Initially scheduled for a March 2022 opening, Box Canyon Shooting Range’s opening has been delayed time and again. Various problems pushed the projection to last November. Rains last fall pushed it back yet again. In February, a wet winter, supply-chain issues and other factors had the BLM unable to set a new projected opening date, according to a spokesman. 

In an email in February, Chris Wonderly, public affairs specialist for the Phoenix district office of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management said an opening date was undecided. 

“We’re continuing repair work on the damaged berms and roads at the Box Canyon Recreational Shooting Site,” said Wonderly. “We have repaired drainage and road damage but are experiencing material shortages. Our next steps include installing signage and barriers, and manufacturing targets. It’s important for the targets to withstand the caliber of rifles that would be allowed at the sites. The site remains closed while we finish this work. At this point, we don’t have an opening date.” 

About three months later, not much seems to have changed. 

“We are continuing the work described in the (last) email,” Wonderly said on Tuesday. “Because we implement fire restrictions annually, which includes restricting target shooting on public lands, the site will likely not open until after fire season.” 

Related: Box Canyon – InMaricopa 

The site has been a favorite place for local sharp shooters to take aim.  

In late 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation began work on improving the site by adding shooting platforms and designated shooting lane, berms, permanent targets and areas for shooting designed for various types of guns. 1,072-acre site is about 10 miles west of town, west of Hidden Valley Road. 

Brian Petersheim Jr., Reporter
Brian Petersheim Jr., Reporter
Brian became part of the InMaricopa team in October 2020, starting as a multimedia intern with a focus on various multimedia tasks. His responsibilities included file organization and capturing photos of events and incidents. After graduating from Maricopa High School in the class of 2021, his internship seamlessly transitioned into a full-fledged job. Initially serving as a dedicated photographer, Brian's role evolved in October 2021 when he took on a new beat as a writer. He is currently pursuing his studies at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Brian's primary focus lies in covering public safety-related stories. In his free time, Brian finds joy in spending quality time with his family and embarking on adventures to explore the landscapes around him.
Facebook Mail

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

1 COMMENT

  1. We’ve waited years for this. Everything the Government is involved with takes forever and gets ruing. EVERYTHING! Anyone want to get together and build a ‘private’ range? We could have it ready in a couple months at most.