It may come as a surprise to hunters and sport shooters to learn that Shooters Sporting Center on Route 539 in Little Egg Harbor was acquired by Ocean County to be utilized as a regional training center for first responders. The range will officially close on Dec. 31, but the store will remain open until a new store opens sometime in January.

According to the sporting center, the county will look into the possibility of one day opening the range to the public.