Sheriffs deputies and shooting on public land

jamesjames · Mar 3, 2019

My son an I went out into a clear cut in the county forest just outside of Coos Bay to set up an improvised range to practice 3-P small bore rifle for his 4H club. He was in full shooting coat regalia and doing kneeling position when the Sheriffs deputies rolled up.

They were patrolling logging roads and wanted to check us out. Son made his Anschutz rifle safe and grounded it so we could chat with the visitors. They had never seen a competition set up before, so after the formalities of asking us what we were doing and getting our names, they took an interest in the equipment and small bore 3-P.

They left after 5 minutes and we finished the practice round. As we set out for home, we rounded a corner on the logging road to find the deputies talking to another shooter who had set up his improvised range shooting across the logging road. Target on one side, pickup on the other.

We followed the deputies up out of the clear cut draw onto the highway, safely passing through the improvised bubba range.

There are right ways and wrong ways to do things. Please spread the word to not shoot across a roadway, no matter how remote or non-public you may think the road might be. It makes us look bad to the public. It’s dangerous. And it’s not legal.

Riomouse911 · Mar 3, 2019

I’ve seen that set up so many times I can’t count them all. Some folks are just oblivious to the dangers of what lies beyond their targets.

Or in this case what drives/walks/rides between them and their targets.

I spent 2018 Labor Day week just North of you in Waldport, that entire stretch of the Oregon Coast is one amazingly beautiful piece of America!

Stay safe!

bobinoregon · Mar 3, 2019

We shoot in an area out past the Winchester trails fairly often and some of the things you see make you wonder what people were thinking. There is a nice range just a couple miles down the highway but you can only shoot paper there so public land gets the people who aren't into that.

mingo · Mar 3, 2019

Here in Wi it is against the law to target shoot on public land...while hunting is allowed on most public land, the ability to set up targets doesn't even exist...just sayin

Sour Kraut · Mar 3, 2019

Good post! BTW....I hope you’re stocking up on ammo before the 20 round/month max purchase law goes into effect in Oregon......

Gohon · Mar 3, 2019

Sour Kraut said:
Good post! BTW....I hope you’re stocking up on ammo before the 20 round/month max purchase law goes into effect in Oregon......

That bill hasn't even come up for a vote according to what I've read. I don't think even Oregon is stupid enough to let a group of High School kids write their laws...but, one never knows do they.

MachIVshooter · Mar 3, 2019

jamesjames said:
another shooter who had set up his improvised range shooting across the logging road. Target on one side, pickup on the other.

That kind of nonsense, along with jerk wads shooting down trees and poking holes in out buildings, are why we keep losing public ranges and having further regulation of shooting on public land.

bobinoregon · Mar 3, 2019

The way things have changed here in the last five years nothing would surprise me. Luckily we still can shoot on public land and most of the sheriffs are pretty decent guys.

.308 Norma · Mar 3, 2019

Sour Kraut said:
Good post! BTW....I hope you’re stocking up on ammo before the 20 round/month max purchase law goes into effect in Oregon......

Seriously? It sounds like ammo dealers on the west side of Idaho are going to make a lot of money if that law goes into effect in Oregon.

bobinoregon · Mar 3, 2019

I haven't bought ammo in years so its wont effect my shooting habits, all you can do is vote. Unfortunately when Portland and Eugene voters crap their pants all the rest of us have to smell it

Sour Kraut · Mar 3, 2019

Gohon said:
That bill hasn't even come up for a vote according to what I've read. I don't think even Oregon is stupid enough to let a group of High School kids write their laws...but, one never knows do they.

True, but it’s a scary thought. I do believe, however, it could happen. I’ve got my fingers crossed for you.

Sour Kraut · Mar 3, 2019

bobinoregon said:
I haven't bought ammo in years so its wont effect my shooting habits, all you can do is vote. Unfortunately when Portland and Eugene voters crap their pants all the rest of us have to smell it

More to the proposed law than ammo purchase restrictions unfortunately.....

buck460XVR · Mar 4, 2019

mingo said:
Here in Wi it is against the law to target shoot on public land...while hunting is allowed on most public land, the ability to set up targets doesn't even exist...just sayin

Yep....and basically cause too many folks did so in a unsafe way and didn't clean up behind themselves. That, and the fact that Public lands are being used for much more these days than in the past. Used to be around here(west cetral Wisconsin) only time you saw folks on public land was durin' the hunting season. Now, foraging, hiking, snowshoeing, birdwatching, the monitoring of a variety of different species of animals year round with game cameras and numerous other outdoor activities, puts folks unsafely downrange unless there is a legitimate berm.

JONWILL · Mar 4, 2019

MachIVshooter said:
That kind of nonsense, along with jerk wads shooting down trees and poking holes in out buildings, are why we keep losing public ranges and having further regulation of shooting on public land.

My Dad gave me words of wisdom from his time on this earth. One of them was as follows, and I have seen it happen in person

"If you want to see a person do the dumbest most irresponsible thing possible give them a bottle of booze, a motorcycle or a gun, stand back and watch".

JSH1 · Mar 6, 2019

Gohon said:
That bill hasn't even come up for a vote according to what I've read. I don't think even Oregon is stupid enough to let a group of High School kids write their laws...but, one never knows do they.

