The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has a solution for those wanting to avoid the holiday tradition of standing in long checkout lines on the day after Thanksgiving – the Banner and Butch Olofson shooting ranges will be open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Black Friday. As an added incentive, the DNR has discounted its annual passes for 2019 by $40 which is the perfect gift for the hard-to-buy-for member of the family.
Through Dec. 31, individual passes are priced at $200 and family passes at $260. Annual passes may be purchased at either range and is valid at both shooting ranges.
Banner Range, between Indianola and Des Moines on Hwy. 65/69 in Warren County, is a multi-use shooting facility that offers a safe, clean shooting environment for handguns, rifles and shotguns. The range is staffed with professional certified range safety officers during all operating hours. Banner Range is open Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Wednesday and Thursday.
The completely renovated Butch Olofson Shooting Range, located off Hwy. 415, about five miles northwest of Polk City, features a new building, handgun, rifle, shotgun and archery ranges and more. The Olofson Range is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Shooting ranges welcome shooters of all skill levels and abilities. Information on Iowa shooting ranges is available at https://www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/Places-to-Hunt-Shoot/Iowa-Shooting-Ranges
Banner and Butch Olofson shooting ranges are closed January 1, Easter Sunday, July 4th, Thanksgiving Day, December 24 and December 25.