oregon places to shoot
- Thread starter ORchevy
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I'm not in Beaverton, but close...I really can't find anywhere close to go shooting in the woods no matter how hard I look. I usually head for the Tillamook state forest, deep, deep, into the woods through some nasty roads. You are legal to shoot anywhere (safely) within the boundries of several different state forests and BLM lands...but I don't think there is much closer than TSF to the Beaverton area. Mt. Hood National Forest is just about as far in a different direction, but burried in snow this time of year.
There are of course a lot of ranges, but I don't consider that any fun....
There are of course a lot of ranges, but I don't consider that any fun....
kd7nqb
Member
I live in Beaverton, If your looking for the woods to go shooting in then your going to end up going to either Tillamook State forest our our past estacada. I regular shoot out in Estacada, about 75min drive but its good open space. I have also gone shooting in an area close to where I hunt in the Tillamook forest but that area is not paved roads to my 2WD truck does not go there this time of year. If you want directions to either PM me.
You might consider the Tricounty gun club in sherwood. Little bit of a drive, but a first-class range(or so I've been told).
http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3720264840
There's also the Place to Shoot, in Portland.
Sorry, you don't have any convenient options in Beaverton, part of the reason I don't live there. Now, down here in Yamhill County, it's much easier to find a decent spot to bust some caps.
http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3720264840
There's also the Place to Shoot, in Portland.
Sorry, you don't have any convenient options in Beaverton, part of the reason I don't live there. Now, down here in Yamhill County, it's much easier to find a decent spot to bust some caps.
SuperFlyLoser
Member
Places to Shoot.
Try Browns Camp: Here
The weekends are busy, so I usually go on weekdays. There is a Rock Quarry out there that is a nice place to shoot, but like I said its busy on the weekends and I don't like shooting around a bunch of idiots.
Here is an OHV of the area: LINK
And here is a LINK that shows the Rock Quarry.
You need to stay on Saddle Mountain Rd. to get to the Rock Quarry. If you find yourself at the campground you went the wrong way. Good Luck.
Try Browns Camp: Here
The weekends are busy, so I usually go on weekdays. There is a Rock Quarry out there that is a nice place to shoot, but like I said its busy on the weekends and I don't like shooting around a bunch of idiots.
Here is an OHV of the area: LINK
And here is a LINK that shows the Rock Quarry.
You need to stay on Saddle Mountain Rd. to get to the Rock Quarry. If you find yourself at the campground you went the wrong way. Good Luck.
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If your in Beaverton, I think its only 60-90 minute drive to the coast. I lived on the Oregon coast for many years and you could shoot all over. I would think there would be many places in those backwoods off of Highway 26. Is that area National Forest?
OregonJohnny
Member
I've lived in and around Beaverton off and on throughout my entire 28 years. Born and raised!
As others have said, from any point within city limits of Beaverton, at a bare minimum, you have anywhere from a 45-90 minute drive in any direction to get to an acceptable "plinking" area. I say plinking, because you can find a multitude of traditional indoor and outdoor ranges much closer. Tri-county Gun Club in Sherwood is probably the largest, the closest to Beaverton, and the most varied (they have at least 5 or 6 different ranges not including skeet and trap). The Clackamas County Sheriff's facility has a small indoor range where you can rent different handguns, but you must buy their "healthy" ammo. You cannot bring your own. Lame. I haven't been to any other local indoor or outdoor ranges.
For plinking, the Tillamook State Forest is your closest option. Browns Camp is a good bet most of the year, but you share the forest with many ATV riders, dirt bikers, horseback riders, meth dealers, hunters, and other shooters. It can get a bit crowded. Across the highway is Storeyburn Road, my favorite spot. You have to drive a bit more than you do over at Browns Camp. But the deeper in you go, the worse the roads get (no problem if you have a good 4-wheel drive) and it starts getting confusing as to what parts of the forest are leased by Weyerhaeuser (a notoriously anti-gun company). I got chased out of there one sunny Friday afternoon by an angry elk hunter claiming "this is private property and there are 'no-target-shooting' signs EVERYWHERE! I called the Sheriff!" There wasn't a single sign anywhere along the road. I doubled checked on my way out. I didn't feel like calling his bluff so I packed up and left. I passed a sheriff's truck on the way out, but he didn't stop me.
Mt. Hood National Forest just outside of Estacada is in the other direction, and is a bit more of a drive. It's also inhabited by a slightly "rougher" crowd (my buddy helped pull some guys out of a pond up there last week, forgot his tow strap, and when he went back, passed the guys and asked if they'd seen it. They said no. It was not there when he got to the spot. Nice 'thank you'.)
