Shooting Range And Pond On The Stud Mill Road in Maine Now Open

If you're a fan of the Maine outdoors, you're probably already familiar with the Maine Youth Fish and Game Association's facility on the Stud Mill Road near Milford.

If you're not, you've got to check this place out.

Matt Redding, Executive Director of Maine Youth Fish and Game Association, says the facility, which consists of a 15-acre pond, pole barns and picnic tables, an ATV trail, and shooting ranges (100-yard and 50-yard ranges) with 8 bays, is open to the public most of the year, unless posted otherwise.

Redding says the land that the Maine Youth Fish & Game Association's facility is on was donated by International Paper Company to the DIF&W, who passed along a lifetime lease to the organization, as long as they continue to have youth educational experiences there.

The organization is a non-profit that specializes in teaching youth (8-15-year-olds) appreciation of the outdoors, and outdoor skills like hunting, fishing, and survival skills.

They've been hosting summer camps on the land since 2001, which go through archery, rifle, and boating safety courses, just to name a few. Kids 15 years and younger can fish the pond, which the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife keeps stocked with Brook Trout every year. All the camps are phone-free, so no electronics are allowed.

While only kids are allowed to fish the pond, anyone can come and make use of the shooting ranges, as long as they understand that they are not staffed, and you have to bring in your own targets and bring out any trash and shells you create.

In the spring, the road leading up to the facility is pretty muddy, and since it's managed by the timber company, they close the gates to the facility for a couple of months, but it has finally reopened, which means folks can come enjoy the grounds once again.

It would appear that the time has come, as the organization posted an announcement this week on the Maine Youth Fish & Game Association's Facebook Page that the gates are back open.

"Access to our facility is now possible, which includes our shooting range and fishing on the pond for those under 16 years of age.  Our rules and the State’s laws are posted on site; should you have any questions.  Please respect our property and pick up after yourself.  This means tackle and worm containers for those fishing and brass, targets, target stands, and trash for those shooting. "

Along with the range, pond, and general grounds, the facility also has Nature trails that go around the pond and 6 Adirondack shelters for those who want to stay overnight.

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New this year, they have a couple of donated canoes with paddles and life jackets available for use, for free, as well.

Their website has more information on the facility, the hours, and all of the upcoming events.