Interactive BLM Maps

[goldleviathan]

Popular informal shooting areas are usually trashed with all kinds of crap brought out there to use as targets and then left behind. I try not to add to the mess when I shoot there.

Mitch is right about this. If you use BLM lands please follow the rules and leave no trace.

The place I like to go is an enormous area in a remote part of the sierra foothills. I've never seen a single hiker or atv'er at all. In fact, I've never seen another car out there so that is not a problem. I have come across an area used for shooting that had a broken muffler, a 5 gallon gatorade cooler and various other debris that some red neck or gangsta wanna-be turned into swiss cheese. This, so far, has been very little and probably very quick to clean up by BLM crews.

Note to Calgunners: Mitch and MudCamper are talking about one small area that is designated as a park for Off-Highway Vehicles. The vast majority of BLM property throughout the west is open for target shooting and hunting (Yes, even in California). Just follow the rules and clean up after yourself.

Here is a repost to a link with an interactive map of BLM lands: http://www.geocommunicator.gov/blmMap/Map.jsp?MAP=LAND

[Hunt]

I simply wanted to know if anyone had the Google overlays clearly indicating the boundaries of BLM land. I'm not really concerned with anyone's personal opinions on using these territories or what some anecdotal example's rules are. That's a whole other subject. Why do a lot of people on this site try to be know-it-alls instead of simply answering the question asked?

welcome to forums there is always at least on guy that has to be snarky

[Dekker]

Woooo, thanks Leviathan I managed to find a spot 5 miles away from me. It means I don't have to drive 15 miles to the local range and pay the freaking 12 dollar fee. There are actually 2 places that are pretty close but the 2nd one will be more difficult to get there because the only EASY paths will force me to go through peoples properties, otherwise I'd have to actually hike through small mountains to get there. The first one is ridiculously easy and the dirt road is directly off a main street. Not wanting to take my 2WD into precarious terrain I basically walked the dirt path about 20 mins until I reached a pothole in the land.

http://img41.imageshack.us/i/mapid.png/

I didn't go to shoot but only went to see what's up and it was empty, but did come across a case here and there(ridiculously clean). I called the Field Office and asked them to see if I was cleared for target shooting and I had to basically tell them streets and they told me that zone is good to go! Bring a backpack with maybe 2 MRE's, some Gatorade bottles, snacks and some targets and I'll be good to go. No more magnet checks, no more freaking fees, no more "You can only use our targets"....I finally have a spot where I'm free to shoot as long as I keep it clean of course. I have a couple of Quaker Oats cardboard cylinders that I've been wanting to shoot at. Not many bushes or trees to mess with my line of fire(means no shade either), but I can take 2 pieces of lumber and stick em into the ground and put my target in between.

[tomd1584]

Woooo, thanks Leviathan I managed to find a spot 5 miles away from me. It means I don't have to drive 15 miles to the local range and pay the freaking 12 dollar fee. There are actually 2 places that are pretty close but the 2nd one will be more difficult to get there because the only EASY paths will force me to go through peoples properties, otherwise I'd have to actually hike through small mountains to get there. The first one is ridiculously easy and the dirt road is directly off a main street. Not wanting to take my 2WD into precarious terrain I basically walked the dirt path about 20 mins until I reached a pothole in the land.

http://img41.imageshack.us/i/mapid.png/

I didn't go to shoot but only went to see what's up and it was empty, but did come across a case here and there(ridiculously clean). I called the Field Office and asked them to see if I was cleared for target shooting and I had to basically tell them streets and they told me that zone is good to go! Bring a backpack with maybe 2 MRE's, some Gatorade bottles, snacks and some targets and I'll be good to go. No more magnet checks, no more freaking fees, no more "You can only use our targets"....I finally have a spot where I'm free to shoot as long as I keep it clean of course. I have a couple of Quaker Oats cardboard cylinders that I've been wanting to shoot at. Not many bushes or trees to mess with my line of fire(means no shade either), but I can take 2 pieces of lumber and stick em into the ground and put my target in between.

