Best of Edmond: Bulls Eye

Local gun and archery enthusiasts are thrilled to see Heartland Outdoors open a new gun and archery range in Edmond.

“Our gun range is unlike any other Oklahoma gun range,” said owner Barry Bryant. There are 14 lanes, each 25 yards long. It features a ventilation system with Hepa filtration that instantly carries gun smoke to the opposite end of the range, which is also climate controlled. “There is no getting too warm in the summer or freezing in the winter and you don’t have any black stuff in your nose when you finish,” he said.

Bryant has spent the last 40 years in the oil and gas industry and owns a commercial fishing lodge in British Columbia. When he was approached by two acquaintances to start up the store, it peaked his interest. Heartland was unlike anything he had done previously and it fell in line with his attraction to the outdoors.

“I love to spend the summers in Canada catching fish and the winters exploring my land at Luther and watching the wildlife,” Bryant said. “Being an owner in a hunting store and an avid hunter is almost too good to be true.”

When the store opened, Heartland Outdoors invited Lee and Tiffany Lakosky, hosts of the television show The Crush, to greet customers who came from miles away to talk to them. “Lee and Tiffany stood there for almost 14 hours with nothing to eat and only went to the restroom once all day due to the enthusiasm from the crowd,” Bryant said.

Bryant’s employees are avid hunters themselves and know the inside and out of each gun or bow Heartland sells. “They’re doing what they love and making a living at it,” Bryant says. “When you ask a question, they don’t get a strange look on their face.”

“We’re all very excited to see the gun range open,” said Will Massad of Heartland Outdoors. “It’s been really fun and we’re having a great time with it.”

The bow staff customizes each bow to fit the buyer. After being outfitted with accessories and professionally sized arrows, they can practice in the archery range.

“Most of our customers have been very appreciative of the attention we give them as well as our expertise,” said Bryant. “If we don’t have it we will certainly get it for them. I believe that we should treat everyone like they are more important than us. That is what is in the scriptures and it certainly works in the retail business as well.”

Visit www.heartlandoutdoorsok.com to take a 360 degree tour, or stop in at 1444 N. Kelly.