Our Mission

Our mission is to provide comprehensive and safe firearm instruction training to individuals of all levels of experience. We are dedicated to promoting responsible gun ownership and ensuring that our students are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to handle firearms safely and effectively. We prioritize safety above all else and strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment that fosters learning and growth. Our goal is to empower our students to become responsible, safe, and proficient gun owners who are able to defend themselves and their loved ones in a responsible and ethical manner.

Our team

Carl Maude

Owner / Instructor

Carl Maude is the owner of Open Range, LLC. Carl was born and raised in southwestern South Dakota where he spent the majority of his time on the ranch. Carl moved to Watertown, SD and attended LATC for Agricultural Production, Business Management and Law Enforcement. Carl returned home and took a job with the Custer County Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy Sheriff. Through his time with the Sheriff’s Office, Carl attended several courses geared towards teaching and firearms, becoming a Firearms Instructor for his department. Carl chose to leave his job and further his firearms education and become the Online Sales and Marketing for Brotherhood Arms in Watertown, SD. Seeing a growing need for firearms training in South Dakota, Carl took the steps to becoming a South Dakota Enhanced Concealed Carry Instructor. Carl is extremely passionate about the 2nd Amendment, Self-Defense, Training and Teaching. Carl recently joined the Glock Shooting Sports Foundation. Carl is also active in agriculture being a part of the South Dakota Brand Board as a part time Brand Inspector, American Gelbvieh Association, and 4-H Shooting Sports.

Carl is a life long student of the trade and consistently is seeking out training that can benefit his skills and his students. Carl has a significant training schedule including daily dryfire.

Certifications

4-H Pistol Instructor - 2019
Instructor Development - 2020
Defensive Pistol w/ Larry Mudgett - 2020
American Firearms Tactics & Training Instructor School w/ Mark Fricke - 2020
NRA Basic Pistol Instructor w/ Dayle Hammock - 2022
South Dakota Use of Force Instructor - 2022
Practical Shooting Fundamentals w/ Ben Stoeger & Hwansik Kim - 2023
Baseline Pistol w/ Achilles Heel Tactical - 2023
Baseline Carbine w/ Achilles Heel Tactical - 2023
Red Dot Pistol Fundamentals & Performance w/ Modern Samurai Project - 2023

Brennan Kranz

Instructor

Brennan grew up shooting shotguns and rifles. He had a passion for hunting and spent every weekend outdoors and always enjoyed shooting firearms. For several years, he was in a clay shooting league where he enjoyed the competitive aspect of shooting. Brennan’s firearm interest grew when he started shooting pistols in 2011.

In 2015, Brennan graduated from South Dakota State University with a bachelor’s degree in construction management. Currently, he uses that degree as a project manager at Larry’s Lumber in Watertown. His role includes design/drafting, estimating and sales.

Brennan is an NRA certified Basic Pistol instructor and South Dakota Enhanced Concealed Pistol Use of Force instructor. Brennan enjoys keeping up with the current trends and in 2022 started shooting red dot where he continues to improve his skill set and knowledge. In his spare time, Brennan enjoys spending time with his wife, Amberly, and son, Beckett.

Certifications:

NRA Certified Instructor
SD Enhanced Concealed Pistol Use of Force Instructor

Logan Crown

Adjunct Instructor

Logan Crown, in his early teens, began his firearm knowledge with hunting on his stepfather’s small farm in Corona, SD. He was quick to learn rifle skills and became an advent hunter. Logan enlisted in the United States Army when he was 17 years old and served 8 years as an Ammunition Specialist.

His job in the Army often put him on various rifle and pistol ranges, as well as ranges utilizing the heavy and light machine guns. Continuing his passion to serve, Logan was hired as a Law Enforcement Officer in 2017 and is currently employed with the Watertown Police Department as a narcotics interdiction K9 Handler. Logan is also certified as a CPR Instructor, a Police RADAR/LIDAR instructor, NRA Basic Pistol Instructor, and South Dakota Enhanced Concealed Carry Instructor.

Logan has an energized personality who engages with students and expresses his teachings in fun and in ways that everyone can understand. Logan is thrilled to share his firearm knowledge gained from the military and law enforcement to students.

Certifications:

Matt Warren

Adjunct Instructor

Matt Warren has had a passion for firearms since childhood. Matt was a competitive clays shooter throughout his time in college and President for the University of Wyoming Collegiate Shotgun Team. With a degree in History and Criminal Justice, Matt pursued a career in Law Enforcement in 2016. Matt has worked for multiple agencies in the West River region of South Dakota and currently works for a police department in the Iron Range of Minnesota as a patrol officer.

In 7 years of law enforcement, Matt has been a Field Training Officer, Corporal, Sergeant, and Miniaturized Red Dot Instructor. Matt has qualifications to include AR15 Armorer, Glock Armorer, Sig P320 Armorer, and Miniaturized Red Dot Instructor from multiple reputable training companies to include Defensive Edge, Glock, Sig Sauer, and STORM Training Group.

Matt spends his free time hunting grouse with his wirehaired pointer in the fall and participating in local USPSA, NSCA, and ATA shooting events in the summer. Matt believes that knowledge and training are key components to being a responsible gun owner. He is excited to share his passion for firearms, pass on knowledge from his years of experience carrying a firearm daily, and to learn from his students.