Pawnee National Grassland

[2ndChildhood]

It's pretty easy to find places to shoot here. People seem to just stop near any gully and use the bank as a backstop. Some don't bother with a backstop and just shoot beside any old lonely dirt road. (bad idea I think)

The grassland is administered by the forest service, here's the regs. http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/arnf/passes/rules.shtml

To get there
From I-25 take exit 269 (Fort Collins), go East on CO hwy 14 for 21 miles. This is where the highway curves to the left. There are 2 main places to go:
1) 88 & 61 is a smaller area that doesn't get as much use. Continue about 4 miles on hwy 14 and turn right on cty road 88, at about 3 miles 88 drops into a big gully and shooting area is on the left. Coordinates for 88/61 N40 37.461 W104 29.18
2) Road 96 has 3 areas. Continue about 5 1/2 miles from the left hand curve. Just as the highway takes a right hand curve, cty road 57 is on the left. Go 3 miles on 57 to cty road 96. At this intersection, there are two smaller places to shoot at the bottom of the gully to your left. Or you can go right on road 96 to the biggest shooting area. After a mile on 96, turn right at the gully and go in a quarter mile to a parking spot.

The forest service organizes cleanups at these spots a few times each year. Please clean up your mess. We'd sure like to continue using these spots for shooting.

Oh yeah, when you go through Ault, slow down. They like their speed traps there.

2C :mrgreen:

Here's a map of the area after the highway takes the left hand curve at the 21 mile mark.
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i45/jvnn/pawnee.jpg

[Marlin]

Don't expect to see Karl there anytime soon. [roll]

[7idl]

Don't expect to see Karl there anytime soon. [roll]


Is he STILL trying to get that uZi thing to work ?












:twisted:

[2ndChildhood]

What are you talking about 7? Karls Uzi works great!
-2C

[westy1970]

I am heading there Monday morning June 10th. I will be at Sportmans Whorehouse @ 9am to get get a couple of things I need and will head out between 930 and 10 if anyone wants to join me.

[Joey]

I take it this is West of Ault? We would be coming down South on 85, so it should not be all that hard to find I'm assuming.

[brian1277]

east of ault . on 14. its good to get there early. around 9-10 am. less people, less wind.
have fun

[2ndChildhood]

Have never been out there, do ya need target stands & such, or can ya just take targets & there are places to prop em up????

There is nothing provided, it's just spots off dirt roads where there are backstops against gully sides and small hills.
The biggest area off 96 has the longest range shooting available to the south.
88 & 61 you can get about 250 yards.
The two small spots off 96 probably can't go above 150 yards if even that.

The amount of people who show up at the biggest area can be a problem.
Most are careful and courteous but I have seen jerks there.
It's a good idea to check out the other shooters to see if you can trust them.

The two small spots usuall are only good for a single party of shooters.

88 & 61 can handle around 3 to 5 groups depending on how courteous they are.

-2C

[killarney]

Hi I'm new to these forums and I'm curious to know if these areas are still shooter friendly. I plan to head up there this coming thursday if the weather is good. are crowds a problem during weekdays?

it's great to be here and thanks for the info.

cheers.

[blacklabel]

We went shooting at Pawnee earlier today and it was great. The roads were a little muddy but it was slow and the weather was fairly nice.

From my experience in the past, it's dead during the weekdays.

[killarney]

Thanks, I'll have to go give it a try.

[bryjcom]

Went there today for the first time. Pretty good except the shot gunners all must have bad backs. The can't seem to bend down and pick up their shells!

Saw about 5 other people between 2 different sites. Tried to get to the spot off 96 but I didn't bring an off road vehicle. I was not about to get stuck in the mud!

[newracer]

It has come to my attention that the two small areas west of CR57 are no longer open. Sign posted states State Trust Land, No Tresspassing.

[7idl]

they mentioned on the news this morning that they're going to do some prescribed burns out there.