No gun related bills have come up for a vote yet. Most have been read and then assigned to the Judiciary Committee. None have had a public hearing or been placed on the committee's agenda. (Agenda is published out to 15-March)

There are 15 gun related bills in the House and 14 in the Senate. I would say at most 1 will make it out of committee and to a vote. My bet is on HR 2251 which has the backing of the Governor. It would raise the age to own an assault rifle to 21 and required guns to be stored away from minors.

I do most of my shooting on public land. From the debris it is a popular place to shoot but I've never seen anyone else there. Each trip I pick up any brass and then fill a bag with used targets, steel casings, plastic hulls, and other trash.

RETG · Mar 6, 2019

Who managed the land? I know BLM and NFS have regulations against shooting across roads, water, from or into a campground and within x-number of feet of a building.I shoot all the time on Federal lands out here in ID and when I lived in UT. I would hope state owned land followed similar restrictions. Never noted if the deputies closed down the so-called bubba range.

Jack B. · Mar 6, 2019

Where I live if you don't own the land or have written permission from the land owner on the property you are shooting on , it is illegal. I was told buy an Orange County deputy back in the late 70's that it is armed trespassing and is a felony. You could be arrested, lose your firearm and anything else you have with you including your vehicle. Even if it's out in the middle of no where and you are being as safe as you can. If someone made a complaint you are going to jail.

jstert · Mar 6, 2019

as a kid in wmass a buddy and i would borrow his older brother’s ruger mk1, pay him for a box or two of ammo and go off to pop pine cones into the steep bank of a forest stream bed. we learned to shoot at boy scout camp and the nra club, and had safety rules drilled into us by instructors who were no-nonsense ww2 veterans. nobody bothered us and we bothered nobody. a golden age now lost to history...

Officers'Wife · Mar 6, 2019

jstert said:
as a kid in wmass a buddy and i would borrow his older brother’s ruger mk1, pay him for a box or two of ammo and go off to pop pine cones into the steep bank of a forest stream bed. we learned to shoot at boy scout camp and the nra club, and had safety rules drilled into us by instructors who were no-nonsense ww2 veterans. nobody bothered us and we bothered nobody. a golden age now lost to history...

Not lost, just sleeping.

JSH1 · Mar 6, 2019

Jack B. said:
Where I live if you don't own the land or have written permission from the land owner on the property you are shooting on , it is illegal. I was told buy an Orange County deputy back in the late 70's that it is armed trespassing and is a felony. You could be arrested, lose your firearm and anything else you have with you including your vehicle. Even if it's out in the middle of no where and you are being as safe as you can. If someone made a complaint you are going to jail.

On private land I agree. Public land is a different story. We the people own public land. In Oregon there are posted rules for shooting on State and Federally owned land. Stay within the rules and nobody is going to bother you.

The public used to be able to use privately held timber land too, but now most timber companies have gates and sell access. I don't blame them with all the trash I see.

Paul7 · Mar 6, 2019

mingo said:
Here in Wi it is against the law to target shoot on public land...while hunting is allowed on most public land, the ability to set up targets doesn't even exist...just sayin

I used to live in IL and I believe it was the same thing, crazy. Glad to be living in NM, half the state is National Forest or BLM and open to shooting.

Jack B. · Mar 6, 2019

There is no public land to target shoot on anywhere near me. You can get permits to hunt during hunting season but they watch you close.

JohnB-40 · Mar 6, 2019

I live near Coos Bay. We have problems on the property with people who don't understand what a no trespassing sign means. We have on many occasions had to tell them to leave. Some start to get argumentative.They always say they are just heading to the near by clear cut for some target shooting which they have a right to do it. I agree...You just can't cross private posted land to access it.

buck460XVR · Mar 7, 2019

You can't fix stupid, on public or private property. I have my own range set up on my son's property. 3 sets of steel gongs @ 75, 125 and 200 yards. Have an electric clay pigeon thrower in the shed. Have a wooden deck with a roof over it for shade and protection from the sun. Always amazed at the amount of empty cases and shotgun hulls we find there that are not ours. It's very safe, with some of the highest bluffs in the county, still we ask neighbors and friends to refrain from shooting there unless we are there or they ask permission first. Have stopped by to find folks we don't even know shooting there and they all claim the same thing...."we really sorry, but we have no other place to shoot!". I drive by other properties all the time and see targets set up in places that make me shudder knowing where the bullets are going.

entropy · Mar 7, 2019

JONWILL said:
My Dad gave me words of wisdom from his time on this earth. One of them was as follows, and I have seen it happen in person

"If you want to see a person do the dumbest most irresponsible thing possible give them a bottle of booze, a motorcycle or a gun, stand back and watch".

I used to resemble that remark; I once dumped a bike while drunk, with a shotgun strapped to it; Amazingly, the only thing hurt was the mirror and footpeg on the left side. I was headed to a bar, following my buddies' car, after a Trap league night.

As for shooting on public land, I live in WI, which others have already mentioned, no target shooting.

I grew up in MN, and used to do it all the time when the small game hunting wasn't working out.

Sheriffs deputies and shooting on public land

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Similar threads