FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Center was built for the people of West Virginia, but guess from other states are just as welcome. 

Range rules are posted at the Center and on this website.

 

 

Question #1:  "Isn't this, or I thought this was, a National Guard Facility?"

Answer #1:  No ... the National Guard 120th and 119th (now the 601st) engineers worked to construct the roadway leading into the facility, constructed firing lines, and in general cleaned up much of the area where shooting ranges are located today.  In return for this work, National Guard and Active Duty troops are allowed to use the facilities at no cost.  This effort has served to save the State and Nation tens of thousands of dollars normally spent sending troops to other facilities in Virginia and West Virginia for small arms qualification.

 

Question #2:  "Doesn't the State of West Virginia fund this facility?"

Answer #2:  No ...  however, the Division of Wildlife type signs would indicate some level of support, but only that the DNR provided signs at no cost.  Circa 1984, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources purchased 209 acres more or less along with rights-of-way and leased the property to the West Virginia State Rifle and Pistol Association (WVSRPA) for 99 years.  The only provision in the license agreement that sealed the deal was to build a ten point 100-yard range that would be open to the general public during normal business hours which were set at 9-6 during the summer months and 9-5 during winter months (those hours coincide with the daylight savings time changes).  WVSRPA  sat on the property from 1984 until 1996, during which time the National Guard continued to use the facility for small arms qualifications.

 

In 1996, WVSRPA decided that it no longer wanted to do anything with the property, and was going to return it to the DNR.  A second party got involved and in 1998, the White Horse Firearms and Outdoor Education Center, Inc. was formed and incorporated to assume control of the facility and in 1996 signed a ten (10) year license agreement with the DNR and WVSRPA to do so.  The goal was to construct a variety of ranges on the facility, with the public range given top priority.

 

Over the past five years since records have been kept, 12,900 individuals have visited and fired on the various ranges located on the Center.  This number includes military, law enforcement, security personnel, and civilians.  The primary mission of the Center is to provide training with firearms and outdoor type education programs.

 

Question #3: "Why are the ranges on the Center so well maintained?"

Answer #3:  Because there is a full time person on  duty seven days a week who keeps the grass mowed, litter picked up, target boards and backers in place, assists visitors during peak usage to get their rifles zeroed properly, and teaches classes on reloading, how to use a benchrest effectively, how to zero scopes, and teaches marksmanship skills for those who wish to get involved with competitive shooting, or to obtain a permit to carry a concealed firearm.

 

Question #4:  "Why can't I use the public range at White Horse like I do at Pleasants Creek or Stonewall Jackson"?

Answer #4: The license agreement with DNR requires that the public range at the White Horse Center must be supervised to reduce vandalism ... or willful damage.  Range rules are posted for all to see and obey.  The public range is maintained clean, well groomed year round, with target backers placed at both 50 and 100 yards.  All rifles regardless can shoot at these distances ... therefore no targets are set at 25 yards ... nor are boxes allowed on the range.  Pistols are no longer allowed on the public range, but access to the pistol range is provided at no cost to keep bullets in a suitable backstop.

The information on this page was last updated on Dec-14-09