San Diego BLM Range Guide (Map PDF Files, Resources, How to find your secret spot)

[Mr_posthumous]

Drove from Oceanside to orosco ridge shooting area today only to find it closed. Anyone have a location for camp pendleton Marines to go do some plinking? PM with details please! Thanks....

[CobraRed]

Here is a good aid to use as well
http://www.sdsheriff.net/documents/shooting_map.pdf

If anyone knows of a good 400+ yard area within an hour or so from SD proper shoot me a pm. Thanks!

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

The Geocommunicator interactive map that was mentioned in the OP (http://www.geocommunicator.gov/blmMap/Map.jsp?MAP=LAND) is also accessible directly within Google Earth, which I find much more pleasant to use.

There are two ways to get it working. Here are details for the (older) hard way: http://www.geocommunicator.gov/GeoCo...ith_Google.pdf

And the easy way is just to save this kmz and open it from within Google Earth: http://www.geocommunicator.gov/ARCGI...l/mapImage.kmz

The "Surface Management Agency" layer is what you want, although keep in mind that it's a general guideline, and it does include Wilderness and ACEC areas that are off-limits even though they're BLM.

[Sapper96]

We are going out to a blm spot in east county on august 12th and will be heading out of el cajon by 830 am. Please feel free to pm me if you want to go with us so we can show you how to get there.

We always do a clean up before and after we shoot which keeps the ranger happy with us.

we only ask that you let us know what calibers your bringing so we can get ammo and try it out. I will provide a caliber list to those going with us so that you can try out the calibers we shoot.

I usually take out some new people each time I go and I bring my kid so its a family day.

Feeel free to pm me

[Rorge Retson]

Originally Posted by Sapper96

We are going out to a blm spot in east county on august 12th and will be heading out of el cajon by 830 am. Please feel free to pm me if you want to go with us so we can show you how to get there.

We always do a clean up before and after we shoot which keeps the ranger happy with us.

we only ask that you let us know what calibers your bringing so we can get ammo and try it out. I will provide a caliber list to those going with us so that you can try out the calibers we shoot.

I usually take out some new people each time I go and I bring my kid so its a family day.

Feeel free to pm me

I've PMed you but did not receive a reply.

Are you sure your area is still open? There have been issues related to fires in the area and some areas have been closed down until summer is over.

[dlichterman]

I was out there today. There is NO SHOOTING ALLOWED because of fires that started from shooters. This is until the end of fire season, which CDF determines.

Edit: In the area right past the BP Checkpoint on the 94 and off Donahoe/Marron Valley. The ranger said out past Campo there are some areas but they might be closed too if people don't clean up.

[cfusionpm]

Tagging this thread to follow.

[VetteRacer]

If anyone has done the research on Valley Center area please PM me, then lets get together.
Matt

[bukuinc]

Originally Posted by CobraRed

Here is a good aid to use as well
http://www.sdsheriff.net/documents/shooting_map.pdf

If anyone knows of a good 400+ yard area within an hour or so from SD proper shoot me a pm. Thanks!

So the white area is ok to shoot? As in out in the otay area? Does anyone go out there? I would be interested in joining in with someone who shoots out there. More then willing to clean up the spot before and after I shoot.

[Ryan in SD]

Ive been looking for a spot realistically 1 hour from oceanside.

I went to a place in valley center that looked promising but didnt wind up shooting since theres a lot of preserves and expansive private property.

Im getting tired of looking.

Anyone want to share a spot with me? I can make it worth your while.

[Angry_Lobster]

Lot of good information in this thread. Anyone have any suggestions for someone looking for BLM shooting space within an hour/1.5 hours of central L.A.?

[bellts]

As for valley center there's is little (accessible) BLM land out here and most is private land or reservations. Your best bet is to make friends with a local (with sizable land and/or cool neighbors) or someone on the rez.

[runway1]

Took a lot of time - and thought - to do this for the benefit of so many others. Gracious THANK YOU!

[vindicare1988]

Hello all, I am new to the SD area and am looking for some good BLM area's to practice in. I have read the maps and am still trying to find some areas. I do not mind driving an hour or so out to find a spot (currently in SD). I am not looking to encroach into anyone's personal gold spot and am more than willing to do what I can to maintain the area. I just am trying to find a spot for practical defensive shooting. I am an active shooter and believe in leaving a place cleaner than when I found it. I am looking for people to shoot with out here, I go to ranges but there is only so much you can do at a range. (stand in the lane and shoot a paper target) not much for any real world scenario. PM me with any questions about my experience or if you are willing to open up and help a guy out. I can promise that when i'm around I clean up what I use.

