The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), which is in control of the shooting and archery range north of San Luis Obispo on Highway One, has a responsibility to keep this facility for public use. It has been closed for nearly three months.
The San Luis Obispo Tribune’s ran articles in late 2024 criticizing San Luis Obispo Sportsman’s Association (SLOSA), a non-profit organization, for ADA non-compliance, misappropriation of funds and non-adherence to CDFW contract requirements. What the San Luis Obispo Tribune failed to mention in their publication were the thousands of volunteer hours and donations to keep the shooting and archery facility operating.
Prior to 2018, CDFW had a loose agreement with SLOSA to operate the range, basically a land lease agreement. After 2018 CDFW issued a new operating contract forcing SLOSA to discontinue membership fees and at the same time perform upgrades including ADA compliance. Any user fees collected by SLOSA were automatically paid to CDFW and then repaid to the non-profit SLOSA three months later. Additionally, the fees charged to users were dictated by CDFW, which was enough to pay for operating costs, but little else.
Now, after being closed for three months, no new contractor has been selected. Is this an edict from anti-gun folks in California government to close our public range? Is California Department of Fish and Wildlife using foot dragging technique to close the range indefinitely?
It is unlikely that any contractor would be willing to accept an agreement with CDFW for range operation unless it has control of all the money generated by its users, including membership fees. A land lease agreement is the only logical way this facility will open again. It cannot operate with CDFW’s interference.
Stewart Edwards
Cambria