We should go shooting some time, i know exactly where that is!

[Dekker]

We should. I'm gonna just verify one more time to make sure I'm cleared to shoot. I work at a Medical Office and I call insurances a lot and you'd be surprised at the different kinds of information you get from different people, so I'm hesitant in taking ONE single persons word. I'll probably start off at only .22 until I feel comfortable shooting the bigger stuff, plus I only went today at around 3pm so I don't know how heavy the "traffic" will be during weekends and such.

[tomd1584]

We should. I'm gonna just verify one more time to make sure I'm cleared to shoot. I work at a Medical Office and I call insurances a lot and you'd be surprised at the different kinds of information you get from different people, so I'm hesitant in taking ONE single persons word. I'll probably start off at only .22 until I feel comfortable shooting the bigger stuff, plus I only went today at around 3pm so I don't know how heavy the "traffic" will be during weekends and such.

I completely agree. maybe i'll try calling tomorrow. judging by the BLM interactive map, it looks to be a pretty good size area though.

[Dekker]

Here is their information:
Bureau of Land Management
Ridgecrest Field Office
300 S. Richmond Rd.
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
Phone: (760) 384-5400

Since you know the area, you can just tell them the streets and they'll be able to locate it for you(person on the phone took some time trying to find it though) but I don't know what kind of system they have so here are the coordinates just in case that fails:

http://img10.imageshack.us/i/coordinates.png/

I wouldn't mind heading up there this weekend if we are cleared to go and you have the time. It looks as if we'll have no problems setting up targets at all ranges, including the infamous 1,000 yard.

[goldleviathan]

welcome to forums there is always at least on guy that has to be snarky

I don't know what's wrong with some people. Guess he didn't want to share public land.

Woooo, thanks Leviathan I managed to find a spot 5 miles away from me. It means I don't have to drive 15 miles to the local range and pay the freaking 12 dollar fee. )

Glad to hear it. Hope it works out good.

[tomd1584]

Here is their information:
Bureau of Land Management
Ridgecrest Field Office
300 S. Richmond Rd.
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
Phone: (760) 384-5400

Since you know the area, you can just tell them the streets and they'll be able to locate it for you(person on the phone took some time trying to find it though) but I don't know what kind of system they have so here are the coordinates just in case that fails:

http://img10.imageshack.us/i/coordinates.png/

I wouldn't mind heading up there this weekend if we are cleared to go and you have the time. It looks as if we'll have no problems setting up targets at all ranges, including the infamous 1,000 yard.

I'll call tomorrow. Should be free to shoot this weekend.

[ScottCoberly]

Thanks! Used that link to find a great shooting spot last weekend.

[evollep3]

good stuff !

[OHOD]

Nice discussion on BLM and shooting.
Thanks a bunch and very informative.

As noted by some....please leave no trace.
Last thing we need is this free and beautiful land taken away because of those that are irresponsible.

Have a nice day.
Thanks again.
By the way, did I say thanks?

[diginit]

Just because the land is BLM doesn't mean shooting is allowed. Check with the BLM office before unloading in a prohibited area! You may lose your guns permanately.

[nagorb]

Just because the land is BLM doesn't mean shooting is allowed. Check with the BLM office before unloading in a prohibited area! You may lose your guns permanately.

Thats what I was thinking but the op is a little touchy.

[ScottCoberly]

Thats what I was thinking but the op is a little touchy.

I read the entire thread. I don't think the OP was being touchy. It looks like some others were being a little snarky and/or antagonists. All the information about target shooting has been provided in this thread including the actual rules from the BLM itself. Why do we need more know-it-all types to chime in with their two cents and opinions when the facts have already been provided? It looks like a few of these posters just want to run their post count up. Maybe they think they get a medal for the most comments?

The guys causing the trouble in this thread just don't want to share public lands. They are afraid someone is going to stumble onto their "secret shooting spot". That's why they try to spread FUD about the subject hoping to scare away newbies. Probably the same group of A-holes that are hoarding Walmart ammo and trying to sell it on this site.