Shooting on Public Land
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to go over shooting on public land today. This type of shooting is incredibly popular and common in areas with public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. We are going to delve into the many variables and considerations to keep in mind when engaging in shooting on public land.
What Exactly is Public Land?
Put plainly, the term “public land” refers to federally managed land which is open to public use. Land of this type is generally managed by agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the National Park Service. Public land comes in many forms, ranging from wilderness to national wildlife refuges and national parks. Additionally, there are also many states with land and areas set aside for recreational uses like shooting.
Can You Shoot on Public Land?
The short and obvious answer is “yes,” you can shoot on public land. According to BLM, over 99% of the public land they manage is open to recreational shooting. In addition to undeveloped public land areas, there are also many public land shooting sites which are under the domain of BLM district branches. For example, there are four BLM Phoenix District recreational shooting sites near the Phoenix metro area in Arizona. These sites were developed by the BLM and fare well-maintained, featuring distinct lanes and steel targets at various ranges. Public land locations under BLM steward ship can be found via the agency’s website. Additionally, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, or NSSF, has an interactive map which can aid shooters in finding a suitable place to shoot.
Rules and Safety Practices to Consider
As with any types of shooting, there are many rules and safety practices to consider. Of course, the common and familiar universal firearms safety rules apply regardless of where shooting takes place. Additionally, there are specific rules one should keep in mind if they are shooting on public land.
Per the Bureau of Land Management’s Site:
“Target shooting is generally allowed on BLM-administered public lands, as long as it is done in a safe manner, without damaging natural resources or improvements on public lands. Across all BLM-administered lands, discharging or using firearms, weapons, or fireworks is not allowed on developed recreation sites and areas except at sites specifically designated for that purpose. Check with your local BLM office for any additional restrictions on shooting.”
- Never shoot from or over any road or highway.
- Always use a safe backdrop.
- Glass and exploding targets are prohibited in some states.
- Do not use plastic pellets, tracer rounds, exploding rounds, or steel-core rounds.
- Do not attach targets to plants or place targets against rocks, plants, or solid objects. It is illegal to deface or destroy trees, signs, outbuildings, or other objects on federal lands.
- Carry in your targets and carry out all litter, brass and shell casings. All targets, shell casings, debris and trash must be removed.
- Cross-country travel is not permitted outside of OHV Open Area boundaries, so please stay on designated routes
Be Wary of Fire Restrictions and Hazards
During the hot and dry parts of the year, many public lands restrict shooting and other recreational activities due to fire hazards. Shooters should particularly be aware of fire restrictions and the fact that some actions and equipment can potentially cause fires. This is especially true when considering steel targets and steel core projectiles which have the potential to spark and ricochet. This potential should always be kept in mind whether or not it is the dry season or not. Shooters can minimize this potential by placing steel targets on dirt or gravel rather than brush or grass.
Be Considerate of Others
When utilizing public land, one should be considerate of others they may encounter. You can never know who you will come across in public land or what they will be doing, meaning shooters must be wary. This goes beyond courtesy and kindness as one should be considerate of the enjoyment and safety of other public land enjoyers. Of course, one should ensure that they are not putting themselves or other shooters at risk during their shooting sessions.
As mentioned earlier, one should utilize a safe backstop and refrain from shooting across roads. This practice ensures the safety of motorists on main roads and obscured trails and areas as well. Shooters should be particularly wary of dirtbikes and ATVs as these vehicles can quickly pop up downrange or near the line of fire in many areas. One should keep an ear out for these motorized vehicles and be ready to stop shooting if a rider is near the shooting area. All in all, shooters should recognize that other people use these public lands as well and prepare accordingly.
Clean Up After Yourself
One of the most important things to do when engaging in outdoor recreation is to clean up after yourself. This is especially important for shooters as shell casings, ammo boxes, and targets litter shooting sites after range sessions. If left unattended, this waste can continue to grow and take over public shooting sites, making shooters look lazy, careless, and wasteful.
There have even been cases of certain shooting areas being closed down due to misuse and excessive waste. One can be part of the solution by picking up after themselves and sticking to the Boy Scout principle of “Leave No Trace.” By picking up after oneself, one can positively impact the reputation of shooters and practice good stewardship of the public land they enjoy.
No Range Fees
One of the biggest perks of public land shooting is that one will not need to pay range fees. In addition to the absence of range fees, one is often not subjected to time limits on their sessions. Of course, some states, regions, or localities may have restrictions on general shooting hours. Nonetheless, these restrictions do not apply to an individual’s overall range time. Additionally, public lands provide a degree of freedom that some ranges do not. For example, one will not need to worry about restrictions on rapid fire or holster work on public land.
While range fees are absent in public lands, unless you are at a maintained range on these public lands you will find yourself in austere conditions. This is to say that one is responsible for establishing their own firing line and supply their own targets. Additionally, one will need to get to the public land in the first place, a process which incurs time and gas. These are just some of the realities to keep in mind when considering going shooting on public land. None of these aspects undo the viability of shooting on public land by any means, they are just worth keeping in mind.
Conclusion
All in all, in principle, we are all public land owners. This is to say that we have a right to utilize these lands for a variety of recreational purposes. This right also comes with the responsibility of being a good steward and taking care of the land, ensuring it is clean and taken care of for future generations. Whether you are shooting on public land or at indoor ranges, we here at True Shot Ammo have a wide range of ammo for sale to help you get stocked up. Regardless of whether you are after pistol, rifle, shotgun, or rimfire ammo in individual or bulk ammo form, we have you covered. As always, happy shooting.
5 Responses
This is great article! It gives excellent information on public land target shooting. As an avid gun enthusiast myself, I’ve shot for many years in many areas here in Arizona.
Lately I’ve have put my guns aside and have grabbed a shovel, gloves and trash bags instead. Over the last couple of years the amount of trash left out is overwhelming. It’s also saddening to see many of our local landscape destroyed by people using them as targets. I’ve seen, saguaros, palo verdes, prickly pear, etc…even a wild horse shot and destroyed by irresponsible people.
Hope this article is read and practiced, if not more land will be restricted to this privilege we have.
How would I go about contacting the BLM entity for a range near Denver, CO. Thanks for this article. I received an AR-15 (.556) from my son last November. I haven’t shot it yet as long gun ranges are expensive. I’m a totally disabled (service connected) Vietnam Vet. And money for us, thanks to buck fiden and kick Farris, is really, really tight. Thanks for this article. Dr.Don Shearer, Jr., PhD, Lt.,USN, NFO
Hello Don,
Here is a link to the website for BLM’s Colorado entities. This site includes links to interactive maps and other good bits of information for the Colorado area.
Additionally, the site also includes contact information for each of the BLM Colorado offices.
Hope this helps and you can get out to shoot your new rifle!
Also, thank you for your service!
Tyler
The article indicated “National Shooting Sports Foundation, or NSSF, has an interactive map which can aid shooters in finding a suitable place to shoot” Google can’t find it, please post a link. Thanks.
Hello Bob,
Here is a direct link to that interactive NSSF map: https://www.nssf.org/shooting/where-to-shoot/
Hope this helps.
Tyler