Panoche & Tumey Hills BLM questions???

[1Bravo]

Hey Guys,

So I've never been and not sure how it works. I would like to go out there and set up some targets from close to about 600yds.

Is there a designated or commonly used area for shooting? It looks like a huge area with many access points. I would hate to be shooting where people are recreating nearby.

Google earth coordinates welcome.

Cheers!

For anyone that's interested I imported the online BLM map into Google Earth overlaid the same area so you can zoom in and see details on the places and roads they have marked.

https://productforums.google.com/d/m...c/YiNlG--wQ94J

[NapalmCheese]

Last time I was there I just drove around until I found my buddies, hiked the area we were going to shoot in to verify the backstop and set up targets, and shot away.

So far as I know Panoche Hills really only has one main road.

[Nickgt40]

It's pretty much all open, but please be aware of what's around you.

There are trails that are off the main road that are often traveled. I've even been out there once where there was a long distance running race going on.

Make sure you don't park off the road very far, a single car's length is what is posted on the signs. I've personally seen Rangers hand out tickets for people who have parked too far off of the road/trail.


Are you planning to come from the West side or are you planing to take the 152 across to I-5 and head from the East side?

[1Bravo]

Originally Posted by Nickgt40

It's pretty much all open, but please be aware of what's around you.

There are trails that are off the main road that are often traveled. I've even been out there once where there was a long distance running race going on.

Make sure you don't park off the road very far, a single car's length is what is posted on the signs. I've personally seen Rangers hand out tickets for people who have parked too far off of the road/trail.


Are you planning to come from the West side or are you planing to take the 152 across to I-5 and head from the East side?

plan was to take 152 to I-5.

I'm really trying to avoid driving out there only to spend half the day trying to find a good spot.

[Nickgt40]

Well getting out to a place where you can shoot to 600 yards will be tough without a bit of exploring.

For the easiest location there is this turn off. There is a man gate on the west side where the obvious turn out is. You can also go through the open gate on the opposite side of the road and park just off the trail as well.

[1Bravo]

cool thanks! I have that marked as a possible access point.

Not sure if anyone uses Google Earth but I overlaid the online BLM map over the GE and published it. I'll stick a copy in the OP.

https://productforums.google.com/d/m...c/YiNlG--wQ94J

[xtcat9k]

Originally Posted by Nickgt40

Make sure you don't park off the road very far, a single car's length is what is posted on the signs. I've personally seen Rangers hand out tickets for people who have parked too far off of the road/trail.

I'm making my trip out there this weekend as well, but from what I've read, only the area that is part of the Wilderness Study Area has off road driving restrictions. Basically everything east of the main road.

[emtmark]

600 yards will be doable, if a ranger shows up figure him having been watching you for more than the last 30 minutes. If you don't see one they watched and saw nothing of interest.
There is zero cell coverage so plan accordingly.

[NapalmCheese]

Also, don't forget to 'warning mag dump' if a car approaches you while you're shooting. Wouldn't want you to get raped by the cartels that hang out on BLM land to steal people's guns.

[curbside16]

i want to take a trip out there sometime too. thanks for the info!

[Keith4him]

Yes be mindful of the runners, last time we went there was a race going on, no foreknowledge on our part. After spotting/glassing down range to determine target safety, we set up alongside other groups in a wallow, shooting for approx 1 hour, all of sudden see this lady come out from the direction of where our targets were set up waving a shirt.

Flabbergasted as to how she was back there, she was quite shook up and told us about this cross country race and how she and others have been avoiding flying bullets all day.

We were shaken up as well as how this could have turned out badly.

I think these running events need to post notices at all the entrances to the BLM land.

[xtcat9k]

Originally Posted by Keith4him

Flabbergasted as to how she was back there, she was quite shocked up and told us about this cross country race and how she and others have been avoiding flying bullets all day.

We were shaken up as well as to how this could have turned out badly.

I think these running events need to post notices at all the entrances to the BLM land.

Don't understand how you can continue racing if you are avoiding bullets. Seems a bad personal choice to make.

Yeah, definitely should be postings.

[emtmark]

Originally Posted by Keith4him

Yes be mindful of the runners, last time we went there was a race going on, no foreknowledge on our part. After spotting/glassing down range to determine target safety, we set up alongside other groups in a wallow, shooting for approx 1 hour, all of sudden see this lady come out from the direction of where our targets were set up waving a shirt.



