PPSA Fall 2026 Update: Range Safety, Hunting Season & Community News
A Fall Message from the Prickly Pear Sportsmen’s Association Board of Directors
Fall has arrived in Montana, bringing cooler weather, changing colors, and the excitement of another big game hunting season.
For members of the Prickly Pear Sportsmen’s Association (PPSA), this is one of the busiest and most important times of the year. Hunters are preparing their equipment, sighting in rifles, confirming their accuracy, and making final preparations before general rifle season.
As we enter the fall season, the PPSA Board of Directors would like to share important range safety reminders, celebrate recent successes, recognize our growing membership, and highlight opportunities for the year ahead.
Preparing for Hunting Season: Safety Comes First
With general rifle season approaching, PPSA expects increased activity at our shooting facilities on McDonald Pass, particularly at the Sight-In and Rifle Ranges.
The safety of our members, guests, and volunteers remains our highest priority.
Every shooter has a responsibility to understand and follow the range rules, communicate with others, and remain alert to their surroundings.
One of the most important safety procedures involves establishing a cease-fire before anyone goes downrange.
Before anyone moves forward of the firing line:
- Notify all shooters and confirm a cease-fire. Everyone must agree before anyone proceeds downrange.
- Unload all firearms and open their actions. Firearms must remain unloaded throughout the cease-fire.
- Activate the red downrange safety lights. The lights must be on before anyone proceeds forward to inspect, place, or replace targets.
- Step behind the red safety line. Shooters remaining at the firing line must stay behind the designated red line while others are downrange.
- Never handle a firearm while anyone is downrange. Do not touch, load, adjust, clean, or otherwise handle firearms while any person is forward of the firing line. There are absolutely no exceptions.
- Confirm that everyone has returned before resuming fire. Once the range is clear, the lights may be turned off and shooting may safely resume.
These procedures are mandatory and are essential to preventing accidents.
Additional safety rules include wearing eye and hearing protection, using only approved targets and ammunition, and ensuring every bullet impacts the appropriate dirt backstop.
Members should also remember that shotguns and slug guns are not permitted on PPSA ranges.
Please take a few minutes to review our complete range policies before your next visit.
Review the Official PPSA Range Rules
Planning Your Fall Range Visit
PPSA provides shooting opportunities at distances ranging from 25 to 500 yards, along with dedicated pistol and rimfire shooting facilities.
During the weeks surrounding the opening of general rifle season, our most popular rifle ranges can become especially busy.
To help reduce congestion and waiting times, we encourage members to consider visiting earlier in the day or during the middle of the week whenever possible.
Members should complete initial bore-sighting and sight-in at shorter distances before advancing to the longer ranges.
A little planning and patience can make a significant difference for everyone.
Additional reminders for your visit:
- Shooting is permitted during daylight hours only.
- Bring your current membership card and follow all access requirements.
- Close and lock the entrance gate when entering and leaving.
- Remove used targets, collect your brass, and pack out your trash.
- Be considerate of other shooters, particularly during busy periods.
- Check the PPSA Events page for announcements and range closures before traveling to McDonald Pass.
PPSA Membership Continues to Grow
PPSA continues to experience strong interest and support throughout the Helena area.
As of fall 2026, the association is quickly approaching 2,000 members, demonstrating the continued importance of having a well-maintained, accessible, and responsibly managed shooting facility in our community.
This growth is exciting, but it also reinforces the importance of cooperation and courtesy among members.
PPSA is a member-supported, volunteer-led nonprofit association dedicated to promoting responsible marksmanship, sportsmanship, outdoor recreation, and firearm safety education.
Our facilities serve hunters, recreational shooters, families, and individuals who value Montana’s shooting and outdoor traditions.
For those interested in joining PPSA, memberships are currently $50 per calendar year and include the member, their spouse, and children under 18.
Memberships are valid through December 31 of the year purchased and are not prorated.
Membership applications are available at Capital Sports, Murdoch’s, and Sportsman’s Warehouse in Helena.
Learn More About PPSA Membership
New Camera System Helps Reunite Members with Lost Property
One of the positive improvements at PPSA this year has been the addition of our new camera system.
The system has provided valuable assistance to PPSA Range Safety Officers and volunteers in locating and returning items accidentally misplaced or left behind at the range.
We are pleased with the results and grateful to the individuals who help maintain a safe and responsible environment.
A special thank you goes to the members who have discovered lost items and taken the time to turn them in.
