Shooting on BLM managed public lands

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Yes, unless posted, for the most part.

You can shoot just about anywhere on BLM land that is not posted. The usual suspects when it comes to no shooting areas: campgrounds, boat docks, lakes, recreational areas, federal building, visitor centers, historic and cultural sites. Some BLM Monuments (different than open BLM land), have outlawed plinking and target shooting but still allow active hunting.
For the most part, using common sense, if it is not posted, it is allowed. BLM, by law, MUST post not shooting signs.
Keep in mind on several occasions BLM field offices have wanted to close areas to shooting and have posted no shooting signs, which were in effect illegal because the public comment input time was not adhered too. Although the signs were posted, BLM Rangers could not cite shooters until the public comment time frame was met, information was mitigated, decisions were made and penalties were defined. Often that takes months, yet you may see "no-shooting" signs posted early by "opportunistic" Rangers. Sucks to have to argue with them and tell them to go pound sand.
As always your best bet is to contact the BLM Field Office that manages the land you are interested in shooting on. Be very specific when inquiring, much BLM land is "checker-boarded" from the old days of pushing railroads and mining claims across our great country. One square might be fine to shoot on, and the next square over may contain a spring with lots of doves and some minuscule "endangered" snail. Guess what, you are not going to be able to go hunt those "doves aplenty".
Hope this helps. Cheers
 
Since you are in Cali....

Here is a little tidbit I learned when living there 2005-2008.
Since it is federal land, not under state jurisdiction, you can get a permission slip from the BLM Field Office Manager (of the BLM land you want to shoot on), to shoot your "non-California DOJ-legal", guns on public land: only federally legal guns apply.
However I can tell that those permission slips are hard to come by and you will never get one to shoot a class 3 weapon. I can truthfully tell you that during the years I was there, there was a BLM Ranger at the Redding Field Office who would observe people shooting legally on BLM land with their non-California-legal guns and permission slip in hand. This Ranger would contact local authorities and spill the beans. When those otherwise legal citizens left BLM land there would be a sheriff deputy or Game & Fish officer waiting to cite them for possession of illegal firearms and confiscate said firearms. Bingo instant felon!
Since it is 2014, I do not know if you can still get permission slips.
 
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My input.....

I checked BLM.gov . You can target shoot or hunt but IAW the federal site, you must comply with the state's wildlife-game laws.
The BLM website says to contact the nearest BLM field office.
I'd add that printing out the BLM.gov website information & keeping a copy or 2 with you(to get it laminated too is smart if outdoors a lot but not a mandate) is a good idea. That way if "Officer Judge Judy" rolls up or a hot head trooper asks where you heard that, you can show the printed BLM.gov regulations. :D

I don't shoot on BLM land or hunt in state-national parks. I looked into a national park site. It's approx 45min away from where I live but seems a tad remote. :uhoh:
Another new county range is about the same distance from me. It's good but a bit safety-nazi-ish. :rolleyes: .

I learned a hard lesson in the late 1990s, to know all the related statues & rules prior to shooting on free public lands. :uhoh:
Some places watch you like prison guards other are nowhere around.
 
Stats don't lie.....

I think it was Sen Harry Reid(D-NV) who said the US govt owned about 92% of the land & property in NV. :eek:

FWIW; Sen Reid is a fishing buddy of the NRA/ILA too, ;).

Rusty
 
Pretty much anywhere in Utah that's BLM land is fair game for shooting. It's actually where we do most of our shooting. There are restrictions in some areas to do with fire danger such as no steel-core/steel-jacket bullets or exploding targets. Some moron started a very large fire by shooting a propane bottle with a burning road flare taped to it. Most of the other fires that year that involved "shooting activities" were actually started by cigarettes, catalytic converters, or improperly located fires. But since a "shooting activity" was involved, the shooting part got curtailed.

Matt
 
At least in New Mexico, BLM land is open unless specific areas are posted, such as picnic/camping areas, bicycle trails, or other protected areas. We shoot all over the place out here, and unfortunately too many people haul bags of cans and bottles out, shoot them full of holes, and just leave them. This past weekend a buddy and I went shooting on BLM land, and we packed out 6 30 gallon garbage bags full of other people's trash. That's a pickup bed full. :cuss:

If you want to shoot on public lands, PLEASE pack out your targets and other trash. Too much more and much of this excellent land may be closed to shooting.
 
In the interior west, it is generally legal to shoot on public lands managed by federal agencies like the BLM and Forest Service. However, Rangers and Area Managers can issue temporary public use restrictions if user conflicts and litter become a problem. Permanent closures usually require a more formal review process that involves public input. Those don't usually impact hunting as much as it does target shooting and plinking. State laws regarding shooting near structures and livestock, and shooting across roads and trails also apply.

