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The number of shooter days has more than doubled at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility since the Arizona Game and Fish Department took over daily operations.
In 1996, the facility logged 49,872 shooter days. That number has increased each year Game and Fish has operated the range. By the end of the 1998-99 fiscal year (ends in July), the number of shooter days had escalated to 106,069.
"That is a 113 percent increase in shooter days from the first year we operated the range," said Don Turner, chief rangemaster. "On an annual basis, shooter days have grown by 29 percent a year. Not many businesses can boast a steady 29-percent annual growth rate."
Turner said he is particularly pleased that shooting days have increased dramatically for both women and youth. Junior shooters have increased 71 percent from the first year. Woman shooters have increased 76 percent.
"The number of groups using the Ben Avery facilities have also increased exponentially from 65 in 1996 to 144 now," Turner said.
Turner said the increased shooter days have gone hand in hand with facility improvements over the years. "Ben Avery is back to being a world-class shooting facility that is the envy of the country," he said.
Uploaded: 9/18/1999
Uploaded: 9/18/1999