Paul Bunyan Rifle & Sportsman’s Club was founded, and applied for National Rifle Association charter in March of 1945 by 57 charter members, most from the Midland area, others from Tacoma and Puyallup.

Forty acres were purchased from Weyerhaeuser Timber Company in March or April 1946.  About mid-May of 1948, the south forty acres were purchased and in the mid 1950’s, 11 more acres were purchased to extend ownership from just above the target butts to the present right of way of 176th Street, thus protecting the firing range.

The original rifle range had 6 firing points to 600 yards. In 1956, the butts were extended to 18 targets, and in 1968 extended to 30 targets and firing points to 600 yards, creating of Paul Bunyan the largest civilian owned range in the Northwest.  The pistol range was twice enlarged from the original and a trap range laid out in its present location