new guy...where to shoot in the desert

[dezerttim]

I normally go to the desert to ride, but I just purchased a savage .17hmr and a benelli nova. Ive heard that you can shoot off of the west side of the 15 at hodge road, I know very well the OHV riding is on the other side. From what ive been reading thats only ok for shotgun, not rifle or handgun. Friends of mine have also recently purchased shotguns and we were thinking of somwhere close (from orange county) we can drive to and try out our new shotguns.

Can I just pull off the 15 and find a place and start shooting? How is the road over there...can I get away with driving my car or should I take my truck?

[RCSnyder]

If you go a little farther past barstow and exit old highway 58 and head west there will be a dirt road to the right heading north before the drive-in. you can shoot rifles pistols and shotguns anywhere north of the old 58

[Coltlover]

Hodge rd is your best bet.I was there a couple weeks ago.shot my aks and ars .theres already a bunch of targets laid out. Car doors,tvs , you name it. Make sure u take a truck it's a bumpy ride.

[dezerttim]

still havent been out to hodge road. I went out with some friends from work and we went off of dillon rd way out to palm spring/indio. it was fun to finally put some rounds through my new firearms, the only problem is that everyone else had so many other guns that I know what my next 10 purchases are. I was hoping I would go out and just be ho hum and shoot, I didnt want to get hooked on another expensive hobby!

[Donny1]

I was there last weekend. You can just go about 1/8 to 1/4 mile in and shoot or you can go a bit farther to the hills to avoid most of the *****hats. You can make most of the trails in a car but a truck is preferred. Our 2WD 4runner is fine.

[5shot]

Here's the shooting map for San Berdoo County.

http://www.specialdistricts.org/2/FishandGame/docs/2010_cnty_shooting_areas_final.pdf

If you want to buy the paper copy of the map, PM me. I've got some I can mail out.