Legal to shoot on BLM land?

[dscoduc]

While traveling across the desert from Nevada to California along the Old Spanish Trail there is a summit point that has a gravel road which climbs up to a lookout (35.883637, -116.059354). Sitting on this lookout point you can see both the East and West for many, many miles.

When we reached the top of the gravel road we noticed a BLM sign restricting further progress to horses and hikers. Looks like nice hiking along the base of the North to South mountain ridge-lines...

I was trying to determine if it would be legal to shoot from this lookout away from both the westbound and eastbound road. The target point would be directly to the North of the lookout against the base of the large mountain.

My understanding is that shooting on BLM land is legal as long as it is not crossing a road... Can anyone confirm this?

[NapalmCheese]

In general it's legal, though restrictions can be put in place for certain areas. Check the website for the area you plan to shoot in for the latest information.

[WartHog]

Check the website for the area you plan to shoot in for the latest information and call that particular office just to cover your arse...

[Crysknife1013]

Here is the BLM webpage: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/rec...n/hunting.html

[ckgarside]

Make sure all firearms you bring are on the People's Republic of California happy list (No standard capacity mags, AR's w/ mag release, etc.)

[dscoduc]

Thanks for the link and comments. I have submitted the question to the Barstow BLM contact and will post the response I receive back.

[CandG]

Keep in mind that a lot of BLM land is not legal to shoot on - not necessarily due to BLM banning of it, but rather because other state laws make it illegal (ie, BLM land in incorporated areas, near/across roads or waterways, too close to structure, etc etc.). Plus the lack of a safe backstop in many areas. Truth is, if you aren't in the middle of nowhere and you don't see a big pile of casings and broken targets on the ground, it's probably not legal to shoot there. There's a ton of BLM land all around me, but the closest legal shooting area I've found on one is an hour away.

[ar15robert]

Make sure all firearms you bring are on the People's Republic of California happy list (No standard capacity mags, AR's w/ mag release, etc.)

Unless you gotta RAW.

[RustyIron]

You look to be a little remote there, except for the close proximity to the paved road. I prefer not to shoot close to a paved road, or from a high point. Whether it's legal or not, it doesn't appear to be a prime location. How about that road to the south that leads to the talc mines? That doesn't look like it would get much traffic at all.

[dscoduc]

Whether it's legal or not, it doesn't appear to be a prime location.

I thought it was a great location even with the elevated position... I was on that overlook for about 30 minutes and I think I saw one car come through the pass. With the mountain to the North being a backstop it seemed like the perfect place to setup.