The Hunter Education (HE) range was officially opened for currently qualified Range Safety Officers and Hunter Education class usage on Friday, July 15, 2011. Rules for use of the HESA range have been approved by the TCSA. All Range Safety Officers will be required to read and comply with the Hunter Education Range Rules which are located at the HE Range Flag box, the RI Range house, and also located on the secure portion of the TCSA Web page at www.TCSA.info. Even Range Safety Officers who do not anticipate using the HE Range are required to read and comply with this new procedure as they will have to be knowledgeable on how to control access to the HE Range and the specific controls now in effect for that range while performing their RI Range Duty days.
Before the HE Range can be opened for general public use, additional duty Range Safety Officers will have to be scheduled to ensure firearm safety practices are being followed. That process is not currently in place, so this range is not open for general public use. Only RSOs and scheduled events usage is allowed on the HE Range.
Usage reservation requests for the HE Range will be handled by submitting a TCSA Range Use Request form. Hunter Education classes requests will have priority over non-Hunter Ed class requests as identified in the HE range Rules.
Non-event usage of the HE Range requires Range Safety Officers to sign in at the Rose-Iris Range. Individuals attending Hunter Education classes and other events conducted at the HE Range will sign in at the HE Range and will deposit the signup sheets in envelopes at the RI Range Safe. The duty Hunter Ed or Event Instructor will notify the duty RI Range Safety Officer(s) that a class or event will be taking place at the HE Range on the day that event occurs so they are aware of the event taking place and won't allow other Range Safety Officers to use the HE Range until the scheduled event has been completed.
Targets will have to be obtained from and taken back to the Rose-Iris Range. There are target holders available for use located at the HE Range.
All the general RI Range rules and special HE Range rules concerning targets, ammunition, and firearm safety apply at the HE Range. Shooting at the RI Range Steel Gong extended Range targets is not allowed from the HE Range.
Individuals interested in registering for a hunter education class being offered by our teaching team, led by Chief Instructor Mike Patello can do that through the City of Richland Parks and Recreation Department by phone at 509-942-7529, in person at 500 Amon Park Drive, Richland WA or on their website at: http://richlandparksandrec.com. Information about other hunter education classes taught in the Tri-Cities area is available on the WDFW website at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/huntered.
Bring any safety concerns encountered at the HE Range to the attention of the TCSA Chief Range Officer for resolution.