At the May 16th, Arizona Game and Fish Commission meeting, the department decided on the fee increase proposal for the Ben Avery Shooting Facility. The new rates for users of the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, including the archery range and clay target center, are effective July 1st.
Examples of the new fees: A day at the main shooting range or archery range will cost $7 instead of the current $5. Children 17 years and under are still free. A round of trap or skeet at the completely renovated and modernized Clay Target Center will run a dollar more at $6 compared to the current price of $5. Twenty-five targets at the sporting clays course will bump to $10 from the current rate of $8.
The recommendation came after nearly a month-and-a-half of public input was solicited. The need for the fee increase was due to increasing operational costs. Electricity, waste disposal, fuel and consumables are some of the biggest contributors to the rising costs. The last fee increase was implemented seven years ago on July 1st, 2001.
Also, the Ben Avery Shooting Facility has been operating their summer hours on May 12th. Those hours are: Wednesday & Thursday, 7 am - 1 pm, then 5 pm - 9:30 pm; Friday, 7 am - 1 pm; Saturday, 7 am - 9:30 pm; Sunday, 7 am - 1 pm. The range is closed Monday & Tuesday.