[whipkiller]

Now that we've had a little rain, anybody know if the BLM shooting area closures due to fire danger have been lifted?

[SteveH2]

I live in Temecula just north of Escondido, i traveled up to Moreno Valley and went to the BLM office, Paid 4 each and received two maps that show you where you can and cannot shoot, the problem is the maps cut off the majority of Temecula and does not show any land south of the 79 south, I know there is A lot of land to shoot on out in the PALA area, I will post pictures of my maps that cover Orange county all the way out past palm springs, The Yellow areas of the map and for recreational shooting

[IMG][/IMG]

[Neff]

Originally Posted by Eat Dirt

Thanks for posting that ^^^^^^
I'm going to borrow it / If you don't mind

I've had to clean-up spots like that in Bee Canyon ( Hemet )

That's terrible, I've been wanting to go there considering it is the closest unregulated shooting location to murrieta that I know of.. Seems it's shut down now or maybe just until fire season is over.

[Eat Dirt]

Thanks for posting the map Steve

I found my spot !

[invisiblebattery]

El Cajon BLM map.

(The yellow areas are the BLM lands. You should be able to zoom in and read even the tiniest print if you open images in new tabs. I ordered this map recently, but it's marked 1997.... )


East:


West:


South:



(I've tried the smaller plots along the 94, but no luck... I'll be honest, I really, really hate this map and this entire "find a spot" bullsh*t. Doesn't it make sense to channel all of these shooters into a few *sanctioned* spots around the city, as opposed to sending them all over the damned place shooting up the countryside everywhere they can? If we had our own lands then a) the risk of starting a fire in a random hill anywhere in the countryside is drastically reduced. B) The folks that live around the BLM lands can live in peace. C) Less trash in the countryside that's left by shooters. D) Police and border patrol will finally get us out of their hair. Really all we need is some kind of caretaker to ensure that no one is doing stupid ****, like dumping or shooting a tree. /end rant.)

[scLowe]

I think I'm understanding how this works now, but can someone verify...?

If I overlay the Sheriff's shooter map [white] on the geo-map for BLM [yellow], I should find a place or three (Valley Center, Pala) that I can at least check out and see if it's accessible, etc, right?

[invisiblebattery]

Originally Posted by scLowe

I think I'm understanding how this works now, but can someone verify...?

If I overlay the Sheriff's shooter map [white] on the geo-map for BLM [yellow], I should find a place or three (Valley Center, Pala) that I can at least check out and see if it's accessible, etc, right?

From my understanding you can shoot at any of the yellow BLM lands unless otherwise stated (such as Table Mt).

[holasrmateo]

Not the right county, but where does Orange County say that you cannot target shoot in BLM land? Does anybody know the excuse why? How hard would it be to turn that over in an area where no one lives and there will be no development so long as the 241 isn't extended.

[opie4386]

Any word if the fire closures have been lifte by south bay rod and gun? How would i find out?

[The sarge]

New guy on the forum but I'm an active duty Marine that's looking for a place to take my kids to learn without all of the stress on them from a indoor range. I'd love to find a spot I could camp with my kids and shoot. I live on Pendleton and I'm willing to make a decent drive if its worth it. I have asked countless times about the pala area but I have never been able to get an answer that made me comfortable. The maps have me really interested in the Laguna Mtn area as its a beautiful place up there, but honestly I'm open to any place I could take my kids and teach them real outdoor skills and spend time without the damn tv and video games. I know spots are hard to come by but if someone is willing to share some info with me you won't be disappointed. I know how to police a range and being RSO trained by the military I am a pretty safe guy when it comes to weapons. Biggest thing I'd be shooting is an AR., but mostly 22lr with some pistol and shotgun. Thanks to anyone who can help me!

[The sarge]

New guy on the forum but I'm an active duty Marine that's looking for a place to take my kids to learn without all of the stress on them from a indoor range. I'd love to find a spot I could camp with my kids and shoot. I live on Pendleton and I'm willing to make a decent drive if its worth it. I have asked countless times about the pala area but I have never been able to get an answer that made me comfortable. The maps have me really interested in the Laguna Mtn area as its a beautiful place up there, but honestly I'm open to any place I could take my kids and teach them real outdoor skills and spend time without the damn tv and video games. I know spots are hard to come by but if someone is willing to share some info with me you won't be disappointed. I know how to police a range and being RSO trained by the military I am a pretty safe guy when it comes to weapons. Biggest thing I'd be shooting is an AR., but mostly 22lr with some pistol and shotgun. Thanks to anyone who can help me!

