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.
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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.
That is a good question, I would like to know what restrictions there are if anyone knows?
From the USDA Forest Service website (ref: Pike & San Isabel Forests)
Quote:
...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.
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#Q40Quote:
Originally Posted by theGinsue
Thanks for the info, that is exactly what I was looking for!
Glad to help.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eow
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!Quote:
Originally Posted by Chief_of_Scouts
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...
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.
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?
Or rocks.Quote:
Originally Posted by B2crawler
Good info, though. Thanks.
T.
Unless, its rock or tree season, of course.
I can't understand the whole shooting up signs thing. I just have to shake my head when I see a sign like "No shooting for the next 1.5 miles" and it's all shot to hell like on Rampart Range Road (RRR). The scary thing is that there is a trail that hikers and mtn bikers use on RRR that quite often gets shots fired just over the heads of the trail users because some people won't follow the rules. Some day a trail user is going to get shot. I know everyone here is responsible enough and has too much respect for firearms to ever do that.
DO NOT SHOOT TREES!!!! There are plenty of better things to aim at than a tree. We have enough problems in colorado forests with pine beatles and such.
[Coffee]
All of El Paso County is now closed due to a special order. DO NOT ASSUME that just because you are off the trails a ways that you are go. A citation sucks.Quote:
Originally Posted by cowxguy
FYI Not everyone may be aware of this, but never shoot at the large items left by idiots. You can be cited or at the very least be required to dispose of whatever it is... If it happens to be a refrigerator and you're driving a Smart Car, you might have a problem. [Help]
Sez who?Quote:
Originally Posted by ColoEnthusiast
Forest Ranger told me that a few years ago. It was true then, have no doubt it still is.
I think if you head into the forest with your smart car you have in fact driven your target with you. Everytime I pass one of those on I-25 with a 30 MPH advantage I swear I see the thing shaking in the rearview mirror and I am in a sedan. I can't imagine one of those when a semi rolls past.
I don't see how that can possibly be true. I'm not responsible for anyone else's trash, and I'll be damned if anyone is going to force me to pick up trash unless they can prove without a doubt that it is mine. Taking a picture of your Smart car and a refrigerator would be evidence enough.
I can't figure out what exactly is Smart about those cars. They crack me up. Here is an amusing vid of one with a real motor though. Guess they are putting Huyabusa engines in them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5S1NAMnYKM
Have you seen the video where they slam one into a concrete center divider at 70mph?
Don't be offended that I don't believe you by the way, it's nothing personal.
Don't believe me or the Ranger?
I believe he told you that, but I think he's full of it. It'd be like trying to make me pick up a piece of dog crap that I walked passed when I wasn't even walking a dog.
A friend found and sent me an excerpt of the law at the time, but I can't find it myself.
Makes a great case for creating a new topic regarding various legalities. To avoid liability, it could just be basic descriptions and links. Would be extremely helpful to alot of sportsmen out there.
I know that this is an older post, but I was wondering if anyone has information regarding this Special Order. I did see a reference to it in the Forest Service link/post (Special Order 91-08). Does anyone know, off the top of their head where El Paso County might have this Special Order posted online?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rampart Runner
Ok, I may be showing my ignorance here but what someone posted earlier appears to apply only to El Paso county. If you head south down Rampart Range Rd out of Sedalia (Just to point out I havent been there yet so I am going off of forest service and google maps.) you will definately be in Pike National Forest when you hit the road and it looks like it is quite a ways before you get to El Paso county. If that is the case the following rules should apply?
"You can target practice in most areas of National Forest, with some exceptions. No shooting is allowed within 300 feet of a campground, trail head, residence, or any place people occupy. Additional areas that do not allow shooting will be posted. You are not allowed to shoot across or on a National Forest road, trail, or body of water. You must shoot in a safe manner, know where your round is going, and have a safe backstop. You cannot place a target on a live tree.
There are established target ranges on some National Forests." http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/faq/
So I am thinking just park somewere once you hit the road and walk off the road 300 feet and find a backstop to shoot into? Not sure about the area but it doesnt sound that hard with the exception of the drive down there from Aurora.
Thoughts?
I think your logic is good, but as I recall, right at the turnoff to Rampart Range Road is a clearly posted 'no shooting' sign (full of bullet holes of course, but nonetheless there).
Is it one of the nasty brown national forest signs?Quote:
Originally Posted by Eow