BLM Land, More Than 1,000 Yards?

[MrWhiteRabbit]

Hey, all. After moving to Denver, I joined Pawnee and got everything zeroed again. I'm loving their steel plate range, but I think I'm about to outgrow it. Is there anything longer in CO? Pawnee is already a 90min drive for me and I'd rather not go much farther from central Denver if I can avoid it.

I've got my own steel gong and hear that shooting on BLM land is a possibility, but I'm having a terrible time finding a good online map that shows distances inside the various BLM plots around the state. Do y'all have an area you'd recommend?

[whitewalrus]

I do not shoot on public land, but here is a good resource for public land in CO. Though geared towards hunting and fishing, it maps BLM and has tools to measure distances.

https://ndismaps.nrel.colostate.edu/...p=HuntingAtlas

There are a few private ranges that go out to 1000 yards on the front range as well some public ones.

[def90]

Not a lot of public land close to denver where you can shoot over 1000yds. You are going to have to drive a bit, closest I can think of would be Pawnee Grasslands.

[Hoser]

Most of us just go down to Raton a few times a year and shot out past 2,000 yards.

[MrWhiteRabbit]

Not a lot of public land close to denver where you can shoot over 1000yds. You are going to have to drive a bit, closest I can think of would be Pawnee Grasslands.

I do get up to Pawnee Sportsmen's Club pretty often, so that distance doesn't bother me, but how does this work? Do you just park, unload your steel, walk 1k away, and have at it?

[MrWhiteRabbit]

Yes, That is exactly how it works in the grasslands. DO NOT drive off the marked roads/trails. You will get a ticket. Right now be cognizant where you put your targets. Steel can/will spark and start ground cover fires. Also, I know this shouldnt have to be said... but.... be careful that you watch who may wander into your path and who might have you in their path. Unfortunately it happens out here, not so much if you shoot a couple hundred yards, but long distance it happens.

If you start a fire, hurry up and call 911. You will not get in trouble if you are not breaking the law some how. It will enable us to try to put the fire out before it destroys someones home, barn, pasture, livelihood. Not to mention everyones safety.

That is very informative, thank you, but I do have one followup. @whitewalrus posted a link earlier that should show BLM land and I think it does, but I'd like some additional clarity of where I can shoot. For example, there's a western section of Pawnee Grasslands just northwest of Briggsdale (in the picture I've attached to this message)



In that picture, the area east of CR-77 is a no-go for shooting, but if I take 14 and turn north on CR77, is anything west of me (either the darker tan or the green area) allowable for shooting? According to the legend, BLM land is technically only the yellow area, but I don't see any yellow around Pawnee Grasslands, but everyone says there's legal shooting to be done in the grasslands on BLM land... I just don't see any yellow BLM land inside Pawnee Grasslands. Help?

[Lurch]

Most of us just go down to Raton a few times a year and shot out past 2,000 yards.

Looking at their ranges on their website I don't see anything over 1000? Is this a special range of event?

[Hoser]

Looking at their ranges on their website I don't see anything over 1000? Is this a special range of event?

Yup. Its called the Magnum Match. Targets past 2,000.

[zimagold]

I cant speak to that exact spot. I havent shot on public land in years. When I did shoot long range at the Pawnee, I would go to CR 96 and CR 63. There is a gate just north of there that says to keep closed. I go through that gate and set up right in that area. You should be able to shoot East from that spot over 1000. I have shot at least 1200 there. I cant remember how much further you can go, but I think its a lot further.

Another person to ask would be Zach from Thunderbeast. He used to shoot out there a lot and I know he told us of a place for extreme long range. (I just dont remember exactly where now)

That spot is now closed. It is part of the closure for the Baker Draw Designated Shooting Area at CR 96&63.

I know of a few spots for shooting to +1000, but they are becoming more crowded with time. It's pretty common for me to have to try a few different ones even setting up at 7am on a weekend. I've run into long range classes hosted in the Pawnee which seemed odd, but the most frustrating is when people setup on a spot supporting +600yds and set targets to a max of 100 or just shoot clays. I try to be curtious and use spots that relate to my plans for the day. The further you want to shoot, the less options you have.

Don't get me wrong, it's awesome to have the access and you can do things that are hard to replicate at most clubs, but it's not without its headaches.

I would suggest sharing specific spots through PMs as this is a public forum and lots of people Google this topic. Some people just want to hit the easy button and will go to any spot for shooting regardless of their actual needs.

[MrWhiteRabbit]

I cant speak to that exact spot. I havent shot on public land in years. When I did shoot long range at the Pawnee, I would go to CR 96 and CR 63. There is a gate just north of there that says to keep closed. I go through that gate and set up right in that area. You should be able to shoot East from that spot over 1000. I have shot at least 1200 there. I cant remember how much further you can go, but I think its a lot further.

Another person to ask would be Zach from Thunderbeast. He used to shoot out there a lot and I know he told us of a place for extreme long range. (I just dont remember exactly where now)

Fantastic information, thank you! On Google maps, that intersection looks like Baker’s Draw Designated Shooting Area or just north of it. I haven’t been been to either, so I’ll have to drive out there this weekend and check it out. Thanks for the great information!