Target Shooting on Public Land

[Mags]

I haven't needed to target shoot on public land (yet). But found this and the links it contains interesting reading. Lot of nuances I wasn't aware of.

http://trashnoland.org/rules.html

[Mistered]

I have grown up shooting primarily on public land and have always been responsible and clean - but that certainly isn't the case with everyone.
Fortunately over here on the 'East Side' we have not experienced the problems I hear about over on the 'West Side' but there are some and organizations like this are helping to raise awareness.
The organizer of TNL is a member of another forum I am on and I complement his efforts.
Unfortunately one of the biggest problems (with public land trash issues) is the growing homeless population who are finding the National Forest areas near towns a convenient place to camp out for a while and often leave dilapidated RVs, vehicles and piles of sometimes dangerous trash when they leave. Unfortunately (OR fortunately) Sportsmen are the only ones who are taking a stand on this and taking action.
Reality being what it is the responsible Sportsmen are probably the least of the problem. No doubt some are a part of the problem but nothing to the degree of some others (and not at all shooting related) have been the larger cause of the problems.
Not far from my house a couple years ago I was on my way to a spot I used to shoot at and upon arrival I found a pile of several hundred old tires dumped off. Well a little bit of 'investigation' revealed where they came from and I was 'somewhat' instrumental in revealing the culprits who dumped them.

[Lyman]

I shoot on public land. I always cleanup after and haul out trash and whatever I can. Not everyone does this however. BLM has volunteers that also help out. They have contracted people that haul stuff out too if it gets trashed.

[GFK]

I recall using a public area once in the 90s while in San Diego. It was a mess. The climate being as it is, I have not sought out public areas to practice in. I happened to come across some public land that I thought about using this season. When I seen the hiking trails, I wondered about the usage during that time. But, I suspect it is not used during the season for hiking.

[Ozarkridgerunner]

After reading this and several other posts in the short time since I joined the forum , it makes me realize how fortunate I am to own and have access to private land with ample expanse for shooting. Guess I really have taken for granted that there are a lot of folks out there who rely on public land and ranges to do their shooting. Also I guess I was pretty amazed how many folks pay a good sum of cash to use shooting range facilities. Living deep in rural country with a good bit of acreage and lots of room to shoot and hunt is something I definitely shouldn't be taking for granted. I hope all you folks who make use of public lands and ranges will always have the opportunity to use it in our fast changing ,and not often for the better , times we live in. I like what RanchRoper says about being born 100+ years too late. Feel that way myself sometimes.

[North Country Gal]

Good point, Ozark. There have been times in my life where the only place I could shoot was on public land as well as times when I've had access to private ranges at minimal costs. Having a place to shoot is something I never take fro granted, now.

[shootinthecinders]

A number of the public shooting areas in my area (West) have been shut down because of the irresponsible, lazy slobs that refuse to pick up their target trash or even worse, shoot holes into water tanks or fire towers. Also, people too cheap to pay to dump their trash.
It’s no wonder that so many anti-gunners have a negative opinion about gun owners. The truth is that it’s a small minority that creates the negative press. When I use public lands, I bring out more than I took in by carrying a construction grade trash bag to put the litter in. It’s a shame that people weren’t raised better or were never in the Boy Scouts to learn to properly police an area and leave it better than when they arrived.

[Sir Henry]

A lot of the US Forests here in Washington is closed to shooting. It is not very popular and has brought a lot of new unsafe shooters to the range I belong to.

We now have to take a safety class every year. It’s a nuisance but keep the real trouble makers out because they refuse.

[Henry88]

Here in Florida, I really don't know what public land is. Any land owned by whatever government has a name and a purpose, and most importantly, it's unique set of rules. On a large property, like Ocala, the rules can change based on longitude/latitude or a marked path.

My point is these rules have become very specific so you have to check each property, like the webpage says.

With regard to target shooting on public land, I am not aware of anywhere in Florida that you can target shoot on public land other than the ranges.

[Mistered]

I couldn't imagine NOT shooting on public land and have it literally minutes from my house.
Like I said before however the REAL problem is the transients & meth heads living on the 'fringe' areas close to town. The law says you can only stay in one area for 14 days without a permit and have to move on but by this time they have drug in broken down vehicles, RVs and basically trashed an area.
Fortunately the USFS does a good job of keeping it in check and having to clean up the areas when these types leave the area. Its not like homeless camps dot the landscape but they do show up occasionally in areas popular for other uses but typically they are not around long.