Flabbergasted as to how she was back there, she was quite shocked up and told us about this cross country race and how she and others have been avoiding flying bullets all day.



We were shaken up as well as to how this could have turned out badly.



I think these running events need to post notices at all the entrances to the BLM land.

What!!!! Never heard if that before?! Was there a sign up at the entrance? Was this a running club or a sanctioned event? How could they not know? Holy crap!!

[Keith4him]

The crazy race/runners were literally all over the place, after she appeared a few more came out

[Keith4him]

No sign posted anywhere regarding the race, the lady we encountered showed us the map of the racers crisscrossing much of the BLM land parcel

[emtmark]

Was it orienteering?

[emtmark]

They do crazy crap like that.

Somebody had to put the stations up, and they didn't hear the shots?! I've never been out there I didn't here shooting going on. 7 days a week there's always somebody.

[Keith4him]

Originally Posted by emtmark

Was it orienteering?

Not sure.

[emtmark]

Light weight running gear with compasses in their hands on lanyards?

[1Bravo]

Originally Posted by NapalmCheese

Also, don't forget to 'warning mag dump' if a car approaches you while you're shooting. Wouldn't want you to get raped by the cartels that hang out on BLM land to steal people's guns.

Joking right?? Seriously I wouldn't want to go somewhere I need to constantly look over my shoulder.

and as far as the runners thing. That's crazy.

[NapalmCheese]

Originally Posted by 1Bravo

Joking right?? Seriously I wouldn't want to go somewhere I need to constantly look over my shoulder.

and as far as the runners thing. That's crazy.

Totes true bro. It's all BLM in Kali, cartels are everywhere protecting their pot and stealing guns brah. Don't go anywhere near BLM land without IBA, 200 rounds for your primary and 4 mags for your secondary broseph.

[1Bravo]

Originally Posted by NapalmCheese

Totes true bro. It's all BLM in Kali, cartels are everywhere protecting their pot and stealing guns brah. Don't go anywhere near BLM land without IBA, 200 rounds for your primary and 4 mags for your secondary broseph.

That would make for an interesting day. I'll be sure to bring a shovel just in case.

IBA?

Maybe I can just setup a perimeter of claymores and razor wire and a friend keeping watch from a nearby hill with a high powered rifle.

[emtmark]

I'm in :crazy eyes:

[EVGRambis]

Originally Posted by 1Bravo

Hey Guys,

So I've never been and not sure how it works. I would like to go out there and set up some targets from close to about 600yds.

Is there a designated or commonly used area for shooting? It looks like a huge area with many access points. I would hate to be shooting where people are recreating nearby.

Google earth coordinates welcome.

Cheers!

For anyone that's interested I imported the online BLM map into Google Earth overlaid the same area so you can zoom in and see details on the places and roads they have marked.

https://productforums.google.com/d/m...c/YiNlG--wQ94J

Did you go out there? How did it go? Would love to take a drive down but have never been. Is it safe to go solo?

[Eljay]

Going solo I'd be more concerned about medical emergencies or similar. No cell signal and it's easy to get your car stuck in the mud when wet.

In terms of two legged predators - I do keep a holstered pistol on me at all times, because why not, but there's no pot farms in Tumey or Panoche. It's too dry, crap soil, nothing grows there. It's not like you're up in Humbolt or something.

If you're not camping I'd just go to Tumey. There are two gates. The first one off the freeway is a more built up area with a bathroom and is more likely to be crowded. The second is maybe 5 miles down a dirt road, then you turn left into the park, and it's more open/spread out. Might take a little while to find a good spot to shoot.

A good spot to shoot is up against a hill, not too far from a road, but not right next to it either, that nobody's grabbed yet. Set up some targets and have at it. If you're doing long range rifle you'll need to not shoot over a road which makes it more complicated but you'll figure something out.

[1Bravo]

Haven't made it yet. Still looking forward to going though.

I personally wouldn't plan on going alone.

[krwada]

Panoche Hills, Griswold Hills & Tumey Hills

I have been there fairly recently, (October 2014). I can say this much for certain. If you like wild and desolate California, then these places are definitely for you.

I went and spent quite some time there in middle of October by myself. I eventually wound up at the New Idria mines in San Benito County. I may post here, in the OT forum, an account of my trip to that area.

