Western Washington Public Lands

Have you tried https://www.waguns.org// ?

When we lived in Washington, there were a couple of gravel pits west of Olympia where we'd go shoot. Bit of a drive from Seattle, but they were decent spots.

I can't help you, Jammersix. That link provided by MistWolf has some fun information it though.

From Port Orchard and I have to drive over to Hood Canal around FS24 to find a place in the woods to shoot. When you do find a place, make sure you clean up after yourself. Mason county is all gated now, in part due to that sort of thing. Good luck on your search.

There is lots of public land to practice shooting at spread all over the state, searching for a new spot can be very time consuming and expensive, I typically find an access road to public land and spend the time scouting it out, you might find a rock pit, or you might not

when you do find a good place, clean up your mess, and keep it a secret, what happens when something gets posted online is usually not good, flooded with people and trash(lots and lots of place get over run and closed)

I've spent years looking for good places, I have been able to locate 1,000+ yard clearcuts that end in a hillside for long range practice

it is time consuming but when you stumble upon a good spot, cherish it

There used to be one east of Bellingham on the Mt Baker Hwy. past Mosquito Lake Rd. Can't remember exactly where. There's a few gravel pits on the Suiattle River Rd. north of Darrington (48.343297 -121.532638). Here's one near Lake Cavanaugh (48.345222 -122.058563. May be a locked gate there. I know some more but this is a public forum.

There's a big spot out in the Olympic National Forest, it's a huge gravel pile the NFS uses to fill the potholes in their roads. I think you can get 100 yards and about 30° of arc if you need it.

Several smaller spots along the way that are easier to get to, and tend to accumulate trash from dirtbag shooters.

Long drive or ferry ride from the Seattle side though.

I've found a few spots. I usually take a box of yard sized trash bags, a rake and a small utility trailer to haul out other peoples trash when I'm done shooting. Doesn't cost any more than the average range charges for lane fees. I've seen a few doing the same.

I know two common public spots in Capitol Forest. A gravel pit atop the C-line road out by black lake, and then another gravel pit down off the rocky candy mountain side. Don't know anything up by Seattle though.

Many states are struggling with what to do with target shooters on public lands. Used to be the only folks out there were hunters and target shooters. Nowadays, with off road bicycling, foraging, hiking, snowshoeing and other activities going on year round, there are conflicts of interest and safety, that never used to be. Areas that only a decade ago were open to target shooting are now closed because of safety concerns. Roads and trails are now barricaded or gated to limit access to areas once popular to target shooters. Some of this is related to shooter and their garbage and damage, but some of it has to do with ORVs and ATV/UTV travel, and illegal dumping of trash, building materials, tires and hazardous waste. Most DNRs/F&Gs agencies are trying to come up with solutions, and their rules and stances on target shooting change year to year. I suggest you contact your state/local authorities and ask whether or not what you are doing and where you are doing it are safe and legal. In the long run it may save you a lot of grief.

Here's a good link for Washington State.........https://www.dnr.wa.gov/targetshooting

And that link points right to where I listed with its two suggestions above Lake Cushman. Again, keep that region clean folks and watch your back stop. Trees are not a backstop.

Jammersix said:

Looking for shooting spots on public lands (not ranges) in Western Washington. I thought there used to be a list, but searching "where to shoot" only brings up ranges these days, and I'm looking for and old-fashioned honey hole.

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Where exactly in Western WA are you located? That would make giving you locations a little easier.

Jammersix said:

Looking for shooting spots on public lands (not ranges) in Western Washington. I thought there used to be a list, but searching "where to shoot" only brings up ranges these days, and I'm looking for and old-fashioned honey hole.

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Legal to shoot on National Forest land..
https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/know-before-you-go/shooting

https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/mbs/recreation/otheractivities/?recid=17520&actid=106

Olympic NF-360-956-2402

Mt Baker NF-360-856-5700 Ext 115

Jammersix said:

North Greenlake, in North Seattle.

The best spot I've seen was out northeast of Everett, a few miles off Highway 2. You followed these old roads until they were so narrow you were sure you were lost, then suddenly it opened up into a gravel pit. If it's still open, I'd like to find it again. I'm starting to think that most places have been closed for one reason or another, though.

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Ah, bummer. I’m quite familiar with areas up near the border but it has been many years since I have spent any time in the mountains off Hwy 2.