5/21/21 - Cow Mountain Shooting Range Closure

[WartHog]

The BLM closed down the Cow Mountain Rifle Range last Friday 5/21/21 due to Fire Danger until further notice. The closure will last until the area receives significant rainfall which probably wont occur until September/October or maybe even later.

FYI - the Rifle Range is the only place BLM allows shooting in the entire North and South Cow Mountain Recreation Area. If you get caught shooting anywhere other than the Range, you will likely be ticketed, have to appear in Court, and pay Fines.

[WartHog]

Drove up to see if there was any brass to pick up from people ignoring the fire danger closure. Found that BLM had put up a gate and locked it at the bottom of the road leading to the range so I guess people had been anyway.

[WartHog]

UKIAH, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office has lifted fire use restrictions for Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties, due to cooler temperatures.

Public land visitors can again use campfires outside of developed campgrounds and posted recreation sites. Campfire permits are required. Permits are available at the BLM Ukiah Field Office, 2550 N. State Street, Suite 2, Ukiah, and at national forest and CAL FIRE offices. They are also available online at http://www.preventwildfireca.org/Campfire-Permit.

Recreational target shooting may also resume and visitors are encouraged to check weather conditions and red flag warnings to avoid shooting in hot, dry and windy conditions. Shooters should use appropriate ammunition and non-metal targets placed against a high, soft dirt hillside cleared of rocks and vegetation, and they are asked to remove spent shells, targets and any trigger trash to help keep America’s public lands beautiful and enjoyable for all. Check with the Ukiah Field Office for more information about public lands that are available for target shooting.

For information on preventing wildfires, visit http://www.readyforwildfire.org or call the Ukiah Field Office at 707-468-4000.

[CrowToad]

Thanks for the update. Hoping to make it up there soon

[WartHog]

Was just up there yesterday - pretty trashed as usual. After shooting for a few hours, picked up almost a 5gal bucket of brass and a couple of contractor bags of uncaring ahole's garbage.

[Odd_Ball]

How is the tree cover at the shooting area now (after all the fires)?

I haven't been up there in 3 or 4 years, but I liked that it was pretty shaded.

[WartHog]

Originally Posted by Odd_Ball

How is the tree cover at the shooting area now (after all the fires)?

I haven't been up there in 3 or 4 years, but I liked that it was pretty shaded.

None of the recent big fires reached the range.

[Spyder]

I haven't been up there in a couple years. I probably should make a drive and check it out, just for the heck of it. Lever guns need some lovin'!

[Odd_Ball]

Originally Posted by WartHog

None of the recent big fires reached the range.

Nice, thanks.

Actually, now that I think about it, I was mistaking Cow Mountain for the Boggs Mountain State Forest designated shooting range outside of Cobb (south of Clear Lake). My bad.

The Boggs Mountain shooting area is the one I've been to and I believe is still closed (regardless of current fire danger).

Edit: looking at Google maps right now, the whole Boggs Mountain State Forest looks burned out almost completely.

[WartHog]

Just called the Boggs Mountain State Forest office and the recorded message confirms no target shooting is currently allowed.

[bohoki]

Originally Posted by Odd_Ball

How is the tree cover at the shooting area now (after all the fires)?

I haven't been up there in 3 or 4 years, but I liked that it was pretty shaded.

a year or so ago someone shot the cow mountain shade trees up into splinters and they were dangerous so they have been removed

[audipwr1]

Is this back open by any chance?

[WartHog]

Originally Posted by audipwr1

Is this back open by any chance?

BLM has closed many of its designated recreation areas due to the Covid-19 crisis. According to the information on their website, North Cow Mountain is closed. I have not driven up there to confirm but would expect the access gate off Mill Creek Road is closed/locked.

https://www.blm.gov/visit/search-details/10004719/2

[WartHog]

Just learned today from another CG'er who drove up to Cow Mtn to shoot at the range that the gate is locked off and no shooting due to fire danger. Probably will remain shutdown until Octoberish again.

[WartHog]

Called the BLM Ukiah Field Office this afternoon and was told that they reopened the North Cow Mountain Shooting Range.

[muffintime]

Has anyone been up there/called lately? Been wanting to go up Cow for a while.

[WartHog]

FYI - the Shooting Range was closed last Friday 5/21/21 due to Fire Danger. See post start of thread for details.

[Ringo707]

How is the terrain to get to the range? Do you need a SUV 4x4 or can a little old Honda Civic make it with no trouble?

[operavoice]

They had graded it just before the shutdown, so a 2wd would have little to worry about.
That being said, you still need a vehicle with a high ground clearance, as there are depressions that would kill a car's exhaust.

[WartHog]

I would think the low front clip/bumper on a Civic would get damaged attempting to get up there.