Twin Falls Gun Club Secures State Grant to Replace Aging Skeet Facilities
The Twin Falls Gun Club has received an $8,700 state grant from Idaho Fish and Game to replace two deteriorating skeet houses, providing a financial lifeline for a club that relies almost entirely on membership dues and per-round fees to keep its doors open.
The grant is part of a broader $280,000 Idaho Fish and Game funding package approved earlier this month for upgrades at 15 gun clubs and shooting ranges across the state. The award reflects the financial strain many Idaho shooting facilities face as maintenance costs continue to climb while revenue sources remain limited.
Clubs Running on Thin Margins
Twin Falls Gun Club Director Jeff Scott said the grant comes at a critical time. The skeet houses are in poor condition and replacing them is not optional — but the club simply does not have the cash on hand to cover the cost.
“We got the $8,700 grant from Fish and Game to replace both of the skeet houses because they are just falling apart,” Scott said. “We don’t have the funds to do it.”
Scott described the club’s financial reality plainly. The facility is open only two days a week — Thursdays and Sundays — and while overhead costs are relatively modest, facility upkeep and unexpected repairs quickly exceed what the club brings in. “Things like that help keep this club open,” he said. “It’s difficult.”
The pay-per-round model the club uses to fund day-to-day operations was described by member Sherman Mullins. Shooters purchase cards that activate the automatic throwers, with each card covering a set of 25 birds. While the system provides a steady revenue stream, it is rarely enough to absorb the cost of larger infrastructure repairs or storm damage.
Scott pointed to a recent windstorm that knocked down a required perimeter fence as an example of how quickly unplanned expenses can overwhelm a club’s budget. “This particular issue came from the wind last week — blew our fence down — which we have to have by rules,” he said.
Region 4 Facilities Also Benefiting
Other shooting facilities in the region received funding from the same Idaho Fish and Game allocation. The Hurtig Shooting Center in Hailey was awarded $7,500 for two new clay throwers, while the Jerome gun club received $13,000 to purchase five throwers. The awards reflect a statewide recognition that shooting ranges and gun clubs serve an important role in Idaho’s outdoor recreation and firearm safety culture — and that many are operating with little financial cushion.
For Twin Falls County residents interested in water and outdoor recreation safety this summer, the coming months bring both opportunities and risks. Local officials and sporting clubs alike are working to keep recreational facilities safe and accessible across the Magic Valley.
The Twin Falls Gun Club said it has already received the grant funds. Construction on the replacement skeet houses is expected to begin at some point this summer, giving members a modernized facility heading into the fall shooting season.
What Comes Next
With the funding secured and construction on the horizon, the Twin Falls Gun Club is focused on completing the skeet house replacements before cold weather sets in. Club leadership has indicated that state and private grants will remain essential to maintaining operations going forward, as membership fees and round charges alone are unlikely to cover the full cost of aging infrastructure.
Idaho Fish and Game’s willingness to direct funds toward shooting range improvements signals continued state support for Second Amendment recreational activities — a priority that resonates strongly with Twin Falls County residents. Anyone interested in supporting or joining the Twin Falls Gun Club can contact the club directly for membership information.
For additional coverage of Twin Falls County public safety matters, including a recent major sentencing in the Twin Falls court system, visit TwinFallsCountyNews.com. Statewide news is available at idahonews.co.