SW Idaho Archers Rejoice: Boise River WMA archery range is back open

Exciting times for Southwest Idaho’s archery community. After nearly seven months, the Boise River Wildlife Management Area’s 3D archery range reopened to the public on May 3. Recall, back in October 2024 a portion of the Boise River WMA engulfed in what became known as the Valley Fire, ultimately scorching 9,904 acres—including much of the archery range.

The revitalized 3D archery range features 15 replaced targets and two new practice target blocks. This effort could not have been done without the dozens of volunteers, archery clubs, and partners who came out and helped install the targets and cleaned up the course in April.

The 20-target, walk-through range has stations dispersed throughout a mile-long course, and archers can shoot at varying distances at three-dimensional foam targets that imitate many of the animals they might hunt in Idaho. And the best part? There is no charge to use the range.

“We have the largest population base in the state, so this is an incredible resource for sportsmen and women,” said Ann Moser, Boise River WMA Manager.

Still a work in progress

While the refurbished range is good news for archery enthusiasts, there’s still a long ways to go before the situation pans out for wintering deer and elk. The Valley Fire burned an area used by roughly 15% of the Unit 39 mule deer herd and 10% of the Boise River Zone elk herd. The area was home to mature sagebrush and bitterbrush that provided crucial winter range for deer and elk. Sagebrush and bitterbrush regrowth can take up to 20-30 years before it’s re-established. 

But it’s not all doom and gloom. 

This winter, Fish and Game and BLM aerially applied sagebrush seed to the entire burn scar, in addition to hand-plantings and drilling where feasible or more appropriate. These efforts are likely to speed up the recovery process and help to mitigate an influx of invasive annual grasses and noxious weeds.

Fish and Game is thankful to the dozens of volunteers who came out to replant nearly 560 sagebrush and bitterbrush seedlings on April 19. Staff in the Southwest Region have been working tirelessly to replant as much as they can, along with other volunteer groups, accounting for over 27,600 seedlings planted since October 2024—and many thousands more still to come.

“It's nice to see some hope with the sagebrush plants from aerial seeding and bitterbrush caches popping up,” said Statewide Shooting Range Manager Sarah VanAcker.

Be sure to follow the Southwest Region’s Facebook page for updates and volunteer opportunities in the upcoming year.