Safety of shooting into a land bowl? How to shoot on public land?

[Macchina]

I shoot .22s on Federal Forest Land often. The area is flat and wooded with areas of open fields. My shooting spot has always been a bowl about 100 yards in diameter with about a 20 yard depth in the center. I walk into the bowl a bit and never shoot near the lip. The effect is a berm that is higher than at the private range I shoot at. This area has been deforested and I always thought it was very safe because you're shooting into the ground and can see for hundreds of yards in all directions. When shooting on public property, people are allowed to be anywhere, so I always thought it safer to shoot into the ground than level with the ground such as you would be shooting into a hill someone could walk over.

Well, today I was shooting with a friend and a US Forest Service Employee drove up to us quite peeved that we were shooting. They were back in the woods past the end of the field, about a half mile from us and about 45 degrees to our angle of fire. I felt quite bad and understood why he came up to us. I apologized and left.

This made me wonder if I should even shoot on this land anymore. These are the first people I've ever seen on this land and it's a huge tract that many people hunt on.

I try to follow the rules very carefully, but how far "behind your target" do you need to physically check on public land? I know the bowl is immediately behind my target and when I walk up my side of the bowl I can see a few hundred yards in that direction. I would have been comfortable standing where the Forest Service was working while someone fired a million .22's into the bowl, I never felt I put anyone in danger. But that's not the point, I don't ever want to put someone else in the position I did and don't know how to do that on public land.

 

[M1key]

Report the incident along with the employee's name to the US Forest Service.

M

 

[joeschmoe]

"Know your target and what's behind it."
Walk the perimeter of the bowl (at least the half behind your target). Shouldn't take long. Stray rounds could easily go off by 45 degree's.

 

[22-rimfire]

They thought you were shooting toward them. You didn't say what they said.

 

[clutch]

I've shot in a gravel pit with walls way higher than your bowl. I've had deputies come out because someone 'thought' I was shooting at them.

I believe the goal was to have the deputies come out and hassle anyone that shot in the pit that was in ear shot.

 

[Reloadron]

Years ago I thought nothing of safely shooting on public lands. Today, not so much. I avoid public lands at all cost. I guess over all the years I have just seen too many people do too many foolish things with guns. Here in Ohio I even have reservations about shooting on public shooting ranges anymore.

I prefer the private clubs and ranges where the members are safety conscience. I guess I figure since I am older I have a greater appreciation for life.

Ron

 

[MErl]

I'd say you didn't do anything wrong, firing into a natural berm. natural activity on the land.

If anything, give the district ranger office a call. Explain where you were, and what happened. You do not want this to happen again but will keep using the area as a range; how can this be avoided?

 

[medalguy]

Be sure there are no prohibitions in the specific area where you are shooting. A few years ago I went into the BLM area office where I live to ask about shooting on public lands and spoke to an enforcement officer there. She informed me that the land was my land, and that I could shoot or do anything I wanted on that land as long as it was not destructive or dangerous to me or others. There are a few areas clearly marked "no shooting" because of hiking or bike trails directly behind the impact area but no reasonable person would shoot there anyway.

I'm always careful about what's behind my backstop having worked as a small arms instructor in the Air Force. I try to pick banks or other backstops that are as vertical as possible to avoid ricochets or flying errant bullets, and pick up my trash when I leave. I've encountered enforcement officers in the field several times and they are always very courteous and I've never had a problem with them.

 

[olafhardtB]

The forest service builds and maintains ranges I use.You need to speek to them.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

On BLM land I generally use a Seven Mile Mountain as a 210 degree backstop.
On my own 74 acres (when I can get up there) I shoot hill top to hill top (It is all relief/rift canyons and hills, hardly a flat spot) slightly down hill using the >1,700 yards of private property in that direction as a backstop.

Mike

 

[JohnKSa]

The height of the berm/backstop is important, but so is the angle of the face. The NRA Range Source Book recommends that the slope of a backstop should be at least 45 degrees. If it's any shallower, ricochets can be a concern.

 

[TCB in TN]

Years ago I had a guy come over and yell at me when I was shooting on my own land. Said I was shooting to close to him. He was standing by his metal building and thought that the report ringing off the metal was a richochet..... I was standing on my property about 60 yards from his building shooting in the opposite direction into the back of the dam of our pond.

I explained it to him, and showed him (he was originally from the city and had never been around guns), it was all good after than and he even joined me to shoot a little. Not saying it never happens but sound does funny things some times and even people who are familiar with guns can sometimes be fooled.

 

[RussellC]

Good job TCB. I discovered similar results having loud parties years and years ago. Invite the complaining individual to the party! There is something about friends and aquaintances...their noise is not nearly so "irksome" as the noise of "unknown" others. Same goes here. Good work taming the dragon.

Russellc

 

[x_wrench]

i shoot on public land all the time. one thing i do to try to keep it safe is to shoot during the week, and i avoid the weekends like the PLAGUE! in the 7 years i have been shooting there, i have seen 4 people out there during the week. and twice people have driven past me, seen where i was shooting, and drove directly into the path! i shoot into several large stumps (with aprox. 5-8' of tree left on) that was put across a path to keep vehicles out of an area. i always check beyond them before i even place a target. when i am ready to shoot, i get out the binoculars, yell at the top of my lungs "Fire in the hole" and look for anyone down range. even with that, my first few shots are into the thick part of one of the stumps. i have never seen anyone. of course, the does not mean someone will not come thru anyway. i guess the deal is, be as safe as you can, do everything reasonable for safety, and pray for the best. there are no guarantees in life. and ALWAYS be on the lookout for anyone down range. somewhere, i am sure there are a few people, who will walk towards gun fire just to see what is going on.