Construction began this weekend on a long-sought public shooting range on the Pawnee National Grassland that U.S. Forest Service officials hope will reduce illegal gun use on the 193,060-acre grassland.

The U.S. Army Reserve is building the Baker Draw Designated Shooting Area near the intersection of Weld County roads 96 and 63, northwest of Briggsdale. The area surrounding the site will be closed for two weeks during construction, grasslands spokeswoman Reghan Cloudman said.

The National Rifle Association is providing a $25,000 grant and Colorado Parks and Wildlife is contributing $97,000 to pay for the construction.

Weld County and the Arapahoe and Roosevelt National Forest and Pawnee National Grassland Foundation also are chipping in roadwork and materials.

Several groups worked on developing a range — the site was approved in 2011 — spurred, in part, by shooting incidents on the grassland, Cloudman said.

“There are lots of people who use the grassland responsibly and legally for shooting, and there are a few who are not,” Cloudman said. “We hope this helps alleviate the situation.”

Recreational shooters started nearly a dozen fires in the grasslands last year. Many were using tracer bullets, which are illegal on the grassland, as is other incendiary ammunition.

The Pawnee National Grassland is about 35 miles east of Fort Collins and 25 miles northeast of Greeley. It’s a popular area for birding and wildlife watching.

The shooting area will include a parking lot, dirt berms, 30 shooting lanes and 26 shooting benches, an information kiosk and, possibly, shade covers.

Once finished, it will be open from dawn to dusk.

A grand-opening ceremony is planned for this fall.

Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907, mwhaley@ denverpost.com or twitter.com/montewhaley