I'm trying to figure out if there is anywhere I can go shooting for free. I'd like to be able to find something where I could get a couple of hundred yards of space, and the ability to just shoot out in the middle of nowhere. Is this legal in State parks/ State land. Would having a hunting permit matter if I am just shooting at targets I bring? (I have one, but my friends don't)
Places to go plinking in TX?
- Thread starter Scottmkiv
- Start date
- Status
M2 Carbine
member
It's hard (impossible) to find a place to shoot unless someone lets you shoot on their place.
I don't know about the ranges around Dallas but the Weatherford Gun Cub has a nice 300 yard range near Poolville.
Membership is very reasonable at $50 a year.
I don't know about the ranges around Dallas but the Weatherford Gun Cub has a nice 300 yard range near Poolville.
Membership is very reasonable at $50 a year.
I think Sam Houston State Park in Huntsville used to have a shooting area. Don't know if that's still the case. Ft. Hood in Killeen let's people shoot for free at their range but someone said that it's been pretty crowded there lately with replacements doing their pistol qualification to go to Iraq.
brad cook
brad cook
Greybeard
Member
POSSIBLY LBJ National Grasslands range area NW of Decatur. I've seen on their map a location of shooting range, but seem to recall they may have had some problems with rifle shooters and it may now be shotgun only. The office for all of those properties (to get map $5 or $10?) is on east side of Hwy 287, just north of Decatur.
Target shooting typically not legal on lands via $48 Public Hunting permit.
Target shooting typically not legal on lands via $48 Public Hunting permit.
Texasbagman
Member
Any National Forest are OK to shoot in. You don't have to have a type II hunting permit to do it either.
I shoot in Sam Houston National Forest all the time.
I shoot in Sam Houston National Forest all the time.
Greybeard
Member
Quote: "Any National Forest are OK to shoot in. You don't have to have a type II hunting permit to do it either."
:banghead: Caution there about the info. you give (and receive) on the errornet. "Any" is a really broad term.
On the back side of the map mentioned in my post above is the map for Caddo National Forest, north of Bonham. And it does require a Public Hunting permit. And target practicing there is a real good way to get a little piece of blue-green paper from a Game Warden by the name of Eddie.
Yes, these forums are a great way to share information. But it is very important to obtain and read the rules and regs. for each individual property.
:banghead: Caution there about the info. you give (and receive) on the errornet. "Any" is a really broad term.
On the back side of the map mentioned in my post above is the map for Caddo National Forest, north of Bonham. And it does require a Public Hunting permit. And target practicing there is a real good way to get a little piece of blue-green paper from a Game Warden by the name of Eddie.
Yes, these forums are a great way to share information. But it is very important to obtain and read the rules and regs. for each individual property.
entropy
Member
6th floor of the Texas Schoolbook Depository or the Grassy Knoll just below it, on Commerce St. in Dallas. Water towers at the colleges are always a good choice, too.
Water towers at the colleges are always a good choice, too.tiberius
Member
Texasbagman
Member
Your map is in error. You don't need a type II hunting permit to shoot in the National Forest.
Texas does not control the National Forest within it's borders. It only controls the hunting and game management within the National Forest. The National Forest Service makes the rules on everything else in a National Forest.
Been there, done that. I contacted the National Forest Service directly. Any Game Warden that gives you a ticket for target practice in a National Forest doesn't know what he/she is doing.
You will have to follow certain rules set forth by the National Forest Service.
Texas does not control the National Forest within it's borders. It only controls the hunting and game management within the National Forest. The National Forest Service makes the rules on everything else in a National Forest.
Been there, done that. I contacted the National Forest Service directly. Any Game Warden that gives you a ticket for target practice in a National Forest doesn't know what he/she is doing.
You will have to follow certain rules set forth by the National Forest Service.
synoptic
Member
The Sam Houston range is closed during non hunting season now. People left too much trash out there and the forest service got tired of picking it up. Forced a lot of people in the area to either start paying for a range or to stop shooting cause there aren't any good ranges within less than an hour drive
Texasbagman
Member
You don't have to go to the range to shoot. All you have to do is follow the rules that are available at the ranger station on FM1375 and find a place in the Forest.
