Pawnee/Baker draw question....

[Martinjmpr]

Hey, we're heading out to Pawnee buttes next weekend to do some camping and shooting, and I have some questions.

Never been out there before, does the Baker Draw shooting area get pretty crowded? If so, does it stay that way all day on Saturday?

We'll be camping at the campsite near Briggsdale so we can likely start earlier and stay later compared to those who have to drive in from Greeley, Fort Collins or the Denver area.

Is Baker Draw the only place where we'd be allowed to shoot? I seem to recall seeing a few other small ranges people had set up out there but have heard from others that the rangers are closing these down?

Are there ranges at Baker Draw long enough to shoot a rifle? And is it paper targets only?

Thanks in advance!

[Martinjmpr]

One specific area I'm interested in is the sand wash that runs South from CR 96 in between CR 57 and CR 61. Looking at Google Maps I can see lots of people set up and shooting there - is this still permitted?

It does not appear to be in the "closure" area shown on the closure map.

This is the area I'm talking about:

69860
Approx. coordinate of where this joins CR 96 is 40.682130, -104.507428.

[clodhopper]

Last I was out there (over a year ago) you could still shoot there, but it was gated off. You had to walk in, and it is a bit of a hike. Consequently, not many are shooting there. I never heard why it was gated but I assume it was to encourage use of the newly constructed shooting range, which is free, and gets very busy on weekends.

The shooting range I think is also called Baker Draw but is just down the road at 40.683967, -104.466640. No sun cover, bring a hat.

[Martinjmpr]

Last I was out there (over a year ago) you could still shoot there, but it was gated off. You had to walk in, and it is a bit of a hike. Consequently, not many are shooting there. I never heard why it was gated but I assume it was to encourage use of the newly constructed shooting range, which is free, and gets very busy on weekends.

The shooting range I think is also called Baker Draw but is just down the road at 40.683967, -104.466640. No sun cover, bring a hat.

Good to know, thanks! Were there enough spots to shoot at Baker Draw that you could start shooting right away or did you have to wait for people to finish before you could start?

We're going to get there on Friday afternoon, set up camp and then go on a "recon" to find a good place to shoot. I don't mind walking a bit if it gets me to a better/more private shooting area.

[Great-Kazoo]

We were asked to leave that area last time out. However the rangers might be busy else where. If the weather actually does what they predict, you shouldn't have an issue with other shooters.
Also DO NOT park or drive more than 10' from the roadway. That's a $275 fine.


If it becomes a hassle try shooting here, where there's steel out to 1K.
http://www.pawneesportsmenscenter.com/

[blacklabel]

Yeah, last I saw that area should be closed to shooting.

The actual range is pretty slow if you get out there before 9AM or so.

[wctriumph]

The range at Baker Draw is a pretty nice place, covered shooting benches on the 50 and 100 yard ranges, permanent toilets as well. It starts to get busy by 10 AM on nice days and the ranger(s) show up about 10:30 to 11 AM to make sure everyone is following the rules. When I take my daughter out on a Sunday we get there about 8 AM and shoot until about 10:30 and then take off. When we go on Monday we get in early and it does not get very busy, maybe we see another 6 or 7 people by noon. It is a bit of a drive but it is a pretty nice to shoot for free.

[HBARleatherneck]

we were out there today for a small fire just after 2pm. We are there alot.

[blacklabel]

we were out there today for a small fire just after 2pm. We are there alot.

At the range proper or east of there?

[HBARleatherneck]

1/2 mile west (according to our page). It was small and out fast. They said they were shooting and the bullet caught the grass on fire. (their words not mine)

[Martinjmpr]

OK, another question: Since this is a primitive shooting area, I'm assuming there aren't anything like target frames. I think it's "Paper targets only" right? My question is, do they enforce that strictly? We usually like to take plastic bottles and aluminum cans when we shoot (Yes, we always police up our trash but I know not everybody does so I guess that's the reason for the "paper targets only" rule.) Am I right in thinking this isn't allowed at Baker Draw?

I presume they would be OK with us bringing cardboard boxes that we could staple targets to?

[Great-Kazoo]

OK, another question: Since this is a primitive shooting area, I'm assuming there aren't anything like target frames. I think it's "Paper targets only" right? My question is, do they enforce that strictly? We usually like to take plastic bottles and aluminum cans when we shoot (Yes, we always police up our trash but I know not everybody does so I guess that's the reason for the "paper targets only" rule.) Am I right in thinking this isn't allowed at Baker Draw?

I presume they would be OK with us bringing cardboard boxes that we could staple targets to?

Personally shooting at the items you mentioned are rude and do not present a positive image. Those cans shred leaving smaller parts of them laying around. Same for plastic, as you'll never be able to remove all of the shot pieces from the ground.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/arp/recreation/?cid=STELPRD3836311

Forest and Grassland-wide Restrictions



On the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland you may only shoot at cardboard targets, paper targets, self-healing targets, manufactured metallic targets (metal targets specifically designed for firearms), or manufactured thrown-type clay targets (clay pigeons) No wooden backing is allowed.. (Forest Order ARP-2016-07) (http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3830858.pdf) It is up to a $5,000 fine and/or imprisonment for up to six months for using an unapproved target.


Please note: The area along County Road 61 is closed to recreational shooting due to the lack of safe backstops. This area was signed as "no shooting"






Here's the web site.. Go to The Source.

https://www.recreation.gov/recreationalAreaDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&facilityId=248793

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/arp/recarea/?recid=80588


(https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/arp/recarea/?recid=80588)

Shoot only at authorized targets. This is limited to paper, cardboard or manufactured metallic targets at Baker Draw.

Wood backing not allowed; however, wooden frames are.


(https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/arp/recarea/?recid=80588)

[Martinjmpr]

Well, we went out there on Saturday morning and had a great time. It's a pretty nice range, especially considering the cost.

My only gripe would be that at the middle range (the pistol/rifle range) the closest the targets can be is 25 yards. Since you can shoot pistol there it would be nice to be able to put them at 5 or 7 yards. Still, I guess beggars can't be choosers, eh?

We got there at 9:00 am and had our choice of sites. I'd say by 11:00 all the available benches were taken. We ended up leaving about 11:45, just because we were tired of shooting by that time! It was nice to not feel "crowded out" by others arriving.