Citizen Firearms Page

Citizen firearm classes are offered to the public by the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office at our top of line facility in Okanogan. The classes we offer focus on the safe handling and use of firearms with the goal of developing the ability to defend yourself or others using a firearm.

Class Calendar = 2021
 Date -Day Time Class Firearm Ammo Cost
March 20 – Sat 9am - 1pm  Essentials (basic) Class Ours Ours No Cost
  2pm - 6pm  Fundamentals (intermediate) Class Ours/Yours Ours/Yours No Cost
April 17 – Sat 9am - 1pm  Essentials (basic) Class Ours Ours No Cost
  2pm - 6pm  Fundamentals (intermediate) Class Ours/Yours Ours/Yours No Cost
May 15 – Sat 9am - 1pm  Essentials (basic) Class Ours Ours No Cost
  2pm - 6pm  Fundamentals (intermediate) Class Ours/Yours Ours/Yours No Cost
July 10 – Sat 9am - 1pm  Essentials (basic) Class Ours Ours No Cost
  2pm - 6pm  Fundamentals (intermediate) Class Ours/Yours Ours/Yours No Cost
August 15 – Sun (Stampede Sunday) 9am - 1pm  Essentials (basic) Class Ours Ours No Cost
  2pm - 6pm  Fundamentals (intermediate) Class Ours/Yours Ours/Yours No Cost
September 5 – Sun 9am - 1pm  Essentials (basic) Class Ours Ours No Cost
  2pm - 6pm  Fundamentals (intermediate) Class Ours/Yours Ours/Yours No Cost

Sign up HERE for any of the above listed classes.  Be sure to include which date and class you desire.

Fill out and return a Class Registration Form once you've been accepted into the class.

Items Needed for the Class

Class Information
We begin with the Essentials class. This class is a mandatory first class, unless you have attended professional formal classes. (Contact me for approval) In this class we teach you how to stand, hold the firearm, aim, control the trigger etc. You will leave this class with a strong understanding of firearm safety. You will also have the ability to fire at targets accurately. This class is perfect for those who have never fired a handgun all the way to veteran shooters. We go into detail with these basic principles so you come away with the reason why, not just because someone said so.

Next is the Shooting Fundamentals course. This course picks up where Essentials leaves off. We begin to discuss multiple shot placement, multiple attackers, and you get the shot repetition essential to building your abilities. We also teach you a few drills that you can use on your own to improve your shooting skills.

All classes are 4 hours in length. They include a safety briefing and a mix of classroom and on range instruction. We end the day with certificate awards.

There is no charge for the classes. You will need to use our firearms and ammo for the Essentials class, but you are welcome to either use ours or your own for any of the other classes. All ammunition used for our classes will have to be factory new or remanufactured. No home hand loaded ammo is allowed. You will have to provide your own ammo for all classes other than the Essentials class. The NRA provided us the Firearms that can be used for any classes, as well as the ammo for the Essentials class.

In order to sign up for the classes, we will need to have everyone fill out a registration form. This allows us to perform the mandatory background check to ensure you are legally able to possess a firearm. After that, you will be put on our firearms email list and will receive updates on when we are having classes and the occasional firearms related email.

We generally teach between 6-10 class dates per year with one or two classes per date. Depending on the weather, we begin around March/April and try to conduct one or two dates per month through October. Times and dates are determined annually in the spring and modified as needed throughout the year. We also offer one class per year taught in cooperation with the Okanogan County Prosecutor. The Home Defense and the Law class; usually offered in the late fall. This is an all classroom block of instruction. In this class, the Prosecutor will teach you the laws related to firearms and their use. We will talk about the mindset and tools you will need to successfully defend your home.

Please Note:
  •  We currently do not teach youth on our range, so you must be at least 18 years of age to attend a class.
  • As our range and instructors are paid for by Okanogan County Residents, they have first preference in available slots.
  • Some classes are listed as Women Only. If not marked, then both men and women are invited.
  • Currently all classes from Shooting Fundamentals and above are mixed classes.
  • You must take the Essentials class or have some other Professional instruction in order to attend a Fundamentals or above course. Please check with me for acceptance.
  • You are allowed to take as many classes as you desire and space allows. Quite often we will have a woman take the Women Only class and then take it again with a spouse in the mixed class.
  • To attend a class, you must sign up in advance. This allows us to ensure backgrounds are done and to maintain instructor to student ratios.
  • Our classes do count toward your hours needed for out of state Concealed Carry Permits in most states. (please check the requirements for the state in which you are applying for)
  • If you need to take a Hunter Education Course to receive a hunting license, you will need to take the course offered through the Department of Fish and Wildlife. You can sign up for those classes on the WDFW website http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/huntered/ These classes are taught on our range by Hunter Education volunteers and not the Sheriff’s Office.
  • Even though we strive for a safe and relaxing learning environment, firearms are inherently dangerous so you will be required to sign a liability waiver for each class.

If you have any questions about our program, contact Deputy Michael Blake, at 509-846-6011 or at mblake@co.okanogan.wa.us .

See you on the range!