PHOENIX —The Arizona Game and Fish Commission approved the department’s fee increase proposal for the Ben Avery Shooting Facility at its May 16 meeting. New rates for users of the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, including the archery range and clay target center, are effective July 1.

The department’s recommendation came after nearly a month-and-a-half of public input was solicited.

“We received over one-hundred emails from the public about the fee proposal. The majority of our customers were understanding about the needs of the range and supportive of the new rates,” says Jay Cook, Education Branch Chief for the department. “Shooters and sportsmen are always the first to step up and support the outdoor activities that they love.”

The need for the fee increase was due to increasing operational costs. Electricity, waste disposal, fuel and consumables are some of the biggest contributors to the rising costs. The last fee increase was implemented seven years ago on July 1, 2001.

Examples of the new fees: A day at the main shooting range or archery range will cost $7 instead of the current $5. Children 17 years and under are still free. A round of trap or skeet at the completely renovated and modernized Clay Target Center will run a dollar more at $6 compared to the current price of $5. Twenty-five targets at the sporting clays course will bump to $10 from the current rate of $8.

Located on 1,650 acres in north Phoenix, owned by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission and managed by the department, the Ben Avery Shooting Facility is one of the largest government-operated recreational shooting complexes in the world. It averages more than 120,000 shooters per year and is home to a number of regional- and national-class competitions and other major events. The facility offers a wide array of target-shooting opportunities to the public, including handgun, rifle, archery, shotgun and much more. www.azgfd.gov/basf

Ben Avery shooters are also reminded that the range switched to summer hours on May 12. The new hours are: Wednesday and Thursday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., then 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Sunday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. The range is closed Monday and Tuesday.