[Redyourdead]

Good info

[RailroadGunner]

save

[trg-s338]

tagged

[Gemini Effect]

Hello everyone and thank you for all who are contributing to this thread. I would like to go out to some BLM land and do some target shooting as I have a Youtube project. The few videos I have are tutorial/instructional regarding the AR15 platform (shooting at Angeles Shooting Ranges in Sylmar, CA) and I would like to change things up by doing a more fun, dyanamic shooting video.

I am in the process of purchasing 4 AR500 steel targets and stands from a vendor on Calguns and this is what I would utilize and you guys are free to use my targets and maybe you guys can also bring your ownto add more variety.

I am a responsible person, all my guns are legally owned, I'm a home owner and I have a 10 month-old baby boy. Just telling you guys these things to show that I'm not some reckless douche. I would bring my AR15 in 5.56,XD40 and Mossberg 500 (but I will only shoot birdshot). I have about 1600 rounds of ammo at home but will probably only fire about 100 rounds of 5.56 to conserve.

I would like to do the video soon before it starts getting too hot and before fire hazard season. Would anyone be willing to accompany me and join me?

P.S. You can see the few Youtube videos I have up by going here: http://www.youtube.com/user/BlueonGo...ow=grid&view=0

[sdsguy87]

Are there days that the BLM is off limits? I'm typically off in the middle of the week and I'd like to go.

[win9422]

Hello im looking for a spot In San diego county near Fallbrook to take my family shooting we have bin to bee canyon but thats a little far so we are looking for another free recreational shooting area Please PM me if you know of a good spot thanks

[Darkside Law]

Howdy All,

I'm new to the forum and was hoping that some of ya'll might be able to send me a PM with LEGAL, safe, decent and normally uncrowded areas to shoot (specific directions, GPS, whatever) outside of El Cajon, or at least East County in general. Just to date myself, the last time I shot out in the open was when Kitchen Creek was still open. I think it's been closed for some time, though. I'm a 25 year LE veteran and firearms instructor and was hoping to find somewhere to safely shoot some new black powder revolvers I just bought for CAS and to teach my wife about shooting and firearms safety. If you do let me in on some spots, I promise to leave it cleaner than I found it!

I know it's a risk telling anyone your spots without knowing who they are, and I appreciate that, but I would be grateful and won't let you down.

Much obliged,
Bill

[NulodPBall]

I don't have a spot but I do have some steel gongs that I still have to make stands for and find a place that will let me shoot them.

If anyone has a safe spot and wants someone to help setup and shoot steel drop me a PM.

[lemonademaker]

Headed out to the area SW of South Bay Rod and Gun tomorrow afternoon. Had luck several times before, a "Good" run in with the Border Patrol, who gave us some quick tips and said "have fun". It was nearly comical, though, because when we got done, some other chaps had pulled up behind our truck and were waiting for our hill to shoot at, just like a range lane. lol. They were nice enough tho

[damagecase84]

My name is Dan I live in ocean beach socal. I don't have a car but would love to shoot today preferably outdoors but indoors is ok. got a brick of .22lr a brand new 10/22 and a homemade stabilizer rod for my old-azz mini-14. lets try it out!

[antiseen]

Great resource! Looking through this wealth of information to hopefully find a spot to go out to in a few weeks. I'm in oceanside, but not too concerned with a little drive.

[Glock619]

Reviving an old thread.

When I use to ride highway 94, just south of the border patrol check point, I would see people walking back from the hills carrying rifles. Is it ok to hunt around there. I see it on map, but confused on orange. Which orange is blm?

[SoCal326]

Call the BLM office and get in touch with the ranger that police's that area. He will be glad to tell you all you need to know.

[Glock619]

Thank you.

[half_guard]

Originally Posted by wideLoad

I took 6 pics of each map, stitched them together in Photoshop -- then tried a bunch of ways to make it small and still detailed. Ugh.... WAY too much time involved.

Maps available:
* El Cajon Map
* El Centro Map
* Borrego Valley Map

I purchased these about 3 months ago, so they should be the latest available but who knows. The GEO communicator might be easier but if you're like me you want the info direct from the source.

Thank you for this resource (and this very informative thread as well), may I inquire as to where you purchased this map?