[jackedco]

Went out to Pawnee today. Was a cold and overcast when I arrived (0900) but clear skies and warmer when I left (1130). Wasn't busy at all, only three other cars when I got there, me and another guy I was leaving. I'd never been back to large area in the back before today.

[rondog]

What's it like out there? Is it wide open prairie? Or are the some hills or bluffs to shoot into? Any trees? 4x4 needed?

[7idl]

hardly any trees, no 4x4 required, hills / gullys to shoot into.. if it's close, go check it out. Not worth the drive otherwise, IMHO. (YMMV)

[rondog]

hardly any trees, no 4x4 required, hills / gullys to shoot into.. if it's close, go check it out. Not worth the drive otherwise, IMHO. (YMMV)
Thanks! I live in Parker, so it damn sure ain't close. I thought driving to the South Shoot area above Woodland Park was a long, brutal drive, but Pawnee makes it look like a picnic.

Getting ready to sign up for a membership at the Ben Lomond club in Ramah, out by Kiowa. That's only ~50 miles from home, but I don't think we can shoot at cans and water balloons, only "NRA approved" paper targets, but I have to confirm that. Still better than not shooting at all. 560 acres of private land for shooting, gotta love it!

I also need to try and find a place to shoot pasture poodles, that sounds like a lot of fun!

[mblake]

Thanks! I live in Parker
Heh Rondog, I live out by southlands mall and hope to find a wide open place east of you and I. I'll keep my eyes open..

[rondog]

Heh Rondog, I live out by southlands mall and hope to find a wide open place east of you and I. I'll keep my eyes open..
I just joined up at Ben Lomond's tonight, but I'm still in the market for a place to shoot those adorable little rodents.

[2ndChildhood]

I'm baack!
bump

[yeariniraq]

I was looking for places to shoot north of Denver in July, last time I was near the Allenspark area I ran into the no shooting signs, there was a moratorium on shooting in those areas. Does anyone know if they have that figured out and if shooting is now possible again? Also are the Pawnee areas still open?

[Irving]

There are several spots open at CR 91 (take CR 57 north from US 14, then east on CR91 for 1/2 mile and you'll see the turn). I was just up there yesterday and there were plenty of people shooting all day long.

[Epyon]

I've been looking into the grasslands as a shooting area. Is the map that was posted by the OP the area closest to Ault? I don't wanna get lost wandering the grasslands for 40 years!! I also don't want to end up shooting on someone else's private property. Also, my friends and I definitely believe in collecting brass.

[2ndChildhood]

Hi Epyon,
yes that is the area closest to Ault.
As you head east from Ault on highway 14 you go straight for roughly 5 to 10 miles, then the highway makes a sweeping left and you're heading Northeast. A mile or so past that sweeping turn is where you get onto that map. The sign for road 88 and the sweeping right turn where road 57 takes off are totally obvious. You won't have a problem unless you are brain-dead.

-2nd

[Epyon]

Awesome, I'll check it out some time soon. I've got a magazine full of #4 buckshot and two boxes of low recoil slug itching to be used! On top of target loads! As well as half a box of hollow points and 100 target rounds of .40 cal!

[flan7211]

The mapped spot has been absolutely overran the last few years with irresponsible turds. There are always kids now who screw around and always have magpul decked out AR's. Tired of it, go home. By screwing around I mean shooting at each other's feet (I've seen this twice) and horrible muzzle discipline.

[2ndChildhood]

I just went out to 88 & 61 after work and had the place to myself for 2 hours. A good time was had by all.
[Beer]

[mcantar18c]

Was at the 88/61 spot today... had the place to ourselves, didn't even see a vehicle pass by on the road the entire time. Place is a little messy, but not really what I'd call trashed. Cleaned up what we could but not enough to make much of a dent.
Nice place, but don't go if its gonna be really hot. Couple trees provide a little shade but nowhere to shoot from them.

[LeJerk]

What is at 40.671141, -104.491635 ?