Greybeard
Member
Quote: "Your map is in error."
Nupe, ' don't think so Bagman. Like I said in prior post "Any" is waaaaaay too broad of a term to throw around so recklessly. Just because "you've been there, done that" does not make it right for others - especially elsewhere - and currently.
Your use of the term "type II" tells me that you are probably not aware of current TP&W terminology - or what is in the 2003-2004 Texas Public Hunting Lands Map Booklet.
Over and above the map mentioned above is another of the above, where, on page 66, it states "Caddo National Grasslands WMA, Property owned by United States Forest Service, Unit 901". Even more specifically, under "Prohibited Acts" on page 12, "discharges a firearm on Units 901, 902, 903, 904 or 905 for purposes of target shooting in areas other than designated target practice areas." :banghead:
Still don't believe it? Well then, just head on out to Caddo (ideally around the camp site at Coffee Mill Lake) and do some plinking. I'm sure Eddie will be glad to show you these things "up close and personal."
Nupe, ' don't think so Bagman. Like I said in prior post "Any" is waaaaaay too broad of a term to throw around so recklessly. Just because "you've been there, done that" does not make it right for others - especially elsewhere - and currently.
Your use of the term "type II" tells me that you are probably not aware of current TP&W terminology - or what is in the 2003-2004 Texas Public Hunting Lands Map Booklet.
Over and above the map mentioned above is another of the above, where, on page 66, it states "Caddo National Grasslands WMA, Property owned by United States Forest Service, Unit 901". Even more specifically, under "Prohibited Acts" on page 12, "discharges a firearm on Units 901, 902, 903, 904 or 905 for purposes of target shooting in areas other than designated target practice areas." :banghead:
Still don't believe it? Well then, just head on out to Caddo (ideally around the camp site at Coffee Mill Lake) and do some plinking. I'm sure Eddie will be glad to show you these things "up close and personal."
Texasbagman
Member
I know what the National Forest Service says, period.
You are baiting and switching. Wildlife Management Areas are not the same as National Forest land, and you know that. The WMA may be in a National Forest, but it will have different rules and be marked as such.
Don't play games.
As I said earlier, get the information from the National Forest Service. Follow their rules. Have fun.
You are baiting and switching. Wildlife Management Areas are not the same as National Forest land, and you know that. The WMA may be in a National Forest, but it will have different rules and be marked as such.
Don't play games.
As I said earlier, get the information from the National Forest Service. Follow their rules. Have fun.
Texasbagman
Member
As a side note, I can find no reference to "Caddo National Forest". There is a Caddo National Grassland, but I have made no mention of National Grasslands.
National Forest does not equal National Grassland or National Parks. Three seperate things.
National Forest does not equal National Grassland or National Parks. Three seperate things.
cidirkona
Member
Good place to shoot in Texas?
Hmm... how about down far southern Texas where people keeping going around the gates...? ...just a thought.
-Colin
Hmm... how about down far southern Texas where people keeping going around the gates...? ...just a thought.
-Colin
Greybeard
Member
Quote: "I know what the National Forest Service says, period."
"Any National Forest are OK to shoot in."
Care to provide written source(s)? Focusing on the word "any". ?
"Any National Forest are OK to shoot in."
Care to provide written source(s)? Focusing on the word "any". ?
Fire1
Member
I have done some plinking in the Davy Crockett National Forest, after checking with a LEO at the ranger station by phone. He somewhat reluctantly, it seems admitted that shooting is OK in the general forest area. You just have to find a place in the woods away from the camp ground, trails, private land, and roads. I had to look for a while to find some good spots.
DWS1117
Member
There is a small range in the Sam Houston National Forest just north of Lake Conroe / south of Huntsville. It is the only free place to shoot around here that I know about. The problem is that it is only opened up from late September until early January. Closed and Gated off the rest of the year.
:banghead: 
Also by the second week or so in October the range is trashed. If my understanding is correct, this trashing is the reason it is closed for most of the year.
