Panoche/Tumey hills open?

[Eljay]

I'd appreciate that, especially if you go Saturday.

[ReelReel]

Please Update ASAP

I know there are some who have been down there. Please take the time to save the reset of us a drive or to let us know that the drive is worth it.

Thanks to all

[Arcaporale]

It would appear that the gates are now open! The BLM website came back online today and the notice that used to appear there noting the fire restrictions is now gone!!

I will be there this weekend and will post back with my findings.

http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/hollister/recreation/tumey.print.html

[Eljay]

Excellent. This morning the site was up but still with the fire notice.

[TJCrawler]

I called the Hollister field office today and they said that Panoche is indeed open.

[Eljay]

I was at Tumey today. No drama. Pretty good crowd out there but no problems finding a safe spot. No sign of rangers, not that I've ever seen one out there.

[Nookieaki]

My buddy and I went there to test some custom .223 loads today, didn't see any BLM rangers but when we started to head out around noon we did see a white BLM truck just outside the Tunmmey Hills entrance scoping out shooters with his Binoculars. Waved hi and we were on our way, just a FYI dont go off the main road into Tumey Hills(my buddy got a ticket before fire season for parking his car beyond the main road).

[Eljay]

You definitely have to watch for signs around the day use area - there's a bunch of places you're not supposed to drive/park even though it seems like there's no obvious reason why, and from talking to rangers on the phone that's mostly the area they're concerned about.

If you drive the 5 miles along the main road to the second entrance you're still not supposed to go offroading but the road keeps splitting and it's easy to find some little corner where some road is near a hill/backstop.

[Halo714]

Went yesterday and it was awesome. I didn't see any signs of dumping and really no trash either. Weather was perfect all day. I will definitely be making another trip out there.

[Yogibear]

Hey with the new lead ammo ban that was passed in CA, is it now illegal to shoot 22lr at Panoche Hills, Griswold Hills, or other BLM area? True... most if not all shooters are not technically "hunting" with 22lr, only plinking and target shooting, BUT if you get caught "endangering the environment" with "harmful" lead... could you get that $500 fine on the spot? Any comments or thoughts on this will be welcome.

[Eljay]

No.

[three28is]

Hey with the new lead ammo ban that was passed in CA, is it now illegal to shoot 22lr at Panoche Hills, Griswold Hills, or other BLM area? True... most if not all shooters are not technically "hunting" with 22lr, only plinking and target shooting, BUT if you get caught "endangering the environment" with "harmful" lead... could you get that $500 fine on the spot? Any comments or thoughts on this will be welcome.

It isn't illegal to shoot lead while target shooting, which most people are doing out there in Panoche. There isn't any game out there to hunt anyway nor will you see any rangers. Just have fun and don't shoot across any roads.

[michael0594]

Went yesterday and it was awesome. I didn't see any signs of dumping and really no trash either. Weather was perfect all day. I will definitely be making another trip out there.

HI,

I live in San jose. How do I get to a safe spot and start shooting my handgun? I don't need to shoot long range, just 20-50 yards max.

[Eljay]

You drive around until you find an area that's not close to anybody else and where there's a good backstop (i.e. a hill). The area has lots of rolling hills so it's really easy. Don't shoot across a road, don't shoot within 150 yards of a structure. Pick up your trash including brass when you're done.

[michael0594]

I shoot metal casing, so picking up my casings is not an issue. Use a magnet with a long handle.