My family is going to Colorado for a summer vacation. We are going to be between Durango and Silverton. It seems like as long as you are on goverment land you can shoot(providing it is safe of coarse). Can someone fill me in on what is nessassary to shoot (legal) in this area. Thanks
- Thread starter AtownBcat
- Start date
Re: Can someone from Colorado tell me how it works...
Yes, Colorado has quite a bit of Federal (USFS and BLM) and State lands you can shoot on.
Just be aware that some area's may be a wildlife habitat area (mostly a seasonal thing) and you're not allowed to shoot there, and it's not always posted.
Also, Colorado is a big vacation destination, and the woods are full of hikers, campers, bird watchers, etc. These heavy use area's are usually restricted to hunting only shooting, which reads no recreational shooting, plinking, sighting in, etc. Much vacant land in Colorado is often "open range" and full of livestock (usually cattle) grazing on the native grasses. So, with that said, be fully aware of your back stop.
My suggestion, there are many Colorado Division of Wildlife shooting ranges scattered throughout the State. They are typically open to the public and free, and some even have steel set out to 1000-yards. (no 50 BMG or full-auto allowed at State ranges)
http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/ShootingRanges/Pages/ShootingRanges.aspx
http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/ShootingRanges/Pages/SWRanges.aspx
http://wildlife.state.co.us/HUNTING/SHOOTINGRANGES/Pages/PublicLandShooting.aspx
Yes, Colorado has quite a bit of Federal (USFS and BLM) and State lands you can shoot on.
Just be aware that some area's may be a wildlife habitat area (mostly a seasonal thing) and you're not allowed to shoot there, and it's not always posted.
Also, Colorado is a big vacation destination, and the woods are full of hikers, campers, bird watchers, etc. These heavy use area's are usually restricted to hunting only shooting, which reads no recreational shooting, plinking, sighting in, etc. Much vacant land in Colorado is often "open range" and full of livestock (usually cattle) grazing on the native grasses. So, with that said, be fully aware of your back stop.
My suggestion, there are many Colorado Division of Wildlife shooting ranges scattered throughout the State. They are typically open to the public and free, and some even have steel set out to 1000-yards. (no 50 BMG or full-auto allowed at State ranges)
http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/ShootingRanges/Pages/ShootingRanges.aspx
http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/ShootingRanges/Pages/SWRanges.aspx
http://wildlife.state.co.us/HUNTING/SHOOTINGRANGES/Pages/PublicLandShooting.aspx
Re: Can someone from Colorado tell me how it works...
Forgot to add, USFS land is usually more restrictive then BLM. USFS restricts shooting near roads, trails, streams, rivers, bodies of water, campsites, and buildings. I can't remember if it's 100-ft or 300-ft rule that applies to most of these. It's best to check with the local USFS office.
Forgot to add, USFS land is usually more restrictive then BLM. USFS restricts shooting near roads, trails, streams, rivers, bodies of water, campsites, and buildings. I can't remember if it's 100-ft or 300-ft rule that applies to most of these. It's best to check with the local USFS office.
Re: Can someone from Colorado tell me how it works...
There is no BLM land between Durango and Silverton off of 550.
That area is extremely mountainous. Not much of a chance for open shooting off of 550. The "million dollar highway" as it is called gets lots of traffic. Also, lots of private land near the roads given the attraction to the area.
There are some 4WD roads that head west of 550 between those two towns, but again, mountainous. Yea if you dug hard you could probably find something.
If you go the other way, south, things open up some, so you might find some more accessible areas, but the northern third of NM is all private land, so be careful where you go south of the CO border.
You gotta remember - that is a relatively densely populated, highly recreated area. Yea you could head up towards Engineer Pass or Cinnamon Pass with a 4WD and find some open areas to shoot as you get above timberline, but there are A LOT of people up there in the summer - 4WD, dirt bikes, mountain bikes, hikers, lookie-loos - so you gotta be careful.
Id' start here, get some maps, and try to find a safe place to pop some caps:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/sanjuan/
There is no BLM land between Durango and Silverton off of 550.
That area is extremely mountainous. Not much of a chance for open shooting off of 550. The "million dollar highway" as it is called gets lots of traffic. Also, lots of private land near the roads given the attraction to the area.
There are some 4WD roads that head west of 550 between those two towns, but again, mountainous. Yea if you dug hard you could probably find something.
If you go the other way, south, things open up some, so you might find some more accessible areas, but the northern third of NM is all private land, so be careful where you go south of the CO border.
You gotta remember - that is a relatively densely populated, highly recreated area. Yea you could head up towards Engineer Pass or Cinnamon Pass with a 4WD and find some open areas to shoot as you get above timberline, but there are A LOT of people up there in the summer - 4WD, dirt bikes, mountain bikes, hikers, lookie-loos - so you gotta be careful.
Id' start here, get some maps, and try to find a safe place to pop some caps:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/sanjuan/
Re: Can someone from Colorado tell me how it works...
Wow Colo. kinda of sucks for shooting. I was raised in boulder and there was all kinds of room back then, of course that was some 50 years ago. The times are a changing, don't think for the better neither.
Good luck,
Wow Colo. kinda of sucks for shooting. I was raised in boulder and there was all kinds of room back then, of course that was some 50 years ago. The times are a changing, don't think for the better neither.
Good luck,
Re: Can someone from Colorado tell me how it works...
Between Silverton and Durango is a challenge as others have posted. However, it can be done not to far away.
Try this link:
http://publiclands.org/explore/?plicstate=CO
OR
Convince the family they need to see the Colorado National Monument near GJ and I will show you public ground with ranges to 3K in return for LR shooting lessons
-and maybe a beer later
Jack
Jack
Between Silverton and Durango is a challenge as others have posted. However, it can be done not to far away.
Try this link:
http://publiclands.org/explore/?plicstate=CO
OR
Convince the family they need to see the Colorado National Monument near GJ and I will show you public ground with ranges to 3K in return for LR shooting lessons
Jack
Jack
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