCNR archery park | 26 | Huntsville | target archery/elevated stand/youth targets | Public, license needed |
| Doublehead Resort & Lodge sporting clays course | 26 | Town Creek | sporting clays/shotgun/5-stand | Access not stated |
Big Sky Skeet & Trap Club trap and skeet club | 28 | Laceys Spring | trap/skeet/shotgun | Members only |
Madison Co. Shooting Sports Assn. gun club | 30 | New Market | shotgun/rifle/handgun/trap/skeet/5-stand/smallbore rimfire/muzzleloader | Access not stated |
| Hobbs Island Shooting Range outdoor range | 31 | Huntsville | archery/handgun/rifle | Access not stated |
Range listings checked November 1, 2026; ADCNR points from the GPS on each ADCNR page; town point from the Census Gazetteer.
Athens and its closest state-run range
ADCNR operates Swan Creek WMA Range in Limestone County. The far line stands at 100 yards. Heads-up from ADCNR: The range is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. ADCNR asks for a license instead of a range fee.
From the ADCNR range page, checked Nov 1, 2026.
The shoot calendar for Athens
Here are 2 of 2 posted dates, in date order.
| Date, event, promoter | Category | Range or hall | Price | Link | Posted at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 2026 Host: Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries) | ADCNR 101 class | Tanner: | Free (Wildlife Heritage License required) | Enroll | outdooralabama.com Nov 1, 2026 |
| Dec 19-20, 2026 Host: A.G. Gun Shows | Gun show | Huntsville: Cahaba Shrine Temple | $8.00 | Host page | gunshowtrader.com Nov 1, 2026 |
Shells and targets near Athens
The short run for shells is Academy Sports + Outdoors Madison at about 13 miles, then three others by distance.
| Retailer | City | Address | Distance | Listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Sports + Outdoors | Madison | 7506 Highway 72 West | 13 | info |
| Academy Sports + Outdoors | Decatur | 1205 Wimberly Drive Southwest | 16 | info |
| Bass Pro Shops | Huntsville | 7090 Cabela Drive NW | 16 | info |
| Academy Sports + Outdoors | Huntsville | 2900 Memorial Parkway SW | 21 | info |
| Chain | Departments | Alabama stores |
|---|---|---|
| Bass Pro Shops | Rifles Cartridges Accessories | 4 stores |
| Academy Sports + Outdoors | Rifles Cartridges Accessories | 18 stores |
| Dunham's Sports | Firearms not stated | 6 stores |
Department links from each retailer site (list checked Oct 9, 2026). Academy Sports + Outdoors rows from academy.com store pages; Bass Pro Shops rows from stores.basspro.com; Dunham’s Sports rows from the store list on dunhamssports.com. Retrieved November 1, 2026. Plain links, no commission.
Athens neighbours: range roundups
- Madison16 in reach
- Decatur19 in reach
- Hillsboro14 in reach
- Huntsville18 in reach
Athens range questions
How many ranges fall within 35 miles of Athens?
16 listings sit inside that radius.
How short is the drive from Athens to its closest range?
Roughly 2 miles; the range is Athens Community Archery Park.
Can Athens shooters find an indoor range for a hot July afternoon?
Yes, Athens shooters can head indoors at Last Resort Guns, Larry's Pistol and Pawn and Bullet and Barrel.
Is there a state range a Athens shooter can use without joining a club?
Yes: Swan Creek WMA Range, 7 miles off, run by ADCNR.
Where can Athens bowhunters shoot known distances?
Athens Community Archery Park, Decatur Community Archery Park and Southside Community Archery Park are the nearest archery listings.
Which clay target grounds are on the Athens list?
Swan Creek WMA Range, Easter Ferry Hunting Preserve and Limestone Hunting & Sporting Clays, nearest first.
Which dated events are near Athens?
The 30-mile calendar has 2 dated shoots.
Where near Athens is the longest posted line?
Hobbs Island Shooting Range with 375 yards on its listing.
Which ADCNR deer zone takes in Athens?
For Athens hunters, Zone A sets the calendar: bows from Oct 15, 2026, rifles from Nov 21, 2026, last day Feb 10, 2027. The A and B line runs along highways and rivers; confirm it on the ADCNR map.
Athens hunters, where to go next
Other photos on this page: (stephan) (CC BY-SA 2.0); Ethan Prater (CC BY 2.0); Ivan Radic (CC BY 2.0); formatc1 (CC BY-SA 2.0).