
The Prince George Rod and Gun Club operates two center-fire rifle ranges; one at the Hartman Road facility and one at the Blackwater range.
Members use these ranges to sight-in hunting rifles for the upcoming hunting seasons and to practice target shooting. The ranges are equipped with concrete and heavy wooden firing benches and the firing points are covered.
The club constructed a 1400m center-fire rifle range near Baldy Hughes on the Blackwater Road, southwest of Prince George. The range is open to all members, with berms and targets set at varying distances out to 1400m. The Blackwater range is located about 25 minutes down Blackwater road.

The Club began construction of a world class shooting facility near Mount Baldy Hughes located Southwest of Prince George, British Columbia in approximately 2006. Blackwater range is open to all members, with berms and targets set at varying distances out to 1400m. The Blackwater range is located about 25 minutes down Blackwater road and is located on 750 hectares Crown Land located east of the Pelican Lake Forest Road near Shesta Lake.
Progress by the Club at the Blackwater Range to date includes the following:
2006 to 2022
Acquisition of Crown Land from the BC Government;
Legal survey
Logging and clearing of merchantable timber;
Timber sales for club reinvestment of planned works;
Surface water management works;
Initial site preparation (earthworks) to build a 1400-meter range;
Completion of IPSC shooting bays; and
2023 to Current
2023 Engineering for major capital works.
o Centerfire range survey (Completed in 2023!)
o Centerfire range engineering (Expected to be complete by November 2023)
Long Term Use; Community Impact
The Hartman and Blackwater Ranges will be used for firearm competitions, practice, and training to serve a region that includes well over 10,000 potential firearm users under the auspices of the Club. The Club has the potential to attract a significant amount of members in excess of the current 1,800 members.
The Hartman and Blackwater Ranges are available for use by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Corrections, Sheriffs, Department of National Defense, Cadets, Conservation Officers, and other professional agencies through arrangement with the club.
Future generations will benefit from the capital investment of the Hartman and Blackwater Ranges in the following ways:
Promote the safe use of firearms;
Socialization of like-minded people;
Recreational sport;
Professional competitions;
Promote training of shooting sports as a whole;
Promote an interest in shooting sports for Western Canada; and
Community involvement (Scouts, Cadets, 4-H, Hunter Education, Law Enforcement, etc.).
The Blackwater Range will serve as a landmark for Western Canada for shooting sports. This range facility will help to create a large sense of community within firearms users.
Blackwater Range – 2023 Engineering Efforts
Extend and level existing footprint out to 1600-meters!
Clubhouse;
Picnic tables and kids playground;
Shelters to provide heated areas for refuge;
Washroom facilities;
Improve overall accessibility of all new and current facilities
Storage buildings (sheds and sea cans);
Laydown areas; and
Heavy civil work (earthworks).