Anyway, there are good plinking spots, but it's about a 2 hour round trip in any direction. If you don't mind the scenic drive, the gas money, the mud and rain, and most likely sharing the forest with nearby shooters and yahoos, it's not too bad.
As others have said, from any point within city limits of Beaverton, at a bare minimum, you have anywhere from a 45-90 minute drive in any direction to get to an acceptable "plinking" area. I say plinking, because you can find a multitude of traditional indoor and outdoor ranges much closer. Tri-county Gun Club in Sherwood is probably the largest, the closest to Beaverton, and the most varied (they have at least 5 or 6 different ranges not including skeet and trap). The Clackamas County Sheriff's facility has a small indoor range where you can rent different handguns, but you must buy their "healthy" ammo. You cannot bring your own. Lame. I haven't been to any other local indoor or outdoor ranges.
For plinking, the Tillamook State Forest is your closest option. Browns Camp is a good bet most of the year, but you share the forest with many ATV riders, dirt bikers, horseback riders, meth dealers, hunters, and other shooters. It can get a bit crowded. Across the highway is Storeyburn Road, my favorite spot. You have to drive a bit more than you do over at Browns Camp. But the deeper in you go, the worse the roads get (no problem if you have a good 4-wheel drive) and it starts getting confusing as to what parts of the forest are leased by Weyerhaeuser (a notoriously anti-gun company). I got chased out of there one sunny Friday afternoon by an angry elk hunter claiming "this is private property and there are 'no-target-shooting' signs EVERYWHERE! I called the Sheriff!" There wasn't a single sign anywhere along the road. I doubled checked on my way out. I didn't feel like calling his bluff so I packed up and left. I passed a sheriff's truck on the way out, but he didn't stop me.
Mt. Hood National Forest just outside of Estacada is in the other direction, and is a bit more of a drive. It's also inhabited by a slightly "rougher" crowd (my buddy helped pull some guys out of a pond up there last week, forgot his tow strap, and when he went back, passed the guys and asked if they'd seen it. They said no. It was not there when he got to the spot. Nice 'thank you'.)
Anyway, there are good plinking spots, but it's about a 2 hour round trip in any direction. If you don't mind the scenic drive, the gas money, the mud and rain, and most likely sharing the forest with nearby shooters and yahoos, it's not too bad.
Ugh! Whoever Mr. Wayerhouser is, I hope he died of a horrible disease! I end up in front of these gates quite often looking for a place, closed for absolutely positively no reason at all. On Weyerhouser land, the rule is, "no target shooting", however hunting is allowed. Alot of MORONS don't understand that these roads snake in an out of Wayerhouser, State Forest, and BLM lands without any kind of signage. If you DID shoot on Wayerhouser property (I have many times) the absolute worst that can happen is Wayerhouser security asking you to leave. You cannot be charged with any crime. Furthermore, there is no cell phone coverage in these areas so nobody can "call the police".
I too, have been told by a MORON that I needed to leave because I wasn't allowed to shoot there. He worked for some logging company, and had a key to the wayerhouser gates. Right when he told me I couldn't shoot, is when I had cocked my just loaded .44 Blackhawk. I then proceeded to fire all six rounds, making the man deaf, and then I flipped him off, because he can only understand sign language.
Furthermore, I was right, he was wrong, and I had a GPS and laptop full of maps to prove it. (I think he may also have crapped his pants )Anyway...as for getting onto these state lands - the FIRST thing you need is a map that shows the boundries of TSF. Not just any road map, but a clear "outdoorsman" kind of map you can find at sporting goods stores. Anywhere in there is legal, just drive out there and get lost, start shooting.
When you look at the map of the TSF boundries, you can see big squares cut out of it. These are mostly Wayerhouser property, so just avoid it. Here's one of your best bets: Take highway 8 or 26 from Beaverton and from there you end up on Highway 6. (aka Wilson River Highway) From there continue driving until you get past the Tillamook county line or are otherwise inside the boundries of the state forest. (Take a map!) From that highway, there are multiple gravel roads that go off in every direction. Lots of places deep in the woods to do whatever you want in pure privacy. Only one problem, this time of year it tends to be a little snowy, making some of the gravel roads impassible. Also be VERY careful driving these roads...I went out in that area last weekend and nearly fell in a ravine, the road had caved under but the thin layer of snow on top made it look like nothing was wrong. I was literally within an inch of dying.
If you see any signs from Wayerhouser, get the hell out of the area. It will only cause you greif. If you come across any locked gates with bullet holes in them.....I was there.
PS - how stupid are these unarmed loggers who think they can scare away somebody with two loaded Magnums?
