Firearm usage in national forest

[Friar_Tuck]

Near my place in Dorrington, there are 100's of miles of logging roads throughout the Stanislaus National Forest. For the last 30 years, I and my family members have enjoyed hunting and just plain practicing/plinking teaching my kids how to shoot out there in various locations. I've never had a problem, never even been approached by DFG. The problem is, I heard anecdotal reports of BATS (Bay Area Transplants- you can imagine the type) that have moved up there complaining about gunfire and generally causing trouble where none exists.. Basically, I just want to confirm that it's still OK to hunt (in season, w/tags) and to target shoot in/season and out in national forest land.

Thank god the housing bubble got rid of most of the BATS/Flatlanders who had no business buying first homes let alone second homes. Nevertheless, people like Ellen Degenerate and her ilk are causing alot of trouble with the outdoor recreation community; especially OHV'ers, hunters and ranchers.

[Breadfan]

It's typically ok to hunt and shoot in the national forest. However there are some areas where they are prohibited. I would call forest service headquarters to ask if the area you do shoot and hunt are allowed

[GrizzlyGuy]

Hunting and shooting is generally OK, but there are restrictions such as not shooting from or across a road, not shooting within 150 yards of a campsite or developed recreation site, etc. See this thread for more info.

[paul0660]

A lot of property adjoining roads that goes through NF land is private property.


A LOT. Every forest has a map available online to show this. Study carefully.

As far as the rest of your rant goes......you missed out, no need to diss the rest.

[Friar_Tuck]

I guess I wasnt clear, I'm well aware of general rules about safe firearms use, I was unsure if the information ("FUD" as you guys like to say) I was hearing from BATS about a blanket ban on firearms in Stanislaus National Forest and the Carson Iceberg... And as far as "missing out" I bought lots at $8,000 an acre, at the height of the fraud epidemic, they were selling for $250K. Suffice it to say, I have no mortgages... (But there are alotta empty cabins nowadays...) Nothing like in the cities, but the depression has totally eliminated the Carlton Sheets "no money down crowd" if ya know what i mean!



---Real estate, like bullets, does NOT go [I]up/I] forever! (thank gawd!)

[GrizzlyGuy]

I guess I wasnt clear, I'm well aware of general rules about safe firearms use, I was unsure if the information ("FUD" as you guys like to say) I was hearing from BATS about a blanket ban on firearms in Stanislaus National Forest and the Carson Iceberg... And as far as "missing out" I bought lots at $8,000 an acre, at the height of the fraud epidemic, they were selling for $250K. Suffice it to say, I have no mortgages... (But there are alotta empty cabins nowadays...) Nothing like in the cities, but the depression has totally eliminated the Carlton Sheets "no money down crowd" if ya know what i mean!

There could be forest orders in place restricting firearms in some parts of the forest, game refuges within the forest where county ordinances prohibit firearm discharge or possession, etc. See here and read down to the end of that thread.

IMHO, asking a ranger what the firearms rules and laws are is not a good idea as they are as likely (more likely?) to give you FUD as a LEO or gun store employee. I've experienced this first hand up here in Tahoe National Forest. The amount of BS and FUD I've been provided by rangers is amazing. You should instead do your own research and check for forest orders and local laws/restrictions yourself.