[MrPrena]

I really need to goto Pawnee Grassland.
I still haven't even zeroed in my 338LM that I purchased about 15 month ago....

"(

[trlcavscout]

I took the kids out to the grasslands this morning, suprisingly it wasnt real packed? If anyone seen the mushroom cloud that was me shooting some HOT 10mm loads [Beer] After shooting that my .40 seemed like a 22lr [ROFL1]

[adamking84]

Went out there yesterday afternoon (88/61 site) with my brother for a couple hours, no-one else around. Site looked OK, we picked up a couple big boxes full of old shells, but things looked OK. Nice place to shoot.

[blacklabel]

I took the lady out to 88/61 today. It seemed like more of a mess than it had been in the past. Definitely want to get something together to get it cleaned up as it is a great spot.

Weather was awesome which was a nice change.

[USMC 2111]

thanx for the info.

[jackthewall81]

yea awesome info. gonna have to check it out

[CowboyTuff]

I took the lady out to 88/61 today. It seemed like more of a mess than it had been in the past. Definitely want to get something together to get it cleaned up as it is a great spot.

Weather was awesome which was a nice change.

just let me know when

[MIKEONE]

Hey guys, About 7 of us went out there shooting and camped for the night about 2 weeks ago, and the park ranger came by a warned us about using WOLF or other like ammo, and "that it had caused fires out there in the past" How? I don't know. I really think someone was shooting tracers and they were just blaming it on "WOLF" ammo.

Well anyway Im just trying to give a heads up. Its a great place to shoot and run drills if you have appropriate targets to shoot IE stand up steel, or posts and cardboard.

Mike

[spleify]

Hey guys, About 7 of us went out there shooting and camped for the night about 2 weeks ago, and the park ranger came by a warned us about using WOLF or other like ammo, and "that it had caused fires out there in the past" How? I don't know. I really think someone was shooting tracers and they were just blaming it on "WOLF" ammo.

Well anyway Im just trying to give a heads up. Its a great place to shoot and run drills if you have appropriate targets to shoot IE stand up steel, or posts and cardboard.

Mike

Yep, must have been that really skinny tall ranger, he said the same thing to us last week about the Wolf ammo. My first thought was the same as your, tracer ammo.

Anyway, I would be up for a range cleanup day up there as well. Its been at least a year since I have been there but I would be happy to go and help clean up.

[blacklabel]

just let me know when

I don't have weekends off and it doesn't look like that's going to change before the weather really turns off cold.

I might be able to work something out if you have Tuesdays or Wednesdays free.

[redneck122]

Any one headed out there this weekend? I'm thinking of going saturday or sunday

[eadgbe194]

went to pawnee this morning with my wife, the weather was great and we had a great time.

[jackthewall81]

Went out to Pawnee this Sunday with the girlfriend. Awesome place! I shot at the big area because it was easier to get the car to. But my main question is which one of you guys was out their with a full auto (may of been 3 round burt) system!?

[nisils14]

Went out there a week ago, pretty sweet. How busy do you guys think it'll get on memorial sunday? Also where do you some of you go for some extra long range distance?

[Tinelement]

I would like to run on Saturday. My shooting buddy is a no go!

Anyone heading out??

I like to run AR and pistol training. CQB out to 100yrds

[Great-Kazoo]

I would like to run on Saturday. My shooting buddy is a no go!

Anyone heading out??

I like to run AR and pistol training. CQB out to 100yrds


Waiting to see daughters schedule once she arrives from CA. Wee were going to hit pawnee sat or sun morn.

[islandermyk]

I would like to run on Saturday. My shooting buddy is a no go!

Anyone heading out??

I like to run AR and pistol training. CQB out to 100yrds

Wish I could join you... we'd take'em guns out from 50 to 300 yards...

Won't go out till July or August....

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

Couple of us going out in the morning. I really hope it's not too busy.

