Shooting activities suspended at Ruutikangas range near Oulu due to payment dispute

A dispute over fees between the operator and owner of the Ruutikangas shooting range in Liminka, near Oulu, has halted all shooting activities, reports Finnish broadcaster Yle.

The Oulu Region Shooting Sports Centre Association (OSAK) has suspended operations after failing to reach an agreement with Ruutikunnat Oy, the company owning the 93-hectare range located about 30 kilometres south of Oulu. Negotiations over a new management and usage rights contract collapsed despite multiple attempts.

OSAK chair Johanna Huotari stated that the fees demanded by Ruutikunnat Oy—currently tens of thousands of euros and projected to exceed €100,000 in the future—are unsustainable for the association. “We cannot commit to such sums as a non-profit organisation,” Huotari told Yle.

Ruutikunnat Oy, owned by the cities of Oulu and Raahe and the municipalities of Liminka and Lumijoki, is now seeking a new operator to minimise disruption. CEO Jarkko Koskela confirmed that discussions will begin with local shooting, hunting, and reservist associations to ensure continuity. “It is crucial that everyone interested can continue practicing at Ruutikangas,” Koskela said in an email.

The range, operational since 2022, was previously state-funded with a €1 million grant. While Ruutikunnat Oy manages infrastructure, shooting activities have been organised by OSAK and affiliated clubs on a volunteer basis.