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State seeking operator for San Luis Obispo County shooting range

August 31, 2025

By KAREN VELIE

California is seeking a new operator for a state owned public shooting range located in San Luis Obispo County off Highway 1 between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay.

The former San Luis Obispo Sportsman’s Association included a public shooting range and club facilities. Its lease with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife ended on Dec. 31, 2024 and was not renewed because of violations with its state contract.

California Fish and Wildlife on Friday posted a request for proposals seeking bids from people or businesses seeking to manage the facility. Proposals, due in October, will be reviewed after 45 days.

In 2021, the state first informed the Sportsman’s Association of mutiple violations. For example, the association failed to charge the agreed rate and collect money through the state system.

The association also renovated the facilities, but failed to make them compliant with the  Americans with Disabilities Act as required.

The association previously announced plans to apply for the new contract.

 


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When California see’s its citizens enjoying themselves they shut it down any way they can… ether with the CDFW or some other agency or board like the coastal commision… the once fun outdoor sunshine state is no longer fun… it reeks of a punitive government….


2

The terms of the Grant Deed that transferred ownership of the property in 1982 from the federal government to the state of CA clearly states in several areas this property SHALL be open in perpetuity for public recreation. CA Fish and Wildlife locked the front gate in January and the public has been locked out ever since.


It’s pretty clear that F&W has violated the deed conditions. The deed says if CA fails to abide by the terms, the ownership can revert back to the federal government. That is what, in my opinion, needs to happen immediately. Once the feds own it again, they can designate the property under the EXPLORE Act.


Thinking about this, since the nonprofit SLOSA is in litigation with F&W, I wonder if they can argue that CA F&W was in violation of of the deed terms that say CA must erect a permanent marker within 6 months of taking ownership. CA is over 40 years late on that one. How can someone in active violation sue a nonprofit operating on the very property F&W probably should not own??


I’d really like to see the US department of the Interior take back ownership and then trespass all F&W personnel in perpetuity from ever setting foot on that property again. F&W has broken the public trust by locking us out; they don’t deserve access ever again.


14

Imagine this~~ The CDFW says to the range operators, “you don’t have handicapped access.” So the operators build over a dozen steel and concrete shooting benches, specifically engineered to accommodate a wheelchair, to replace the old wood benched that could not. The operator also remodeled the restrooms, to accommodate wheelchairs. 10 years later, the CDFW comes back and says, “You didn’t take care of the handicap problem.”. The operator says “What?”


CDFW says “Yeah, that office on the Cowboy Action range, where nobody but range personnel goes into? We told you to make that accessible, and you failed to”. The operators replied, “But that’s an associate private club and range. The public has no access to the office!” “Yes”, the CDFW says, “But we told you ten years ago, something about access, and you failed us. Oh, and by the way, we know you have increased the fee for the range from $5 to over $20 in order for us to make free money from you, but you didn’t dot this particular “I”, and ignored that one un-crossed “T”. So, you have failed us for the last time. Begone!”


The real story, is wholly based on this fairy tale.


10

It better not be, as long rumored, a mandated DIDN’T EARN IT (DEI) type.


We’re watching (and listening) CFDW!


-4

*CDFW


-4

Long rumored? The RFP is a transparent process. Let’s just hope the range can get open under competent leadership. It’s an uphill battle!


12

The range was under very competent leadership. CDFW…not so much.


4

Sounds about right for how the government works, in the real world when you have a contract ending you begin the search for a new one while the old one is still in effect, so that when the old one ends you have a new one ready so there is no down time. But not in government, you not only wait for the old one to end, you actually wait, in this case 9, months more before even asking for entities to submit proposals, then time to receive the proposals and then begin the “government process” to evaluate them, which has been known to take several months and even years. Yeah sounds about right for government, just ask the residents of the Palisades and Altadena who are still trying to rebuild. Understandable how the government, here California, is broken and needs serious reformation.


20

That would be like letting renters that are destroying the property and not paying stay lol. Goofy suggestion


1

Im sure the audits and all the other work from the idiots that had the previous contract didn’t do anything to speed it along.


5

SLOSA ended up getting sued at the end of the contract, the litigation is ongoing. That’s why they are not allowed to bid for this new contract.


The delays are due to California Department of General Services, not Fish and Wildlife.


Check out http://www.SaveTheRange.com, I hope this group can pull it together and make the range last for years to come.


11