[Whistler]

Was pretty quiet out there yesterday morning. Went with Teufelhund to run some .223 loads through the chrony, zero'd a couple sights @ 100yds tried out the new 12ga and picked up some old trash of course. Watched a big fox through the spotting scope out on the ridge line and even saw a horned toad, haven't seen one of those since I was a kid in Texas (fireants almost wiped them out). Turned out to be a very nice day.

[jackthewall81]

Was pretty quiet out there yesterday morning. Went with Teufelhund to run some .223 loads through the chrony, zero'd a couple sights @ 100yds tried out the new 12ga and picked up some old trash of course. Watched a big fox through the spotting scope out on the ridge line and even saw a horned toad, haven't seen one of those since I was a kid in Texas (fireants almost wiped them out). Turned out to be a very nice day.

Sounds nice! Hopefully I can get out there thursday or Friday

[jackthewall81]

Went out yesterday with my brother and girlfriend and the place was a ghost town. Picked up some trash, but at least I could finally shoot at the far end of the road where all the banks are and the little water hole.

[trlcavscout]

Anynody wanna shoot some clays out at pawnee? I may go tomorrow/monday. And probably next weekend as well.

[pepito]

Was out there late around Sunday afternoon to evening when a crew in an Escalade clowly creeped by. I waved and thought nothing of it till I started hearing something along the line of this blaring out:
1HPB19nLhFI

little funny :)

[blacklabel]

I might go out Sunday to shoot some .22s.

[nisils14]

Can anyone confirm this?
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/arp/news-events/?cid=STELPRDB5375582

[kj4963]

Can anyone confirm this?
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/arp/news-events/?cid=STELPRDB5375582
Can't confirm it, but I was going to head up tomorrow. Change of plans[Bang]

[jmg8550]

Can anyone confirm this?
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/arp/news-events/?cid=STELPRDB5375582

Looks legit to me. Probably better abide by that or risk a ticket.

[Pacman89]

where can you get daily or weekly info on the restrictions?

hopefully the ban is lifted before 7-7-12. I'm planning a shoot for that day is why I ask.

[blacklabel]

where can you get daily or weekly info on the restrictions?

hopefully the ban is lifted before 7-7-12. I'm planning a shoot for that day is why I ask.

I would just call Ranger Station. They're going to have the most up to date information.

970-295-6600

[Eldorado556]

Anynody wanna shoot some clays out at pawnee? I may go tomorrow/monday. And probably next weekend as well.


I'd be down for shooting some clays in July once the restrictions are lifted.

[james_bond_007]

Another Forest Service page:
(Copied to the forum from here http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/arp/news-events/?cid=STELPRDB5375944)

Visitors Reminded of Fire Restrictions and Shooting Closures

Release Date: Jun 24, 2012
Contact(s): Tammy Williams, 970-295-6693

Fort Collins, Colo. - Due to unusually hot and dry conditions the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland (ARP) are under Stage II fire restrictions as well as a recreational shooting closure.
“We have a major fire burning on our forest, doing what we can to prevent additional starts is critical,” said ARP Forest Supervisor Glenn Casamassa. “These restrictions will remain in place until conditions improve.”
Under a Stage II fire restriction the following acts are prohibited:


Open fires, except when using a petroleum fueled stove, grill, or lantern in an area that has been cleared of all vegetation three feet on all sides
Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building
Possessing or using fireworks or other pyrotechnic devices
Using an explosive
Using any internal or external combustion engine without a properly working spark arrester
Possessing or using a vehicle off road, except when parking in areas cleared of vegetation and as allowed on the applicable Motor Vehicle Use Map
Welding, or operating an acetylene or torch with open flame

The shooting closure prohibits all recreational shooting within the ARP. Individuals with a valid license actively engaged in hunting are exempt.
Visitors are reminded that due to High Park Fire a large portion of the Canyon Lakes Ranger District is currently closed. Details of the current closures and the fire and shooting restrictions are on the web at: www.fs.usda.gov/arp (http://www.fs.usda.gov/arp) . Links to the specific information are located in the “Alerts and Notices” box on the right-hand column.
Information about other state and county fire restrictions can be found on the Colorado Division of Emergency Management website at www.coemergency.com (http://www.coemergency.com).

