Shooting on BLM Land/National Forrest - Wa State

[Teflon16]

Hey everyone,

Unfortunately just got orders to WA state for a few years. Coming from the SE, where BLM land etc isn’t a thing. Whats the rules/regs on shooting on BLM land. I looked up the rules for the national Forrest’s and it basically says not near houses but otherwise go at it. Is it really as easy as just finding some open areas and setting up steel? What am I missing? Any and all help/advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[Kamerad]

Hey everyone,

Unfortunately just got orders to WA state for a few years. Coming from the SE, where BLM land etc isn’t a thing. Whats the rules/regs on shooting on BLM land. I looked up the rules for the national Forrest’s and it basically says not near houses but otherwise go at it. Is it really as easy as just finding some open areas and setting up steel? What am I missing? Any and all help/advice would be greatly appreciated

Yes. A lot depends on what side of the Cascades you have in mind.

ETA - JBLM and USN is west side, Fairchild is east. Long range is much better out east.

 

[Maggot]

Most place I know both BLM land and National Forests are open to shooting unless otherwise noted. They are here in NM. Just a few regulations. IIRC

-No shooting within 500' of a campground
-No shooting over roads
-No shooting into live trees
-Police your brass

When you get where your going call the ranger station, or BLM office, they'll tell you the local regs.

National Parks are different.

 

[slm9s]

Be prepared for lots of "open" areas to be gated off.

 

[Threadcutter308]

Hey everyone,

Unfortunately just got orders to WA state for a few years. Coming from the SE, where BLM land etc isn’t a thing. Whats the rules/regs on shooting on BLM land. I looked up the rules for the national Forrest’s and it basically says not near houses but otherwise go at it. Is it really as easy as just finding some open areas and setting up steel? What am I missing? Any and all help/advice would be greatly appreciated

"Goretex"........

 

[MK20]

Where are you getting stationed? Makes a huge difference.

 

[Teflon16]

Where are you getting stationed? Makes a huge difference.

Whidbey Island, I know I’m going to have to do some driving to find a good spot,

 

[Teflon16]

Yes. A lot depends on what side of the Cascades you have in mind.

ETA - JBLM and USN is west side, Fairchild is east. Long range is much better out east.

Yeah I’m going to be in Whidbey so a decent drive, hoping to see if I can’t find something in the MT Baker National forest area

 

[Emerson0311]

Yeah I’m going to be in Whidbey so a decent drive, hoping to see if I can’t find something in the MT Baker National forest area

You will get a lot further and faster if you immerse yourself in groups of local shooters. They already know everything you don’t about the area. If you pass the on-boarding process it’s a go. If not, it will take years.

 

[Teflon16]

You will get a lot further and faster if you immerse yourself in groups of local shooters. They already know everything you don’t about the area. If you pass the on-boarding process it’s a go. If not, it will take years.

Yeah that’s my plan, I’m coming from florida and VA where I’ve been shooting a ton of PRS/sniper team matches, I’ll have to ask around see if anyone has a connection out there

 

[Detroit_1]

Here are a few thoughts from one who shoots on public land in the PNW:

- Know (for certain) that your shooting position / path of projectile / target are located on public land. There are a lot of ways to do this but you need to know this for certain. This may mean checking the little things like map datum to make 100% sure your map & co-ords line up with whatever source map and co-ords you're extracting data from.

- Know what public entity controls the land you're shooting on - ie is it WA State or Federal land?

- Read and understand the WA RCW (State Statutes) and WAC (rules and regs for agencies implementing statues) as they pertain to any aspect of what your doing

- Read and understand the policy regarding what you want to do based on the controlling agency's policy for the area you intend to shoot

- Understand Fire Restrictions for the area, the state, the agency - for instance you may or may not be able to shoot steel / you may or may not have to carry hand tools for fighting fire to be out in the woods / you may or may not be able to park somewhere in the woods / if convicted of starting a fire - they may try to make you pay for it, and there is probably extra incentive if the Leftists can tie it to guns.

- OK, so you've researched it and it is all good & understood. In the practical: I like to start with google earth and survey the area. I have the most success finding spots in looking at the road as it winds through an area. I am looking for a situation where the road forms a U and I am shooting across the open end of the U - usually across a draw. I prefer a situation where another car passing by on the road can not see the shooting position; and I want to park with my rig visible to me and nearby, but maybe 100 yards away from the shooting position. The target - from the road line I climb down the hill and use a mattock to dig a flat spot in the side of the hill @ 30 - 50 yards below the road line - now I have backstop.

- Hunting season - do not go out and bang round after round during the season. Folks may want to talk you about that in real time.

- One last thing: it is a public space, times are funny and you're gonna meet some folks out there occasionally. Especially if you shoot by yourself, be mindful of that. Also be mindful of the Sheriff or PissFirWillie (Fed forester) or a neighboring land owner showing up too - be able to explain in no uncertain terms that what your doing is legal and permissible based on all conditions.

Clean up all of your shit, including your brass - like you were never even there. Be safe and have fun.

