Pawnee grasslands CO

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Dravur

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Jan 26, 2006
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Longmont, CO
I want to run over to the Pawnee Grasslands and do some shooting tomorrow. Anyone know a good place to go, or want to go? I am in Longmont and have a pickup.

I jut want some place informal to go Plink and try out a couple new ARs I built.

CeeYA
 
I wish I'd seen this sooner I haven't been shooting for a while. I'm in Longmont too and used to be a member at the Weld County range but I'd go to Pawnee if I wanted to shoot over 200 yds. The only bad thing about it is there are quite a few slob shooters up there that trash the place up.

The last time I was there I got a $50 parking ticket for parking ONE FOOT past the "No Motorized Vehicle" sign, which I truly didn't see. The Ranger was a very nice guy though and very polite, which I guess you'd have to be writing tickets to heavily armed people.

Dan
 
The only bad thing about it is there are quite a few slob shooters up there that trash the place up.

[RANT]
Boy, ain't that the truth. Those freakin' morons have managed to shut down the Roosevelt NF area NW of Denver, and they're working hard on doing the same at the Grasslands. Every decent shooting spot out there is so littered with empty casings you can barely see the dirt. The illiterate jerks even shoot up old TVs and leave the carcasses behind. I wonder where these drooling jackasses will go once they've managed to shut down every public shooting venue in the state? :fire::cuss:
[/RANT]
 
[RANT]
Boy, ain't that the truth. Those freakin' morons have managed to shut down the Roosevelt NF area NW of Denver, and they're working hard on doing the same at the Grasslands. Every decent shooting spot out there is so littered with empty casings you can barely see the dirt. The illiterate jerks even shoot up old TVs and leave the carcasses behind. I wonder where these drooling jackasses will go once they've managed to shut down every public shooting venue in the state?
[/RANT]

Oh, Gawd, no!

Used to be my favorite shooting area, too. Haven't been up there in years, though.

Say it ain't so!
 
Every decent shooting spot out there is so littered with empty casings you can barely see the dirt.
Sounds like quite the windfall for a reloader or recycler!
 
I haven't been to the grasslands. Is there a specified place to go shoot, or do people just drive until they find a safe spot and shoot? In other words how do I get to the actual place to shoot (to prevent hours of driving around looking on my own).

I like picking up other peoples trash anyway, as it makes me feel like a better person then I probably am. I might have to drive down there sometime to check it out and pick up some trash. I never understood why people are so lazy when it comes to picking up after themselves...
 
When I go shooting, I bring more out than in. It hardly seems to help, though, there's just so much junk.
 
I haven't been to the grasslands. Is there a specified place to go shoot, or do people just drive until they find a safe spot and shoot? In other words how do I get to the actual place to shoot (to prevent hours of driving around looking on my own).

Well, I could tell ya, but then I'd hafta -well, you know the drill. :p :D

From CO 14, go North on WCR 61, then right on WCR 96. Spot is on the right kind of at the bottom of the hill.

Or from CO 14, go North on WCR 57, then left on WCR 96 about 1 1/2 Miles, on the left. You can't miss either one for all the brass and shotgun shells. This one is the better of the two for shooting (better backstop).

There are other spots, but those are the two I've been using. Unless you have 4wd - I don't - some spots are inaccessible at times due to mud. Best bet is to stop at a Forest Service office in Fort Collins or Greeley and pick up a map. It's easier to stay legal if you know for sure where you're at. There are a lot of spots on the map that show promise, I just haven't gotten to them yet. I'm sure others here can point to more.

Last time I was out there I was talking to a rancher who told me he's found bullet holes in his house.
 
Ok, I think I have found both of them through google maps. Thanks for the good directions. I probably will stop by the Forest Service office before heading out just to have a map handy.
 
[RANT]
Boy, ain't that the truth. Those freakin' morons have managed to shut down the Roosevelt NF area NW of Denver, and they're working hard on doing the same at the Grasslands. Every decent shooting spot out there is so littered with empty casings you can barely see the dirt. The illiterate jerks even shoot up old TVs and leave the carcasses behind. I wonder where these drooling jackasses will go once they've managed to shut down every public shooting venue in the state?
[/RANT]

This is something my honey and I had been discussing during our time at a public range we frequent thats up near masonville/stove prairie. We're trying to organize a cleanup of the place before it gets shut down, but have a few problems with getting this done.

#1 If we post a flyer/map at the Gun Shops in this area we could possibly attract even more folks who will just mess the place up more (and its pretty bad as it is, glass, computers, shells everywhere)

#2 I'm thinking we would need a truck to haul the stuff out of there, and possibly would need to offer some kind of enticement (free food/ammo/witty limericks)

#3 We really don't know anyone up here who shoots, so just getting together one weekend with friends is tough

I had thought about building a bench or two, and some target holders for the place, but judging from the behavior I see up there now I'm sure it would all be shot to heck in a week or two :mad:

Does anyone have any experience organizing something like this or suggestions on what to do ? I really like the place and sometimes have nightmares of driving up there to find its been closed down.
 
