Free places to shoot in California?

[Black Majik]

Shawn that looks like so much fun!

 

[Kevlarman]

You know I passed by a group of 50 shooters a few months ago in Rosamond.
I wonder if that was them.

 

[aguyindallas]

Call Craig Kastl at Condor Guns in Desert Hot Springs. He is out kinda west of town and when I lived in the area, we used to go about 3 miles north of him to a canyon. We would drive about 1/4 mile into the canyon and just open it up.

Good times, and he is good people

Condor Gun Shop
Craig Kastl
64895 Pearson (or Pierson) Blvd
Desert Hot Springs, Ca 92240
760-329-6608

Tell him Steve from Texas sent ya...he will get a chuckle.

 

[demo40]

where to shoot in northern ca ?

can anyone shed any light in the areas of the central valley , I finally have some time and dont really know where to go now days , mostly small cal rifle , large cal pistol and once and awhile the beast (50 bmg ) I would be happier outside than inside a range . any ideas would be appreciated .

 

[50 Shooter]

Hey Kevlarman,
Was it last Oct.?

Black Majik,
What ya doin' in May?

 

[thorn726]

national forest

the nationa lforest websites give pretty good info, as others have said, one of the best options. its pretty simple. national forest, 150 yards (feet? look on the site for clarification) from any road, water , structure. shoot away from road,
conventional targets only. i think that means no glass bottles. it does not specify paper targets though.

otherwise rules vary county to city... since any county under 200 000 allows open carry, those counties also allow shooting generally anywhere that falls witihn the distance guidelines.

 

[Kevlarman]

Hey Kevlarman,
Was it last Oct.?

It could've been; I don't recall exactly.
I just know that it was a bit more north than where most of the people go shooting. One time I saw a whole troop of Boy Scouts practicing with .22s.

 

[50 Shooter]

Ooops, just read it again. Nah, it wasn't us, haven't shot over by Rosamond in a long time. Did go shooting out there before when Mauserlady use to live out here in Lancaster.

 

[Creeping Incrementalism]

What I heard is that you can't shoot on the MWD land (aqueduct). However, I read the county ordiance (someone posted a link on CalGuns.net) and I didn't see any language excluding it, because it is publicly owned land, and there are no signs saying "no shooting", nor anything on their website, and an inquiry I made to them was not returned. So these is nothing written down saying you can't shoot there. However, some deputies believe the public isn't allowed to shoot there. So you might get hassled anyway.

So you have gone shooting on the BLM land around the 1000 Palms area? I checked and the preserve is not BLM land, but the land surrounding it is. From the BLM map I have, and from the times I've driven down the paved road, it seemed rather ifffy--I'd rather head someplace more remote, because I don't want to be hassled by law enforcement even if I'm 100% legal.

What happened when the ranger "shook you down"?

Yes, I have been told by one BLM ranger that there are BLM lands in the Palm Springs area that are off limits. I believe that they are neat the utility yards. You can shoot on top of the aqueduct, for example, but not near the nature preserve. I go out to 1000 Palms Canyon a lot. I will probably be out there this weekend. Maybe I will get shaken down by a ranger, again. Ugh...
Mauserguy

 

[Creeping Incrementalism]

can anyone shed any light in the areas of the central valley , I finally have some time and dont really know where to go now days , mostly small cal rifle , large cal pistol and once and awhile the beast (50 bmg ) I would be happier outside than inside a range . any ideas would be appreciated .

The Central Valley is pretty much a big basin surrounded by mountains, most of which is National Forest land. So just pick the closest Nat'l Forest, right?

Also, you can't shoot in Forest "Wilderness Areas",

Remember, while you can not target shoot in National Forest Wilderness Areas, you CAN discharge a firearm to legally take game animals. It is legal to hunt, but no random shooting

You may be right. Since I don't hunt but do target shoot, I just remember them as being off-limits to me.

 

[Bwana John]

What I heard is that you can't shoot on the MWD land (aqueduct).

I used to hunt ducks and geese all the time on the upper part of the LADWP aquaduct in the Owens Valley, and I think you still can, but its been a while and things change.

 

[campbellcj]

Eep.
Rosamond is a lot closer than Ridgecrest.

I'm in Rosamond fairly often (Willow Springs race track; my other hobby). Where exactly is the shooting area near there?

I've heard of it, but as of yet have not tried to find it. I'm getting a little tired of the local small indoor range routine and also have (and hopefully will soon have more) firearms that cannot be reasonably exercised indoors.

 

[Kevlarman]

Allow me to post an image, courtesy of Google Maps:

The stars on the map are where the majority of the people shoot. There are big hills to the west of these locations, providing the perfect backstop.

 

[campbellcj]

Allow me to post an image, courtesy of Google Maps:

The stars on the map are where the majority of the people shoot. There are big hills to the west of these locations, providing the perfect backstop.

Awesome, thanks!

 

[Combat-wombat]

Although it's a bit out of your range, I think I'll post this for other readers... I enjoy shooting in the Carrizo Plain/California Valley area. It's sort of in central CA, a bit east of Bakersfield. While you can't shoot in the actual national monument portion of it, there is a vast expanse of land with large hill ranges on either side. There's hardly anyone there, but it's an extremely beautiful landscape, especially in spring.