[Mags]

Went to presentation hosted by TNL yesterday. Part of what they confirmed is that there are no public land 'official/sponsored' ranges near me on the 'west side' of the Cascade Mtns. The closest, there once were 4 in the Tillimook forest on the way to coast. Now there are only two. Shooting in the 2 closed is now prohibited. Safety deteriorated berm and Trash used as targets the problem. One of the sites had a firearms caused small fire, a punky stump used as a target back drop. The shooter was able to extinguish it and reported it to a Oregon Dept of Forestry (ODF) work crew in the vicinity who came to make sure the fire was out. The ODF when they have a dozer in the area has done maintenance on deteriorated berms in the two remaining ranges.

In the Mount Hood Nat'l Forest - Clackamas County, the USNFS has numerous small rock quarrys used for logging road maintenance that they want and encourage shooters to use.

Shooting elsewhere on public lands is ok (unless posted otherwise) provided the rules are followed. Posted on the TNL, ODF and USNFS local websites.

Anyway for me, for now, I'm fortunate to be able shoot at home.

[Mistered]

public land 'official/sponsored' ranges

We have one near me in the Gilchrist STATE forest about 17 miles south of me. Not a bad little range actually - it's only maintained minimally but it's not too bad.
Two covered areas with fairly decent benches. I sometimes head down there for a change of scenery but most of the time (like this morning) I just go to one of my few 'pet' sites close to my house and set up a folding table & targets.

[Sir Henry]

Here in Florida, I really don't know what public land is. Any land owned by whatever government has a name and a purpose, and most importantly, it's unique set of rules. On a large property, like Ocala, the rules can change based on longitude/latitude or a marked path.

My point is these rules have become very specific so you have to check each property, like the webpage says.

With regard to target shooting on public land, I am not aware of anywhere in Florida that you can target shoot on public land other than the ranges.

About 70% of Washington is federal or state land. Most of the 70% is National Forest.

[Mags]

Looks like Washington state has similar rules as Oregon. At least those public lands managed by Department of Natural Resources.

Board and Department of Natural Resources
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=332-52-145

[BigAl52]

I shoot on public land .The Pawnee National Grasslands. But there are people who leave all of there trash out there including empty shell casings from Shotguns and brass from pistols and rifles. Every-time I go out there it seems like there is more and more trash. Im thinking someday its all gonna come to an end. I cant believe that Im the only shooter out there that thinks that way. It would take alot of work and several trucks to clean it all up. Its really a shame and I have thought about many times of making a sign to let people know to clean up there targets.

[Mags]

... I have thought about many times of making a sign to let people know to clean up their targets.

Good idea do so. It will at least get people to thinking about it and have a guilt thing. I'd bet a lot of people don't clean up after themselves because they see others not doing so and think it's OK because everyone else is leaving it.

[Lyman]

I shoot on public land .The Pawnee National Grasslands. But there are people who leave all of there trash out there including empty shell casings from Shotguns and brass from pistols and rifles. Every-time I go out there it seems like there is more and more trash. Im thinking someday its all gonna come to an end. I cant believe that Im the only shooter out there that thinks that way. It would take alot of work and several trucks to clean it all up. Its really a shame and I have thought about many times of making a sign to let people know to clean up there targets.

We have a homemade sign where I go. It gets moved around a bit but I always place it right where everyone can see it.
Don't know if it helps but it's been clean the last few times I have been out.

[Mistered]

including empty shell casings from Shotguns

While I DO NOT agree with leaving brass or shells on the ground, or any trash for that matter I have LONG suggested we need to have a deposit on shotgun shells - much like on cans and bottles we have here in Oregon. I won't say we need .10 per like bottles and cans but .05 per would keep them off the ground!

[Leonardo]

I used to shoot on what was public land. It was always a mess of a place. A shooting buddy and I always hauled a few trash bags off the property every time we went. I was approached one day after out cleanup, seem the land was owned by a kind old rancher. He greatly thanked us and invited us to hunt on his property anytime. I miss the Great Falls area