Pawnee National Grassland, CO

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daniel1113

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Calling all fellow Coloradans!

This past week, I moved back home to Greeley, Colorado. I was checking online for a good gun range for rifle, pistol, and shotgun shooting when I came across a thread by coloradokevin (How we lose our ranges (with pictures)) that reminded me of all the public land here in Colorado. Once such area is the Pawnee National Grassland, which is very close to me.

Unfortunately, I didn't get into shooting until after leaving CO for school, so I have no idea how the whole public grasslands thing works in regards to shooting. I did check out the Forest Service website, and understand that there are certain rules and regulations. But that aside, can I really just drive up to the area and start shooting?

If so, how does one even begin to select an area? Should I just hop in my car and go? This all just seems too good to be true.

EDIT: Oh, and YES, I will be cleaning up after myself.
 
I'm looking forward to replies as well since I now live in Denver and would gladly make the drive.

Welcome back to Colorado!

Take care,
DFW1911
 
Welcome back. I'm also in Denver and looking good places to shoot.

I did a google search and could not find much other than the National Forest Service rules and reports about damage to structures or how nice it is to shoot there.
 
Make sure you are not on private property. Do not take any vehicles off the marked roads. Do not litter. Be safe; be sure of your target, the backstop, and what is beyond it.

-z
 
I know the answer. I lived in Denver for 8 years and shot in Pawnee several times.

It's been 2 years since I've been there, so I've forgotten the roads but here are the basics.

It's protected Federal and/or state land. It's okay to shoot there. Make sure all your stuff is legal b/c it's not uncommon for a State ranger to patrol the areas. I've been interrupted on a couple occassions by a ranger that just came up, casually looked over my stuff, chit chatted for a moment, he reminded me to clean up my after myself, and then he went on to the next fellow. Make sure you pick up after yourself. Last I knew there was no fee.

Drive north on I25, get off before Ft. Collins heading east toward Ault. It's about 40 minutes from I25 going east to Pawnee. It's on the north side of the road, I believe county roads 66, 67, and 69 or something like that. There are a few dirt roads heading north just after a huge bend in the road. Just pull up a map to confirm. This is all from memory.

There are a handful of designated shooting spots with large banks for backstops. It will likely be crowded on weekends and holidays but I've never had a problem finding a place to shoot and never had a problem with other shooters.

Take plenty of water b/c you'll get thirsty. Take whatever targets you want. I would also take some steaks to pound in the ground. There's nothing really to lean targets against or staple targets to. You can take whatever you can envision that you want to shoot, just pick up after yourself. I've seen washers, TVs, mirrors, computers, cans, bottles, furniture, you name it.
 
Thanks for all the replies! It's great to be back. Unfortunately, I will only be here for 3 months, and then I'm off to my new job in Texas.

Anyway, I remember going up to the Pawnee Grassland when I was ~15 with a friend who taught me how to drive his Jeep, and I remember running into a group of gentlemen firing shotguns. Of course, back then I was still under the impression that guns were bad and only bad people owned guns, so I figured they were there illegally. I'm glad to see that it really is open to shooters. Hopefully it stays that way for years to come.
 
I would also take some steaks to pound in the ground.
Click to expand...

Normally, we just grill em here in Colorado. Not sure why you would pound a steak in the ground, but ok.

Now, If you want, I go up to the grasslands quite often. I can show you some of the places I shoot. I go up there and set up a couple targets, a table and a water jug and have a pleasant day of shooting.

While you are there, you WILL receive a visit from a ranger, a sheriff or someone else with a badge. Every time I go, one drops by to remind me to clean up. Actually had one officer try out my GSG-5.

Another gotcha... you will see signs that say "No parking beyond this sign" Do NOT park even 1 foot past that sign. Don't do it, you have been warned.
 
"Make sure you are not on private property. Do not take any vehicles off the marked roads. Do not litter. Be safe; be sure of your target, the backstop, and what is beyond it."

I parked two feet past the sign one time and got a nice little $50 ticket. The Ranger was really nice about it though and very polite. There were plenty of slob shooters up there though.
 
I'm planning on going up there soon now that the semester is over. I'm assuming that this is the only area anywhere near Denver that I'll be able to try out the .50 BMG upper I'm planning on buying at the end of the month.

I'll try to visit back here (or start a new thread) with a report on the land/area.
 
Daniel,

I actually have GPS coordinates to one of the places where I used to go on the grasslands.

If I ever track down my GPS I will be glad to send them to you.
 
Now, If you want, I go up to the grasslands quite often. I can show you some of the places I shoot. I go up there and set up a couple targets, a table and a water jug and have a pleasant day of shooting.
Click to expand...

I'd love to go if you don't mind hanging out with a novice. Just let me know. More than anything I want to spend some time shooting my newly acquired Winchester 1300, as I am new to shotguns in general.

I actually have GPS coordinates to one of the places where I used to go on the grasslands.
Click to expand...

If you ever find those coordinates, I'd love to have them. That is, of course, assuming my little FWD Acura TSX can make it to those locations. I can't do a whole lot of off-roading :D
 
The forest service will have maps of the grasslands. With the FS map and your odometer you can navigate pretty well using the marked township roads (can be confusing but do-able). There are some pretty spots up there amongst all the desolation, especially in the Springtime.
 
Welcome to THR FreuderLocks!

Take a 5-gal. bucket or some HD trash bags and make sure you leave with more junk than you brought.

I know it sucks to clean on your birthday, but it's the only way these places will stay open for us to use.
 
I would also take some steaks to pound in the ground. There's nothing really to lean targets against or staple targets to.
Click to expand...
I have a different solution, for paper targets, anyway. I take some cardboard boxes, knocked flat, and a roll of packing tape. At the range, I unfold the box and tape the bottom of it, tape my target(s) to it and carry it downrange. I can always find something to put in the box to keep it from blowing around. They last fine for one session, and you can leave it in the trash, or leave it on the range if someone else wants to use it.
 
Watch for rattlers in the summertime. I've seen one once. It was on the road so I took a long stick and pushed it off.

Don't kill them. They are vital to the environment.
 
Zak's photo looks like the place I go shooting, but it can't be the same because where I go, you can't drive out onto the National Grassland because it's marked prohibiting motor vehicles.
A lot of junk on the ground in that photo, just like where I shoot.
A lot of negligent people out there.
 
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