We've done cleanup days there in the past. Rally people via this board, CO-AR15.com, and get the word out to the local gun-shops (e.g. Jensen Arms) to post notices and/or have handouts.
 
Yeah I was thinking the same thing tonight as I was washing dishes. I thought it would be cool to get together and help pick up after the slobbish people. Anyway anyone who sets something like this up let me know and I would love to help if I am available. I just have a small car though, so I won't be able to pack a whole lot of stuff out. Still every little bit helps.
 
Well,

I went to the grasslands. I didnt shoot though. It was just nice on a windy day to stand alone on a prairie.

Felt peaceful and relaxing.

I also stopped at Jensen's..... I gotta ht the lottery.

I would help with a cleanup and I have a truck
 
I've got a pickup, bags, shovels and rakes. If you guys want to do a cleanup please let me know, I'm up for it anytime.

Dan
 
I stopped by and picked up the map of Pawnee today. It is a nice plastic map that looks like it might even be able to survive the chaos that is my car :p. I was going to head out there today and take a look around, but I didn't have my Front Range map with me and couldn't remember if CO 14 was Mulberry or Harmony... I took Harmony and ended up in Timmith (SP?). Then I decided to just start driving around to get myself use to the area so I then drove to Windsor and Greeley and headed back until I reached Co 14 again and then decided to just stop by Rocky Mountain Shooting Supply for the first time since I was finally on that side of town (I usually stay on the South West part). Nice store, I picked up some 12 gauge snap caps so I can finally safely practice loading and unloading my shotgun. Anyway it was fun, hopefully next time I actually make it out to the grasslands :D.

Oh and for a pick up, I will be busy every Saturday of this month. I am free all day Sundays though, and Tuesdays and Thursdays are usually free too (although I am sure those days won't work for all of you non-students).
 
I'd be up for a cleanup. Pawnee is a treasure, and we shooters need to take some ownership of it. Saturdays or Sundays are good, or if a couple of us want to run out there during the week I can make some room.
 
This weekend.

It looks like I am going up there this weekend. If anyone wants to go. I am planning on a shovel and a rake going with me. I am going to do some shooting and then do some cleanup.

Going up on 4/19
 
I might have to try to head up there when I get home.

Was anyone else aware that they shut down Left Hand Canyon?
 
I went out there yesterday (to the place on WCR 57, then left on WCR 96) and noticed that there were people in the old shooting place that is now trust land (can't shoot there anymore). It was a rancher and a team from the Weld County land trust program. They were out there picking up all the trash from left over from the shooters. I volunteered to help them pick it up, and worked with them for a couple of hours before I had to leave. They will be there until Thursday and have already filled up one good size dumpster (20' X 8' x 6') and there was still plenty left to be done. If anyone wants to help them out they would be happy to take volunteers, and they will be there from mid morning ish until five.

I know it isn't on land that we could use anymore, but I still figured that any help we shooters could offer them would help some with the ranchers willingness to see that we are trying to get something organized.

About getting something organized. What does everyone think about the weekend of May 10? I am open that Saturday pretty much all day. I know it is short notice, but I would like to get something done by then since after that I am going to be heading home to New Mexico for the summer and won't have another chance until the fall semester starts.
 
Dravur!!!! I just made a friend that has 75 acres outside of Brighton. I'm gonna be shooting there a lot instead of pawnee from now on. I'll ask him, but he seems to be OK with me bringing anyone I want out there at anytime.
Totally sweet opportunity!
 
I just realized that the 10th is the weekend for mothers day, so it is probably a bad weekend for a clean up :(.
 
OK, just thought I would hop on board. I haven't been shooting SINCE they shut down Left Hand Canyon, but I'd be all about shooting and cleaning up at these Pawnee Grasslands (more cleaning than shooting). I'm pretty new to the state/area, but I'd like to check this place out, and of course, meeting/shooting with any of you would be fun as well.

I'll check back in here later.
 
I work weekends, but am always happy to participate in weekday shoot-clean days!

Sadly, I'm running out of ideas for places to shoot. They keep getting shut down (same old story, we all know the drill).

Anyone want to drop me a line on some free public places in the Denver region (that is to include nearby mountains and plains)?

Since we recently lost Left hand, and parts of Pawnee (which is quite a drive from here anyway), I've ran out of areas to shoot! My friend tells me that he knows of a place near Lyons, but we've never found the time to go there together...
 
Anyone want to drop me a line on some free public places in the Denver region (that is to include nearby mountains and plains)?

X2. I'm getting tired of going to private ranges where people keep pointing their muzzles at me accidentally.
 
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