Only a short 40 years ago, the piping plover population had a grim outlook with a mere seven pairs recorded in the entire state of Maine. These beach habitat specialists are nearly always found in open sandy areas near water. Consequently, these are the same areas that have been heavily developed and used by beachgoers over the years, leading to the sharp decline of the state’s population.

Since the modernization of the Summerhaven Shooting Range in Augusta, doors of opportunity have opened, providing safe access for the public to practice shooting and cultivating sportsmanship and participation in a healthy but challenging environment. Reforming the shooting range has delivered more versatile yet comfortable conditions for participants, and simultaneously has offered trained and certified Range Safety Officers (RSO) to provide efficient and sound assistance.