BLM: First Timer- Tumey Hills, CA

[doc66]

Admins: Please move thread if needed. I didnt know where to post.


Looking for advice. First timers going out to BLM for a fun day of shooting targets. We have made some steel targets to bring.

Going to Tumey Hills. Just called and the front desk said the road closures were just lifted a few days ago.

Any advice (on where to set up, what to look for, safety, etc) would be greatly appreciated.

[FNGGlock]

Did they lift the fire restrictions?

The usual safe backstop aka hill. Lots of places where you can shoot.

If you come in from the I 5 the first gate actually has a number of small canyons where you can shoot. Also a picnic bench and pit toilet.

Please clean up and don’t leave trash. We normally pack out a lot more than we bring in, aholes tend to leave a lot of trash, etc.

[car15]

Only been to Panoche Hills. Usually I spend 30 minutes to explore. It really depends on what kind of shooting your looking for. I'm happy LARPing 100 yards and in cause I can tape targets at will. Long range is most difficult for beginners cause the grassy terrain hides slash and there are no distance marks. Also I lower the psi on my truck. This is advice for Panoche. I'm heading out weekend after next and give a report.

[benjamin101677]

If Tumey hills is the one when you get off I5 at the McDonald?s and go west onto dirt roads than I have shot there a lot. That portion is open there all season. Is set up with one nice range area that you can shoot 75-100 yards into a nice back drop. There are a few other okay spots.

Just be careful I have bumped into some weird people out there and some idiots firing fully auto guns.

[igs]

some idiots firing fully auto guns.

Ok Mr ATF.

[car15]

BLM is probably the best place to shoot F/A if in legally possession.

[NapalmCheese]

The last time I was at Tumey Hills my buddy's truck got hit with a ricochet because people were just throwing their steel targets on the hill instead of hanging them.

When I went to investigate and talk to the people that seemed likely to have sent that ricochet our way I saw a group of people "training" across the street. They had obviously set up to shoot into the hillside, but for whatever reason their "training" required them to relocate without relocating their targets. As one man tactically responded to tactically engaging a tactical target requiring a tactical retrograde maneuver he managed to tactically shoot his target, tactically missing the berm, and tactically skipping his round over the road towards the people I was just talking to.

Once you can drive in my advice is to stay in front, guard your spot, don't let other people set up in front of you, or drive WAY back.

[L84CABO]

1) Cleanup after yourselves...not that you wouldn't. But this means EVERYTHING. Don't bring things to shoot like glass the breaks into a million pieces and there's no way you can get everything.

2) Grab some extra trash on your way out if you can

3) Bring shovel, rake, and fire extinguisher. Not just one or two but all three at a minimum. Bring more if you're going with a bigger group. And especially if you're going to be shooting steel.

4) Bring a quality first aid kit and know how to use it.

5) Pay attention to who else is in the area and at least one person should be armed at all times. It's always a crapshoot on who you will run into on BLM land.

6) Stay safe and have fun.

[broadside]

I have a favorite spot I won't share but when I go I keep my AR slung all the time with at least one loaded mag in it, even if shooting a pistol. I've run into a couple odd folks but most have been very cool folks.

If it has been raining at all, the road can be very difficult to pass, even in 4wd. Be prepared for that and if its drying out, expect it to be rough with ruts until the grade it again.

There are places with cattle so be careful where you are shooting. They will often walk into where you are shooting if you are outside the "day use area".

There is little cell coverage once you get a ways down the road.

There is only the only pit toilet in the day use area. No other facilities.

Bring a fire extinguisher and shovel. These are required items for target shooting per the BLM regs (at least they have been)

Hunting is allowed there, so be careful of folks sitting watching for coyotes.

Set any gates you go though the way you found them. There are miles of routes through lands leased to cattle ranchers.

Look at the BLM website maps to make sure that you are actually on BLM lands. The boundaries don't follow the roads and you cross private land several times.

[doc66]

Thanks for all the advice. And will take all of them into consideration as well. Will report out- going Sunday

[car15]

So how was it ?
I am planning a trip there Saturday.

[cz74]

Coming from Bay Area, I learned over the years rather than driving 2 hours one way into Tumey or Panoche, I prefer just spending a night in Morro Bay or SLO area and use the San Luis Sportsmen range, they have steel gongs out to 700 yards and the pistol side has action pistol style steel targets. I spend one day on the pistol side and next day on the rifle side. $20 all day. Beats having to deal with random sketchy people at BLM land out there without cell signals and emergency services.

[doc66]

we ended up on the last spot (small canyon). No one around us, but it was at the end. If you drive into, stay on left side and follow the road. You will end up where you cant go any further. We got there a little late. All spots were taken.

Felt safe because no one close to us. But anywhere that has lots of guns and strangers and hearing full auto etc. Can never be too relaxed- always have some kind of heightened alert status.