###
See Closure Orders below:
Stage II Fire Restrictions are in effect starting June 22, 2012


Stage II Restriction Order (pdf, 20 KB) (http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5375584.pdf)
Stage II Restriction Map (pdf, 424 KB) (http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5375586.pdf)

Restrictions on Discharging Firearms


Closure Order (pdf, 20.54 KB) (http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5375933.pdf)
Map (pdf, 474 KB (http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5375934.pdf)

[rocktot]

Is Pawnee getting smoke from the fires? Was going up next week, but may wait until after it rains up there.

[james_bond_007]

I was up at Pawnee on Father's Day (2 weeks ago). There was no smoke, but there was a light smell of "campfire".

HWY 14 seemed to be a sort of dividing line. The sky north of it was all gray with billowing smoke. South was "normal".

When I got to Ft. Collins to visit my daughter, there was visible ash floating in the air and accumulating on the cars. Old Town had a distinct "haze". Campfire smell was VERY pronounced.

My daughter said this was the worst she had seen it...

[Great-Kazoo]

Is Pawnee getting smoke from the fires? Was going up next week, but may wait until after it rains up there.

Unless there is 5 days + of rain no one is shooting anywhere on public land.
Pawnee and as far as you can see is smoked out. I came back from the mid west yesterday and from Crook/Eliff area east of sterling all there was is a hazy sky.

[rocktot]

Ok, thanks. I would like to camp up there when I go (Sept?) Can someone PM me some good places for pistol shooting, and car camping, preferably separate areas?

[Pacman89]

I would just call Ranger Station. They're going to have the most up to date information.

970-295-6600

ok thanks for the info. I will call them and post the information I get [Beer]

[HBARleatherneck]

delete

[XC700116]

I went out to Pawnee Sportsman's center this morning to do some load testing and on my way back swung by the grasslands shooting area on the slim chance there might be some brass laying about, there wasn't, but to the point. A gentleman from the USFS pulled in shortly after to make sure I knew about the current shooting ban. After talking with him a bit I thought about something that was posted here before the server issues so I figured I'd ask.

If we got a group of people together out there to do some cleanup work, would the USFS be willing to arrange and supply a dumpster to put the picked up refuse in. So I asked him his thoughts. He was down here on loan from the Gallatin NF in Montana to help out with the fires and whatnot so that is a qualifier. He said "I would think they would jump at the chance, I know we would up in MT"

So I got to thinking about it and decided I would call the USFS office on Monday and see what they say. Then I will report back with what I find out and if it's a go put up a thread asking for volunteers and to try and iron out a date. I know I have a few people outside of this board that would be in to do it as well.

Stay tuned........

[blacklabel]

I'd be up for helping out but I think that turn out might be low because of the shooting ban.

[Irving]

I was told two years ago out there that all we had to do was give them a call and a date and they'd set it up.

[rocktot]

Are the shooting areas separated from the (car) camping areas, or can you shoot about anywhere?

[beast556]

Im in for a clean up shooting or no shooting dosent matter to me. Everytime i go out there 57/96 there is more big crap.

[XC700116]

Sounds good, even if we only got 10 or 15 people we could get a lot done in little or no time, especially if we have a few pickups to haul stuff from pickup areas to the dumpster. I'll keep everyone posted. Now if we could be lucky enough to have a day where it's not 95+ degrees out.

[XC700116]

Well, I called the office and got through about 3 people and finally got to the person that I need to talk to. BUT I had to leave a message so I'll see if I hear back tomorrow and I'll update again once I hear more.

They did sound very interested but they are also stretched pretty thin right now due to the fires so they may have to wait until they get a chance to breathe a minute as well. I'm hoping that is soon for the sake of both them and the National Forests.