Harrisburg – The fatal shooting that occurred on a Pennsylvania Game Commission shooting range on Dec. 22 was an isolated incident, according to the agency, and problems on the 29 PGC-owned ranges throughout the state have declined over the years.
The Erie incident ended in one fatality after a man shot another individual at the range and was subsequently shot and killed by another user of the facility, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
Mark Rutkowski, the PGC’s assistant director of the Bureau of Wildlife Protection, said the case is still under investigation by PSP and isn’t the norm regarding incidents that do occur on the ranges. Since the agency required those using the ranges to purchase either a hunting license or a range permit (implemented in 2011), violations have decreased, according to Rutkowski.
Still, the ranges are seeing a significant increase in use, as the agency sold 15,737 permits in 2020, compared to 8,163 in 2019.
While the problems on ranges have declined since the implementation of the permit, violations still occur.
In 2020, 366 violations were reported on the PGC’s 29 ranges, and 146 of those involved not possessing a valid hunting license, furtaker license or range permit. Discharging a firearm containing more than six rounds of single projectile ammunition accounted for 90 violations, followed by use of the range during closed hours (53) and discharging a firearm while not on the shooting line or at something other than a paper target (47).
Gang activity is also an issue at certain ranges, specifically those near Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and the Poconos, according to Rutkowski. Suspected gang members were identified by the colors on their clothing or symbols, he added, and the information is passed on to state and federal authorities.
“In past years we had gang members from New York City on ranges,” Rutkowski said. “When you have something open to the public, you’re going to get some level of illegal activity.”
One of the more high profile cases involving a PGC range occurred in 2007 in Monroe County. A group dubbed the “Fort Dix Six” traveled from New Jersey and rented a house in Lackawanna County, said Rutkowski, who was the game warden patrolling the area at the time. The six men were ultimately arrested for plotting a terrorist attack on the Fort Dix Army base and the Maguire Air Force Base in New Jersey.
Rutkowski said the group was using the Monroe County range to train for the planned attacks, and the PGC worked with the PSP and FBI to surveil the individuals.
“Over the last several years we haven’t had any issues with these kinds of groups, but we do conduct surveillance on ranges where we suspect illegal activity is happening,” he said.
One of the more recent issues to occur on ranges is the use of the explosive Tannerite, which is illegal to use on PGC ranges. Rutkowski said the agency has also encountered instances where individuals dig up the backstops to retrieve lead.
“These are all things that damage the ranges, and we spend $250,000-$300,000 a year to maintain these facilities. It’s very costly and any type of vandalism is serious,” he said. “Sportsmen are very good at policing the ranges and submitting tips if they see something suspicious, and that’s important especially with an increase in usage like we’re seeing now.”
- This story originally appeared in PA Outdoor News.
