The Farragut Shooting Range has been a popular facility over the last several weeks, as hunters prepare for the fall hunting seasons.

However, shortening day length and seasonal staffing changes will lead to a reduction in hours of operation.

Starting Friday, the range will be open from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The range will close for the season at the end of shooting hours on Saturday, Nov. 1 to coincide with the return to Standard Time.

When the range is open, it is staffed by trained volunteers or Idaho Department of Fish and Game employees. There is a $5 per shooter daily use fee.

The range includes all-weather shooting sheds, bench rests, safety baffles, safe backstops, side containment berms and target frames.

Rimfire and centerfire rifles of less than .50-caliber, and shoulder-fired muzzle-loaded rifles may be sighted in. Work on the 50-yard handgun range is in progress, so it is not yet open.

Eye and ear protection is required. Shooters can bring their own, or purchase earplugs and safety glasses at the range. Individuals under 18 years of age are required to be accompanied and supervised by an adult.

To get to the range, head east on Highway 54 from Athol toward Farragut State Park. Before reaching the park, turn left on Perimeter Road and watch for the range sign on your right. Visitors no longer need to enter Farragut State Park to get to the range.

The Farragut range was originally part of the Farragut Naval Training Station built in 1942. After World War II, the range was turned over to the state and opened for use as a public shooting range.

For more information about the range, contact Fish and Wildlife biologist Barb Moore at (208) 769-1414.

Anglers are reminded that the primary Rose Lake access site temporarily closed Sept. 25.

It will remain closed for public safety until around Nov. 25 while site improvements are being completed.

Rose Lake can still be accessed from the Watson Road access and dock, however, the ramp is gravel and the underlying lake bed is soft.

The gravel slope is gentle so the water depth is quite shallow. It would be very difficult if not impossible to launch a trailered boat.

The Watson site was never designed for launching trailered boats. However, it can accommodate small hand-carried canoes, portable boats, rafts and float tubes. Parking space is in very limited supply.

Anglers who like to fish from float tubes may find Rose Lake to be a good choice this fall. With power boats off the lake, tubers will have the lake to themselves, but finding parking space could be a challenge.

Rose Lake becomes thermally stratified in the summer making it difficult to find the right depth to locate fish.

When temperatures cool in the fall, the water mixes and the fish become more active again as they feed heavily before the winter sets in.

The boat launch will be one of the first improvements completed at the primary Rose lake access so that it can be used in an emergency should one arise before the entire project is completed.

Phil Cooper is a wildlife conservation educator in Coeur d'Alene for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.