About WCW Shooting Sports
WCW Shooting Sports is the outdoor shooting complex in Bothell operated by the nonprofit Wildlife Committee of Washington, a sportsmen’s organization founded in 1945 that now serves more than 2,000 members and is governed by an elected, 11-member volunteer board. Located at 1031 228th St SW, the facility functions as a regional hub for rifle, pistol, shotgun, and archery practice, offering public access to pistol bays and a 100-yard rifle line, while access to the 300-yard high-power rifle range requires membership and additional range instruction. The property also includes American Trap, Continental, and 5-Stand shotgun games, plus flat, walkthrough, Olympic FITA, and indoor archery ranges.
The club’s mission centers on wildlife conservation, ethical hunting and fishing, and sportsmanship development, and it delivers on that through structured classes and hands-on coaching. Visitors repeatedly praise staff for patient, detail-oriented instruction - range officers have been credited with helping novices tighten pistol groups in a single session and guiding first-time rifle owners through scope sight-ins using supplied sandbags, stands, and spotting scopes. The curriculum includes home-safety and introductory pistol courses that welcome questions from beginners, and the organization has a documented history of producing elite competitive shooters, including Olympic hopefuls and national champions.
The grounds are consistently described as clean, well-kept, and functional, with maintained bathrooms and organized layouts creating a welcoming atmosphere that accommodates solo hobbyists, families, and corporate trap-shooting groups alike. Daily fees are widely characterized as reasonable, and the facility does not require membership for general public use, though joining unlocks the 300-yard line and deeper involvement in monthly competitions. An on-site gun shop, MRP Tactical, adds convenience for ammunition and gear needs, though archers should bring their own equipment because the facility does not offer rentals.
Limitations are present and worth weighing. While many guests describe the team as welcoming and respectful, the review record shows periodic inconsistency in staff demeanor, with certain range masters cited as abrupt or confrontational when enforcing rules. Operational protocols are strict and can interrupt flow: a rapid-fire limit of roughly one round every two seconds, timed cease-fires for target changes, and mandatory brass-cleanup expectations can frustrate shooters who prefer a self-directed pace. These guardrails keep the environment safe, but they also mean the experience is paced more like a classroom than a free-form bay.