:banghead: Also by the second week or so in October the range is trashed. If my understanding is correct, this trashing is the reason it is closed for most of the year.Greybeard
Member
DWS - Dont' feel lonesome. I understand that similar acts a few years ago by "slob shooters" led to the closing of 600 acres of Corps of Engineers creekbottom land less than 5 miles from us (north of DFW airport). Just a few weeks ago, the Corps put up an additional fence to restrict drive-in access, plus additional "no trespassing signs".
A lady friend, whose property borders it told me last week that people have still jumped the fence and go in to "target shoot" anyway ("because so-and-so told me it was OK"). The last pair she confronted said they did not want to have to pay $7 apiece to shoot at a range. She's found not just target trash and alcohol containers, but shot and abandoned deer, both in the field and in the creek.
I cautioned her about confronting such bozos, that it could be dangerous. Her response: "I don't think it's much more dangerous than sitting in my house - if I can get them to leave. Would you like to come see where bullets have come through the walls in our bedrooms?"
A lady friend, whose property borders it told me last week that people have still jumped the fence and go in to "target shoot" anyway ("because so-and-so told me it was OK"). The last pair she confronted said they did not want to have to pay $7 apiece to shoot at a range. She's found not just target trash and alcohol containers, but shot and abandoned deer, both in the field and in the creek.
I cautioned her about confronting such bozos, that it could be dangerous. Her response: "I don't think it's much more dangerous than sitting in my house - if I can get them to leave. Would you like to come see where bullets have come through the walls in our bedrooms?"
http://www.southernregion.fs.fed.us/texas/contact/index.shtml
Is this the list of people I should be calling to see if it is ok?
The FAQ seems to make it pretty clear that firearms are only allowed in National Forests for hunting, in season and with a valid license.
Is this the list of people I should be calling to see if it is ok?
The FAQ seems to make it pretty clear that firearms are only allowed in National Forests for hunting, in season and with a valid license.
Texasbagman
Member
Code of Federal Regulations Title 36 statue 261.10
Look it up.
I really didn't think this was a point of discussion any longer, as I assumed that folks would take the time (5 minutes) and do a google search.
Apparently not.
You can shoot on National Forest Land any time of the year, so long as you follow the rules.
Look it up.
I really didn't think this was a point of discussion any longer, as I assumed that folks would take the time (5 minutes) and do a google search.
Apparently not.
You can shoot on National Forest Land any time of the year, so long as you follow the rules.
Greybeard
Member
I DID look this up days ago:
"specifically, under "Prohibited Acts" on page 12, "discharges a firearm on Units 901, 902, 903, 904 or 905 for purposes of target shooting in areas other than designated target practice areas."
And there ARE several thousand acres (covering several counties) that ARE a part of the Sam Houston National Forest in one of these units ...
"specifically, under "Prohibited Acts" on page 12, "discharges a firearm on Units 901, 902, 903, 904 or 905 for purposes of target shooting in areas other than designated target practice areas."
And there ARE several thousand acres (covering several counties) that ARE a part of the Sam Houston National Forest in one of these units ...
Texasbagman
Member
And yet I can still go shoot in Sam Houston National Forest so long as I follow a few simple rules.
You have lost this one fella. Give it up.
You have lost this one fella. Give it up.
Greybeard
Member
Prior quote/request: "Any National Forest are OK to shoot in."
Care to provide written source(s)? Focusing on the word "any". ?
----------------
Bagman, if you have a legitimate way to shoot there, more power to ya. What I think is clear from the above is that it may NOT be OK to shoot on "any" National Forest land. If someone has not read the written regs from the CURRENT Texas Public Hunting lands booklet, they could very well be lead astray. "But ... your Honor sir, a guy on the internet named 'Bagman' said it was OK ..."
Care to provide written source(s)? Focusing on the word "any". ?
----------------
Bagman, if you have a legitimate way to shoot there, more power to ya. What I think is clear from the above is that it may NOT be OK to shoot on "any" National Forest land. If someone has not read the written regs from the CURRENT Texas Public Hunting lands booklet, they could very well be lead astray. "But ... your Honor sir, a guy on the internet named 'Bagman' said it was OK ..."
- Status