Simple acts of honesty and consideration help build the strong community that makes PPSA successful.
If you believe you left an item at the range, or if you discover something belonging to another member, please contact PPSA so we can assist with the lost-and-found process.
Capital Sports Range Day 2026: Thank You for a Great Event!
On Saturday, August 8, 2026, PPSA and Capital Sports hosted another successful Range Day at our McDonald Pass facilities.
The annual event brought together shooting enthusiasts, hunters, industry representatives, and community members for a morning focused on hunting equipment, firearm technology, and preparation for the upcoming season.
This year’s event highlighted hunting rifles, suppressors, optics, and high-performance hunting ammunition.
Attendees had opportunities to learn more about different equipment options and gain valuable insights from knowledgeable industry representatives.
One of the event’s major highlights was a presentation by Nosler Ammunition featuring demonstrations of bullet performance in ballistic gelatin and through bone material representative of big game.
These demonstrations offered participants an informative look at how different projectiles perform and the factors that influence ammunition selection for hunting.
The event enjoyed strong attendance and an enthusiastic response from participants.
PPSA extends its appreciation to Capital Sports, Nosler, the participating vendors, and the volunteers who helped organize and support this annual tradition.
We also want to thank everyone who attended and helped make the event such an enjoyable experience.
We look forward to continuing this partnership and welcoming the community back for future events.
Suppressor Regulations: Important Information for Montana Hunters
Suppressors have become an increasingly popular topic among Montana hunters and recreational shooters.
Recent federal legal developments have also raised questions about suppressor registration and ownership requirements.
Effective October 9, 2026, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced changes to its enforcement of certain federal registration and approval requirements affecting suppressors and other covered firearms.
However, these federal changes do not supersede Montana’s own restrictions and requirements.
The Montana Department of Justice has specifically emphasized that state law continues to impose registration-related requirements and restrictions concerning suppressors, including requirements applicable to hunting.
Because the legal situation is evolving, members should carefully verify current state and federal requirements before purchasing, transferring, possessing, or hunting with a suppressor.
For additional information, please consult the official guidance:
- Montana Department of Justice: Suppressor Legal Guidance
- ATF: Updated National Firearms Act Guidance
This information is provided for general awareness and should not be treated as individualized legal advice.
Looking Ahead to 2027: Education and Scholarship Opportunities
PPSA’s commitment to Montana’s outdoor community extends beyond maintaining quality shooting facilities.
Education, responsible firearm ownership, and support for future generations remain important priorities for our association.
We have recently refreshed the PPSA Education page with information for 2027, giving members, students, and families a place to learn more about available educational opportunities.
Among these opportunities is the PPSA scholarship program, which provides two $500 scholarships to successful applicants.
These scholarships reflect our continued commitment to supporting local students and investing in the next generation.
We encourage members to share the program with eligible students, families, teachers, and others throughout the Helena area.
Interested applicants should visit the Education page for the latest scholarship information and application instructions.
Explore PPSA Education and Scholarships
How Members Can Continue Supporting PPSA
The continued success of PPSA depends on its members and dedicated volunteers.
We are fortunate to have individuals who contribute their time, knowledge, and effort to maintaining the range and supporting association activities.
Members can help by keeping our facilities clean, practicing responsible firearm safety, reporting concerns, and treating fellow shooters with courtesy and respect.
Volunteers interested in helping with range improvements, maintenance projects, and other association activities are always welcome to contact the Board of Directors.
Every contribution, whether large or small, helps us preserve and improve the facilities that so many Montanans enjoy.
Wishing Everyone a Safe and Successful 2026 Hunting Season
As another hunting season approaches, the PPSA Board of Directors would like to express our sincere appreciation to every member, volunteer, sponsor, and supporter.
Your commitment helps us continue providing a safe and enjoyable shooting environment while promoting the outdoor traditions that are such an important part of life in Montana.
We encourage everyone to prepare carefully, practice safely, respect their fellow shooters, and enjoy the opportunities that our beautiful state offers.
From all of us at the Prickly Pear Sportsmen’s Association, we wish you and your families a safe, enjoyable, and successful 2026 Montana Big Game Hunting Season!
Thank you for your continued support.
Respectfully,
Cory Olson
Chairman of the Board
On behalf of the PPSA Board of Directors
Prickly Pear Sportsmen’s Association
Visit us at PPSAMT.com for membership information, events, range rules, education opportunities, and association updates.