Learn the regulations for the area you plan to shoot, set up your shooting area where there is an appropriate backstop, clean up after yourself, and be respectful and courteous to other members of the public. Do those things and all should be fine.

Gravel pits on public lands are usually good choices.
 
Post #16....

Post 16 is good. It shows that gunners need to be considerate & not thrash or trash the range area. :mad:
I've seen people on open ranges that were reckless & inconsiderate but I've seen others where range shooters used trash bags, cleared up all the spent brass & didn't drink alcoholic beverages or shoot at signs/trees/target stands etc.

In 1999, my friend & I had a dispute with a PGC(Pennsylvania Game Commission) wildlife officer. One of the points we later made was the tiny(small) print of the "warning" signs PGC posted on the property. :rolleyes:
This NPS/BLM sign is big and easy to read clearly. I don't know all the verbiage but it gets the point across.
 
We have a similar sign where we go in AZ. I also take extra trash bags to clean up our mess and potentially someone else's. I don't mind cleaning up a little bit of extra mess if it means the area stays open for recreational shooting. My kids are learning this also. It is so much more enjoyable to go out and do things at your own pace rather than having to race out to your targets during a cease fire and then hurry back so the range can go hot.
 
Again, THAT location is an actual gun range set up on BLM land. The other 85% of the 110,000 square miles of NV hare just open land where just about anything goes (like Burning Man)... ;)
 
I should have been more specific in my post. The area I go to is on BLM land. It is posted for recreational shooting. If you can find an area that is posted you do not have to guess if it is legal to shoot there. This is important because one of my friends was shooting on what he thought was BLM land when actually it was part of Ironwood National Park. He was confronted by rangers and told if he was caught there again they would confiscate his firearms. The place where he was shooting was a hill that has been used for that same purpose for at least 30 years that I know of. Just because someone has been shooting somewhere and it looks like a range does not make it legal. I agree with getting the maps from BLM. I also believe that if you can find a posted spot that you will have a better time if you don't have to worry about it being legal.
 
Sometimes, though, many of these "ranges" are unmanned by any form of RSO, and can be more dangerous than just driving into the hills somewhere, so it pays to know what is happening in your area in that regard.
 
Target shooting, GPS, 4x4s, supplies.....

I don't live in a area near any BLM or National Parks so I doubt the issue would come up.
But if I did go target shooting, Id go to area known or at least patrolled by BLM staff or LE park rangers. Id also pack water, sunscreen, snacks, first aid stuff, a GPS or extra cell phone, signal flares/safety orange markers(in case of a serious emergency).
In 2008, I shot at a outdoor range in bright sun. I was surprised at how fast my energy & concentration were sapped in the heat. :uhoh:

Shooting or hiking in remote areas is nothing to fool around with. Be safe & plan for any emergencies.
 
StingRayRay said:
I should have been more specific in my post. The area I go to is on BLM land. It is posted for recreational shooting. If you can find an area that is posted you do not have to guess if it is legal to shoot there. This is important because one of my friends was shooting on what he thought was BLM land when actually it was part of Ironwood National Park. He was confronted by rangers and told if he was caught there again they would confiscate his firearms. The place where he was shooting was a hill that has been used for that same purpose for at least 30 years that I know of. Just because someone has been shooting somewhere and it looks like a range does not make it legal. I agree with getting the maps from BLM. I also believe that if you can find a posted spot that you will have a better time if you don't have to worry about it being legal.
Click to expand...
This is the same situation with Ocotillo Wells. BLM land is right next to State land and the firearm laws are very different and the Rangers let nothing go and visit camp quite often.
I believe the railroad tracks separate part of the land.
 
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Quiet said:
On BLM land near Reno, Nevada...
BLM_022614_zps7e1e53ed.jpg
Click to expand...
I do use Tannerite on BLM land but would not if there was a sign instruction me not to.

The statute referenced in that sign:
§ 8365.1-4 Public health, safety and comfort.
(a) No person shall cause a public disturbance or create a risk to other persons on public lands by engaging in activities which include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Making unreasonable noise;
(2) Creating a hazard or nuisance;
(3) Refusing to disperse, when directed to do so by an authorized officer;
(4) Resisting arrest or issuance of citation by an authorized officer engaged in performance of official duties; interfering with any Bureau of Land Management employee or volunteer engaged in performance of official duties; or
(5) Assaulting, committing a battery upon, or
(6) Knowingly giving any false or fraudulent report of an emergency situation or crime to any Bureau of Land Management employee or volunteer engaged in the performance of official duties.
Click to expand...
Mike
 
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