State Acquiring Sussex County Shooting Facility
"In a year that saw heated debate on numerous gun control bills in the General Assembly, the state has moved ahead on a long-anticipated deal to acquire a Sussex County shooting sports facility.
In the $477.1 million Bond Bill is a relatively modest expenditure of $750,000 for the first installment on Owens Station. The privately-owned facility located just east of Greenwood is the creation of Bill Wolter, who began developing the property 30 years ago to train youths in shooting sports. "I figured that if I could create an educational center that maybe I could make a difference in some children's lives," he said.
The 104-acre facility is unique. It is managed as a conservation education center and is often used by school teachers as a venue for nature walks. The parcel contains several miles of trails and three small catch-and-release stocked fishing ponds. Parts of the property are used for the cultivation of Atlantic Coastal Panicgrass and switchgrass. The former is used for coastal restoration projects, while the latter is sold to waterfowl hunters to camouflage boats and blinds - preventing the cutting of indigenous marsh plants.
The property also contains the Delaware's only sporting clays course with approximately 60 shooting stations, a trap range and a "five stand" range. Best practices are employed to ensure lead shot from the ranges does not contaminate the soil and water, falling into focused areas to facilitate retrieval and recycling.
Owens Station is thoughtfully configured so the hiking trails and ponds can be used concurrently with the shooting ranges."
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