Shooting in the National Forrest

[cowxguy]

Anyone know the laws on this? I have a few places I like to shoot up here in the mountains. As far as I know it is legal as long as you are 1/4 mile away from any trailhead.

[Eow]

That is a good question, I would like to know what restrictions there are if anyone knows?

[Chief_of_Scouts]

From the USDA Forest Service website (ref: Pike & San Isabel Forests)

...recreational shooting is generally permitted in the National Forest there are exceptions and conditions. The exceptions are normally outlined in Special Orders. In this case, Special Order 91-08 prohibits recreation/target shooting in all of El Paso County including the area west of Monument. You can obtain a map from us that shows you exactly where these restrictions apply. The best alternative area for recreation/target shooting west of Monument is off Mt. Herman Road and down Forest Development Road (FDR) 322A. This area is located in Teller County approximately six miles from Red Rocks Ranch Road. The other common sense conditions are as follows: (1) you cannot discharge a firearm in or within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area (2) you cannot discharge a firearm across or on a Forest Development road or a body of water adjacent thereto, or in any manner or place whereby any person or property is exposed to injury or damage as a result in such discharge (3) you cannot discharge a firearm into or within any cave. I would also advise you to familiarize yourself with Colorado State law regarding possessing and transporting firearms.

[theGinsue]

Hey Silas, do you have the link to this information? I need to pass it on to some folks.

[Chief_of_Scouts]

Hey Silas, do you have the link to this information? I need to pass it on to some folks.

Sure, here it is: http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/psicc/faq/index.shtml#Q40

[Eow]

Thanks for the info, that is exactly what I was looking for!

[Chief_of_Scouts]

Thanks for the info, that is exactly what I was looking for!

Glad to help.

Just a reminder... If you do shoot in a National Forest, please adhere to the written and unwritten rules. If you go up into the mountains and shoot, leave your casings, targets and other trash, you are only going to ruin it for the rest of us. Respect your environment and respect the rest of us that shoot there.

I have a few places that I like to shoot in the mountains that I just won't share with anyone else because so many shooters in Colorado have demonstrated a lack of responsibility or caring.

The golden rule here is, shoot responsibly and if you take it there, bring it back with you.

[babirl]

Glad to help.

Just a reminder... If you do shoot in a National Forest, please adhere to the written and unwritten rules. If you go up into the mountains and shoot, leave your casings, targets and other trash, you are only going to ruin it for the rest of us. Respect your environment and respect the rest of us that shoot there.

I have a few places that I like to shoot in the mountains that I just won't share with anyone else because so many shooters in Colorado have demonstrated a lack of responsibility or caring.

The golden rule here is, shoot responsibly and if you take it there, bring it back with you.

I couldn't say it better!

Certainly most/all around this site share the same sense of responsibility/have ethics but sadly, our "public" areas are getting limited due to the few...

[B2crawler]

No shooting in caves? Damn if I can't shoot in a dark confined space wheres the fun?
Cleaning up is a good thing. We went shooting outside of Idaho Springs at a spot that seems pretty popular by the amount of trash that gets left. We actually cleaned up a truck load of trash before we started shooting. About 20 min after the first shot a guy shows up on a fourwheeler to run us off. Said it was private property bla bla bla. Then he noticed the truck load of trash we had picked up. Even though I have never been back he said we can shoot there anytime we wanted.
Oh another thing about shooting in the forest that wasn't spoken of. Only people who have shit fer brains shoot trees.

[Pancho Villa]

I am in google maps, I typed in "Balanced Rock Rd Colorado" and I see FDR 322. Is that the area that they suggest for shooting?