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OregonJohnny
Member
"You cannot be charged with any crime. Furthermore, there is no cell phone coverage in these areas so nobody can "call the police". "
I know, you'd think that 5 miles into the Tillamook State Forest on logging roads would be "no-man's land" but I get full cell coverage everytime I'm up at that spot. And he did in fact call the sheriff when he heard me start shooting because up came the sheriff right after I packed up to leave.
You're right, a good map is crucial. At the spot where I usually shoot up at the end of Storey Burn Road, there are locked gates, which I never cross. I simply pull off the gravel state forest road and shoot for an hour. I've actually called the state forest office and talked to a woman regarding target shooting up there. I am perfectly within my rights and I'm doing everything legally. But between angry elk hunters, Weyerhaueser gates, patrolling sheriffs trucks, and random nonsensical "no tresspassing" signs, I always feel like I'm sneaking around up there.
I know, you'd think that 5 miles into the Tillamook State Forest on logging roads would be "no-man's land" but I get full cell coverage everytime I'm up at that spot. And he did in fact call the sheriff when he heard me start shooting because up came the sheriff right after I packed up to leave.
You're right, a good map is crucial. At the spot where I usually shoot up at the end of Storey Burn Road, there are locked gates, which I never cross. I simply pull off the gravel state forest road and shoot for an hour. I've actually called the state forest office and talked to a woman regarding target shooting up there. I am perfectly within my rights and I'm doing everything legally. But between angry elk hunters, Weyerhaueser gates, patrolling sheriffs trucks, and random nonsensical "no tresspassing" signs, I always feel like I'm sneaking around up there.
Yeah, you gotta be sure you are in the TSF, and then you're totally fine. But even if a cop came...he would agree with you if he could find the place...I mean, what is the elk hunter doing out there with a gun if you can't shoot and it's private property?
I usually end up more on the Trask mountain side through Yamhill, and I loose phone reception before I even hit gravel. That's why I like it up there.
(except for that time I had five flat tires...)fluffyporcupine
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I am also new to the Oregon area and stumbled upon this thread in a search for a shooting area. I have to say, that first off this site is awesome! Second, I followed Johny's advice and went along Storey Burn Road, it was about 45 minutes away pushing the gas pedal a little far, and was safe for my two wheel car. I quickly discovered two miles in that their was a spot to park and shoot at a mountain front. The area is clearly for shooting, with shells and targets everywhere, and best yet nobody bothered me.
One guy drove by and said hi, that was it! So yeah, check this place out. The best part is that you can climb up the mountain and place up targets, and I believe you can reach a range of maybe 50 yards without climbing over the mountain, so huge plus their.
Outside of this, the sheriffs range in Clackamas is your best bet. A new range is currently being built at Beavercreek arms, and will allow pistol and rifle shooting along with rentable guns of many types. But as Im sure many people are aware, this is one of the rudest and less knowledgable shops in the state. No offense against the proprietors, but they simply dont run a good shop that I feel like shooting at. And the rates start higher than any other range Ive ever visited. Although, as the only close option, its something to consider.
One guy drove by and said hi, that was it! So yeah, check this place out. The best part is that you can climb up the mountain and place up targets, and I believe you can reach a range of maybe 50 yards without climbing over the mountain, so huge plus their.
Outside of this, the sheriffs range in Clackamas is your best bet. A new range is currently being built at Beavercreek arms, and will allow pistol and rifle shooting along with rentable guns of many types. But as Im sure many people are aware, this is one of the rudest and less knowledgable shops in the state. No offense against the proprietors, but they simply dont run a good shop that I feel like shooting at. And the rates start higher than any other range Ive ever visited. Although, as the only close option, its something to consider.
fluffyporcupine
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MAybe late, but a good reply
I am also new to the Oregon area and stumbled upon this thread in a search for a shooting area. I have to say, that first off this site is awesome! Second, I followed Johny's advice and went along Storey Burn Road, it was about 45 minutes away pushing the gas pedal a little far, and was safe for my two wheel car. I quickly discovered two miles in that their was a spot to park and shoot at a mountain front. The area is clearly for shooting, with shells and targets everywhere, and best yet nobody bothered me.
One guy drove by and said hi, that was it! So yeah, check this place out. The best part is that you can climb up the mountain and place up targets, and I believe you can reach a range of maybe 50 yards without climbing over the mountain, so huge plus their.
Outside of this, the sheriffs range in Clackamas is your best bet. A new range is currently being built at Beavercreek arms, and will allow pistol and rifle shooting along with rentable guns of many types. But as Im sure many people are aware, this is one of the rudest and less knowledgable shops in the state. No offense against the proprietors, but they simply dont run a good shop that I feel like shooting at. And the rates start higher than any other range Ive ever visited. Although, as the only close option, its something to consider.