If you want to go shooting, then I recommend the Tumey Hills BLM area near the Silver Creek access point. I went there and just near the entrance to the Silver Creek access point, there is a big hill that appears to be a backstop that many people use for dumping their .223, shotgun, .308 and of course .22LR.

I saw big piles... I mean scads of empty range brass and shotgun hulls there. The hill was pretty chewed up from all the folks shooting there too.

If you want to go shooting out to 600 yards, then you will need to take the New Idria road to the Griswold Hills region. I saw lots of Lapua .338 and .30-06 spent brass there.

I think most of the posters here may have never been to this region of California ... plenty of FUD going around. The place is way too dry to grow marijuana. It also appears too desolate to have any kind of clandestine chemistry stuff going on too. Anything out there would really stick out like a sore thumb. It would be really difficult to hide anything out there.

But ... that is just my opinion. I know that I will probably get flamed for saying stuff like this.

You really ought to go check out these areas. I really enjoyed my trip there.

[pardonmynoob]

I agree with you about the activity there and I'm sure the stories are to keep new traffic away. New people do suck sometimes.

Went in from the panoche side close to a month ago for a camp and shoot weekend with some family. Saw a lot of broken clays and heard sparse shooting along with what sounded like tannerite going off in the distance a few times. Saw a grand total of 2 vehicles in my weekend there that weren't in our group.

[WizeWizard]

Do you know what Panoche means in Spanish?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=panoche

[pardonmynoob]

Actually it's panocha... And the panocha was quite wet recently.

Edit: clicked the link, not sure what I was expecting.

[Mr.Cip]

Originally Posted by 1Bravo

That would make for an interesting day. I'll be sure to bring a shovel just in case.



IBA?



Maybe I can just setup a perimeter of claymores and razor wire and a friend keeping watch from a nearby hill with a high powered rifle.

Body Armor


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[WizeWizard]

Originally Posted by pardonmynoob

Actually it's panocha... And the panocha was quite wet recently.

Edit: clicked the link, not sure what I was expecting.

Touché.
It's both in East Los

[EVGRambis]

Thank you for the replies! I have some buddies that live in Hollister that go up to Tumey and Panoche regularly and offered to take me up there. Unfortunately my work schedule is not allowing me to sync up with their schedules so I am going to check it out.

They advised that going out solo isn't a problem so long as I keep my head on a swivel, practice safety and be respectful to others and the land.

I think when I go I will bring some 3mm garbage bags and tools so I can haul some garbage/debris out.

[Ziggy63]

Might look into Laguna Mountian that is BLM land. I was thinking about a journey down that way to see if there is some areas to run and gun and long range target shoot.

[NapalmCheese]

Originally Posted by Ziggy63

Might look into Laguna Mountian that is BLM land. I was thinking about a journey down that way to see if there is some areas to run and gun and long range target shoot.

IIRC it's pretty hilly without much room for long range shooting. I've been hunting there a couple of times but never really looked for a place to target shoot, though I've definitely not explored the entire area.

[Ziggy63]

I still might drive down one weekend, it's closer than driving to panocha

[Epaphroditus]

Originally Posted by emtmark

I'm in :crazy eyes:

It helps to know the secret pass code "dos tacos por favor" yelled in a lilting come hither voice.

[jackass506]

Anyone willing to take a new guy out to shoot on BLM?

[CodyGT46]

Can anybody chime in if a 2wd full size truck be able to make it around Tumey Hills without tearing off fenders and bumpers and such?

[Jel]

Originally Posted by Toyota4x4 Lover

Can anybody chime in if a 2wd full size truck be able to make it around Tumey Hills without tearing off fenders and bumpers and such?

Can't speak for Tumey as I've only been there once and only drove in about 1/4 mile before we setup and started shooting. In a full sized truck, I'm sure you would be fine if you took your time.

As for Panoche, almost any 2 wheeled car can make it as long as it is dry. When it's wet, even 4x4's will have issues if they wander off the main graded gravel roads. The soil is very clay-like and very slippery. To the point where your treads become instantly clogged and it's like driving on ice.

Was out there last Saturday. The weather was perfect. Sunny and very little wind. The Ranger drove past us with a wave and we had a great time. Saw maybe 4 other groups drive by and heard 2 others.

It was actually a lot cleaner than I've seen as well. Hopefully everyone going out there has finally gotten it and haul out more than they bring in.