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COLORADO SPRINGS,
Colo. – At USA Shooting’s bi-annual board of directors meeting on April 2,
in Colorado Springs, Colo.,
the Board unanimously passed a resolution
to partner with Hill Country Shooting Sports Center (HCSSC) in Kerrville,
Texas as a future location for a majority of USA Shooting events.
USA Shooting has been looking for a full-service shooting range since
the 1996 Olympic Shooting Range in Wolf Creek shut its doors, indicating a
need for a facility to hold National and International events, as well as
assist in the development of youth programs. There are currently only two
venues that can host major competitions—the International Shooting Park on
Fort Carson, in Colorado Springs, which is only capable of holding shotgun
events, and the United States Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) ranges
located on the Fort Benning military base near Columbus, Ga.
“There are two major reasons we have been
looking for another venue,” Bob Mitchell, CEO of USA Shooting says. “One, the facilities we have
now are on military bases and we could lose access at any time. We have no
control of it. And two, we need a neutral site-- the International
Shooting Park is the home range of the Olympic Training Center athletes,
and the Fort Benning Range is the home range of the USAMU. It becomes very
important that we are able to adapt to different conditions and
environments as we travel around the world, and really there is no better
way to train for that, than being able to
shoot in different conditions within your country.”
Hill Country Shooting Sports Center’s Chief Operating Officer, Jack
Burch, along with Sudie Burditt, a member of the Advisory Board of HCSSC
and Executive Director of the Kerrville Convention & Visitors Bureau, both
gave compelling and convincing presentations to the USA Shooting board of
directors, outlining the building plans, community support and financials
of this state of the art public shooting sports facility.
Also in attendance were Rose M. Burch, owner of the property
where Hill Country Shooting Sports Center resides and Karol Schreiner,
Board of Directors for Kerrville Convention & Visitors Bureau and Board
President of Hill Country Shooting Sports Center.
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“My lifelong interest in shooting sports has led my
wife, Rose, and I to build a shooting facility to fill the needs of
shooters. We started this dream in 1999 working with our local 4-H
shotgun club and have expanded to include international events and
sporting clay tournaments. To better serve the youth of our area, state
and the nation we have worked toward adding the remaining international
venues, which will give our kids the ability to seek out their dreams,”
Jack Burch said. “Without the help of the folks of Kerrville and
surrounding area, this dream would not have been possible.”
As of now, the Hill Country Shooting Sports Center has three operating
international skeet fields, and one international trap bunker. However,
since the United States has been awarded a prestigious international clay
target World Cup competition in 2006, Burch has guaranteed that if USA
Shooting agrees to hold that event at HCSSC, there would be no problem
building two additional skeet fields and four
additional international trap bunkers by next spring. In time, the
facility will also house rifle and pistol ranges for the 10m, 25m and 50m
competitions. All rifle and pistol ranges will have state of the art
electronic target systems. The HCSSC is situated on 140 acres of land
where a maintenance building, public rifle and pistol ranges, classrooms
and a pro shop have recently been constructed.
When complete the complex will be the best in the western hemisphere and will be in a location that allows year around training and
competition.
The Hill Country Shooting Sports Center,
will be the only full service sport shooting public facility of its type
in the United States. Training and competition in rifle, pistol and shotgun events,
including Olympic
events, and a 31,000 square foot airgun hall
will make this range completely unique. The range is located 60 miles west
of San Antonio, Texas on Interstate 10 in Kerr County, which has a
population of 45,000. The hill country of Texas is not only beautiful, but
is a desirable family travel destination, with a favorable climate and so
many things to do.
“We have found truly outstanding partners in Jack &
Rose
Burch, the city of Kerrville and the
surrounding area in our quest to build a
world class Olympic shooting venue,”
Mitchell said. “We have been working together to build a working
partnership and the pieces required for success are coming together. It is
an exciting time for USA Shooting to have such capable and enthusiastic
partners. The Hill Country Shooting Sports Center is an excellent property
that will be expanded to incorporate international ranges capable of
eventually hosting World Shooting Championships. Kerrville is easily
accessible and a short drive from San Antonio yet small enough to
appreciate the economic impact our events will bring to the area.”
USA Shooting is recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and the
International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) as the national governing
body for the Olympic and international shooting sports in the United
States. To learn more about USA Shooting, call them at (719) 866-4743 or
visit their website at
www.usashooting.org.
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