 

[Teflon16]

Here are a few thoughts from one who shoots on public land in the PNW:

- Know (for certain) that your shooting position / path of projectile / target are located on public land. There are a lot of ways to do this but you need to know this for certain. This may mean checking the little things like map datum to make 100% sure your map & co-ords line up with whatever source map and co-ords you're extracting data from.

- Know what public entity controls the land you're shooting on - ie is it WA State or Federal land?

- Read and understand the WA RCW (State Statutes) and WAC (rules and regs for agencies implementing statues) as they pertain to any aspect of what your doing

- Read and understand the policy regarding what you want to do based on the controlling agency's policy for the area you intend to shoot

- Understand Fire Restrictions for the area, the state, the agency - for instance you may or may not be able to shoot steel / you may or may not have to carry hand tools for fighting fire to be out in the woods / you may or may not be able to park somewhere in the woods / if convicted of starting a fire - they may try to make you pay for it, and there is probably extra incentive if the Leftists can tie it to guns.

- OK, so you've researched it and it is all good & understood. In the practical: I like to start with google earth and survey the area. I have the most success finding spots in looking at the road as it winds through an area. I am looking for a situation where the road forms a U and I am shooting across the open end of the U - usually across a draw. I prefer a situation where another car passing by on the road can not see the shooting position; and I want to park with my rig visible to me and nearby, but maybe 100 yards away from the shooting position. The target - from the road line I climb down the hill and use a mattock to dig a flat spot in the side of the hill @ 30 - 50 yards below the road line - now I have backstop.

- Hunting season - do not go out and bang round after round during the season. Folks may want to talk you about that in real time.

- One last thing: it is a public space, times are funny and you're gonna meet some folks out there occasionally. Especially if you shoot by yourself, be mindful of that. Also be mindful of the Sheriff or PissFirWillie (Fed forester) or a neighboring land owner showing up too - be able to explain in no uncertain terms that what your doing is legal and permissible based on all conditions.

Clean up all of your shit, including your brass - like you were never even there. Be safe and have fun.

Thanks so much for the detailed write up, I’ve got some time before actually heading up there so plenty of time to read the rules and regs. Hoping to get in contact with some guys up there and find some spots from the locals. Thanks again

 

[Threadcutter308]

Thanks so much for the detailed write up, I’ve got some time before actually heading up there so plenty of time to read the rules and regs. Hoping to get in contact with some guys up there and find some spots from the locals. Thanks again

I'm not far from where you're going to be stationed. I haven't been out shooting on public lands in forever. But, I would definitely forget about shooting anywhere in the San Juan Islands. They're gorgeous, but they were completely run over by (rich) liberals a long time ago.

If you are going to look for places in the Mt. Baker National Forest, look for spots off of Highway 20, up to the NC National Park boundary. (North Cascades Highway, just East of Marblemount). Just make sure you are East of Highway 9. You might even want to continue over to the Mazama and Winthrop areas. It's beautiful over (and once there), but from Whidbey, it's probably a 3/3.5 hr. drive.

 

[Teflon16]

I'm not far from where you're going to be stationed. I haven't been out shooting on public lands in forever. But, I would definitely forget about shooting anywhere in the San Juan Islands. They're gorgeous, but they were completely run over by (rich) liberals a long time ago.

If you are going to look for places in the Mt. Baker National Forest, look for spots off of Highway 20, up to the NC National Park boundary. (North Cascades Highway, just East of Marblemount). Just make sure you are East of Highway 9. You might even want to continue over to the Mazama and Winthrop areas. It's beautiful over (and once there), but from Whidbey, it's probably a 3/3.5 hr. drive.

Oh yeah my goal was to find something on the west side of the Mt Baker National Forrest. I’ll take a look at Mazama and Winthrop. Wouldn’t be opposed to camping out for a weekend if the areas are nice but a bit farther from Whidbey

 

[Threadcutter308]

Oh yeah my goal was to find something on the west side of the Mt Baker National Forrest. I’ll take a look at Mazama and Winthrop. Wouldn’t be opposed to camping out for a weekend if the areas are nice but a bit farther from Whidbey

For non-shooting outings, camping in the San Juans is a must do. Just do it before Memorial Day and after Labor Day. You'll probably need/want to make ferry reservations.

On the East side, there is a F/S road (East Chewuch Road) that goes North, then East out of Winthrop, up past Pearrygin Lake and on over to Concunully. It goes through the Winthrop Wildlife Area and through the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area. Probably lots of places to shoot up there. Haven't been there in a long time. It could be that finding long open areas are difficult to find though.

 

[Detroit_1]

(Fun game) If you can get a buddy or more......(and 'da woods are close by)

A max range is agreed upon / a target is set (target needs to be cheap and unphased by rain, and sort of hidden or camo'd so as not to be stolen b/c it may sit out in the public space for a bit - Coreplast (sign material) is not a bad choice) / an azimuth is given. 2 round max, IDPA style scoring. Shooter sets up the next one.

 

[lonegunman762x51]

Which side of the state? East or west?

 

[Teflon16]

Which side of the state? East or west?