I am also new to the Oregon area and stumbled upon this thread in a search for a shooting area. I have to say, that first off this site is awesome! Second, I followed Johny's advice and went along Storey Burn Road, it was about 45 minutes away pushing the gas pedal a little far, and was safe for my two wheel car. I quickly discovered two miles in that their was a spot to park and shoot at a mountain front. The area is clearly for shooting, with shells and targets everywhere, and best yet nobody bothered me.
One guy drove by and said hi, that was it! So yeah, check this place out. The best part is that you can climb up the mountain and place up targets, and I believe you can reach a range of maybe 50 yards without climbing over the mountain, so huge plus their.
Outside of this, the sheriffs range in Clackamas is your best bet. A new range is currently being built at Beavercreek arms, and will allow pistol and rifle shooting along with rentable guns of many types. But as Im sure many people are aware, this is one of the rudest and less knowledgable shops in the state. No offense against the proprietors, but they simply dont run a good shop that I feel like shooting at. And the rates start higher than any other range Ive ever visited. Although, as the only close option, its something to consider.
Dnaltrop
Member
My wife got sick of my driving up past Zig Zag every time I wanted to shoot, (and housing is encroaching on my once pristine shooting sites)
http://www.johnsoncreekgunclub.com/ off of 82nd ave in deep SE portland on Lamphier.
It's buried in a residential neighborhood, (the houses were built around it afterward)
It's non-magnum handguns, Bring your own Ammo (no black powder) and .22 rifles (not .223) only, hand-crank target carriers and the lanes are only 50'.Targets are on the honor system for 25-60 cents each, as are earplugs and emergency eyewear. They just replaced the rails so each lane is at full function again, the air system works well.
Why do I accept such limitations on my shooting? It's KEYCARD access, 8 am -8pm, (you can stay till 9 or 10, just not get back in) there is no Range officer, just a series of cameras to catch habitual violators. I've not seen much, if any dumbassery. we tend to police ourselves well.
I don't need to rent guns... so for $150 I have a year of access on my terms (I'm well past the initiation fee) the only other fee they "require" is a current NRA membership.
Your membership fee allows you to have 2 "guests" with you (at no charge). I've not seen anyone violate this rule either. My old man keeps his membership current to allow us to bring 4 family/friends with us total.
There are ebbs and flows (the place is packed just before "lunch" hours and deserted other times. but I've not had to wait more than a few minutes to get a free lane even at peak times. I can even catch times when I'm the ONLY person there and turn the lights off, allowing me to shoot with my night sights and flashlight in the dark.
If you don't need to rent a gun(and all the other costs that go with it in those sorts of ranges) Give em a try/look. Simple, Sparse, clean.
Edit- Oh yes... Welcome to THR OrChevy and FluffyPorcupine
http://www.johnsoncreekgunclub.com/ off of 82nd ave in deep SE portland on Lamphier.
It's buried in a residential neighborhood, (the houses were built around it afterward)
It's non-magnum handguns, Bring your own Ammo (no black powder) and .22 rifles (not .223) only, hand-crank target carriers and the lanes are only 50'.Targets are on the honor system for 25-60 cents each, as are earplugs and emergency eyewear. They just replaced the rails so each lane is at full function again, the air system works well.
Why do I accept such limitations on my shooting? It's KEYCARD access, 8 am -8pm, (you can stay till 9 or 10, just not get back in) there is no Range officer, just a series of cameras to catch habitual violators. I've not seen much, if any dumbassery. we tend to police ourselves well.
I don't need to rent guns... so for $150 I have a year of access on my terms (I'm well past the initiation fee) the only other fee they "require" is a current NRA membership.
Your membership fee allows you to have 2 "guests" with you (at no charge). I've not seen anyone violate this rule either. My old man keeps his membership current to allow us to bring 4 family/friends with us total.
There are ebbs and flows (the place is packed just before "lunch" hours and deserted other times. but I've not had to wait more than a few minutes to get a free lane even at peak times. I can even catch times when I'm the ONLY person there and turn the lights off, allowing me to shoot with my night sights and flashlight in the dark.
If you don't need to rent a gun(and all the other costs that go with it in those sorts of ranges) Give em a try/look. Simple, Sparse, clean.
Edit- Oh yes... Welcome to THR OrChevy and FluffyPorcupine
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DoubleTapDrew
Member
http://www.cvsc.us/
That's in Yamhill county. Good folks, it's a private range (lock the gate behind you), several pistol pits and a 25/50/100yd rifle range. No hourly restrictions so you can shoot whenever you want (except for the 4th saturday of the month which is the IPSC matches).
That's in Yamhill county. Good folks, it's a private range (lock the gate behind you), several pistol pits and a 25/50/100yd rifle range. No hourly restrictions so you can shoot whenever you want (except for the 4th saturday of the month which is the IPSC matches).
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