West

 

[ColinW]

West

I'm in west. wa on the peninsula. There's quite a few little "shooting spots" along the hood canal off Seabeck Holly rd. It's probably too far out of the way from Whidby Isle. But, it is there to use. Most Olympic peninsula fuckheads go out there, blast their shit and just leave their f'ing trash on the ranges. That really makes me mad! If/when you find a spot to cook off some rounds.....Be the better shooter and pick up the place, if there's any shot up garbage.

 

[Maggot]

Here are a few thoughts from one who shoots on public land in the PNW:

- Know (for certain) that your shooting position / path of projectile / target are located on public land. There are a lot of ways to do this but you need to know this for certain. This may mean checking the little things like map datum to make 100% sure your map & co-ords line up with whatever source map and co-ords you're extracting data from.

- Know what public entity controls the land you're shooting on - ie is it WA State or Federal land?

- Read and understand the WA RCW (State Statutes) and WAC (rules and regs for agencies implementing statues) as they pertain to any aspect of what your doing

- Read and understand the policy regarding what you want to do based on the controlling agency's policy for the area you intend to shoot

- Understand Fire Restrictions for the area, the state, the agency - for instance you may or may not be able to shoot steel / you may or may not have to carry hand tools for fighting fire to be out in the woods / you may or may not be able to park somewhere in the woods / if convicted of starting a fire - they may try to make you pay for it, and there is probably extra incentive if the Leftists can tie it to guns.

- OK, so you've researched it and it is all good & understood. In the practical: I like to start with google earth and survey the area. I have the most success finding spots in looking at the road as it winds through an area. I am looking for a situation where the road forms a U and I am shooting across the open end of the U - usually across a draw. I prefer a situation where another car passing by on the road can not see the shooting position; and I want to park with my rig visible to me and nearby, but maybe 100 yards away from the shooting position. The target - from the road line I climb down the hill and use a mattock to dig a flat spot in the side of the hill @ 30 - 50 yards below the road line - now I have backstop.

- Hunting season - do not go out and bang round after round during the season. Folks may want to talk you about that in real time.

- One last thing: it is a public space, times are funny and you're gonna meet some folks out there occasionally. Especially if you shoot by yourself, be mindful of that. Also be mindful of the Sheriff or PissFirWillie (Fed forester) or a neighboring land owner showing up too - be able to explain in no uncertain terms that what your doing is legal and permissible based on all conditions.

Clean up all of your shit, including your brass - like you were never even there. Be safe and have fun.

PissFir, LOL, I havent heard that in a long time.

 

[lonegunman762x51]

There are both state and federal laws against Tannerite and similar products on public land. Start a fire and they'll send you the bill. Most open shooting in the forest I've seen includes white trash, felons and other questionable people. If you are up on Whidbey Island there will be less public shooting. There are a couple of gun clubs up that way. My kid lived in Sedro Wooley or whatever the fuck its called.

The scenery is nice, the traffic sucks ass and the fucking gun laws are a nightmare.The commies just added an 11% sales tax to gold and silver to discourage people from buying it. Gas is higher than California and its so wet you're going to grow moss. Lots of neat little towns in the area and the Olympics are a ferry ride away.

90% of the people on that side of the mountains are ball gargling socialists, share carefully.

 

[Teflon16]

There are both state and federal laws against Tannerite and similar products on public land. Start a fire and they'll send you the bill. Most open shooting in the forest I've seen includes white trash, felons and other questionable people. If you are up on Whidbey Island there will be less public shooting. There are a couple of gun clubs up that way. My kid lived in Sedro Wooley or whatever the fuck its called.

The scenery is nice, the traffic sucks ass and the fucking gun laws are a nightmare.The commies just added an 11% sales tax to gold and silver to discourage people from buying it. Gas is higher than California and its so wet you're going to grow moss. Lots of neat little towns in the area and the Olympics are a ferry ride away.

90% of the people on that side of the mountains are ball gargling socialists, share carefully.

Yeah it’s going to be an interesting time coming from florida lol..

No interest in shooting tannerite, I’m mainly looking for a recently cleared/logged land that I can hang some steel on T posts and stretch out 800-1000. I’ve got some time and don’t mind a drive if I need to head east

 

[Mooseknuckles]

I’m an about 4 hours south of you, we have a couple spots on state land to get out to 1000 plus. We leave our t post and most people don’t mess with them. We have one spot we can get to 1875 but it’s on my buddy’s property. The Weyco land is a no go for shooting. Need a permit to access. If you ever make it down this far south let me know and I can take you out to some good shooting spots.

 

[Teflon16]

I’m an about 4 hours south of you, we have a couple spots on state land to get out to 1000 plus. We leave our t post and most people don’t mess with them. We have one spot we can get to 1875 but it’s on my buddy’s property. The Weyco land is a no go for shooting. Need a permit to access. If you ever make it down this far south let me know and I can take you out to some good shooting spots.

Thanks so much, I’m not getting out there till next year but I’ll definitely hit you up. I’m excited to get to shoot in the mountains and not just flat ranges like in the SE