Colorado places to shoot

[xxjumbojimboxx]

Howdy folks, I'm a recent Colorado transplant for Texas, and I'd like to know if any of y'all have found an AWESOME place to shoot. I'm in the Pueblo area, and would love to find some BLM land or something like it that me and a few buddies could shoot on during the day, and camp at night. I know I can look at the map for BLM land, but I'd like to know if anyone knows of an established spot, or an ideal spot. You know, things like natural berms, safe shooting, and maybe a semi wooded area for camping. I would want it to be within three hours or so. Thanks in advance!

 

[Robert]

Pretty much anywhere in the national forest. Check with your local Pike/ San Isabel National Forest office to see if there are any places that are strictly off limits to shooting. I know it sounds funny but you can literally shoot just about anywhere on public land. Maybe check with some of the local gun stores too.

Pueblo West has an outstanding private range but the wait list is a couple years long right now. I just got my membership this summer. Well worth the drive from Colorado Springs though.

 

[LoneGoose]

Go to a convenience store and buy a Gazeteer & Atlas. It's like an oversized magazine that maps out your entire state and shows all public land. It's great for just learning your way around and for getting detail on hunting areas. Good luck.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Pretty much anywhere in the national forest. Check with your local Pike/ San Isabel National Forest office to see if there are any places that are strictly off limits to shooting. I know it sounds funny but you can literally shoot just about anywhere on public land. Maybe check with some of the local gun stores too.

Pueblo West has an outstanding private range but the wait list is a couple years long right now. I just got my membership this summer. Well worth the drive from Colorado Springs though.

Have you ever tried Pikes Peak Gun Club?

 

[xxjumbojimboxx]

Thanks for all your replies

Robert, Thanks for that info... I really didn't know. That's great to know. I have visited a lot of dispersed camping locations recently and keep seeing cases and shells strewn about. (which i don't intend to do I always pick up my brass) but I was thinking as these spots are dedicated camping locations that it HAD to be illegal to shoot there. I guess not.... I like the freedom on this state for sure. I have frequented some of these places and saw signs saying no shooting at their entrances. I wonder if its a good rule of thumb to assume that if theres no sign saying you cant... then you probably can.

 

[Robert]

Most places are usually sign if it's not ok. But use your head. If there is not good hill for a back stop or you can see houses in any direction maybe find another place. Don't shoot from or across roads and trails either. The forest service office is a wealth of knowledge.

 

[ScrapMetalSlug]

Cheyenne mountain shooting complex right off 25 next to fort carson is pretty nice last time i was there (2015). They had targets out to 600 yards for rifle and a whole bunch of pistol lanes too. Fairly strict on rules and targets, which can be good or bad.

If you are looking for a free place more relaxed try any of the national forest areas. You can drive up Old Stage road, it is dirt and meets co springs near the broadmoor hotel. You just drive up the road into the mountains and find a place to shoot. Anywhere you cant shoot will have signs saying no target shooting next 6 miles etc.

If you are looking for something a little closer to pueblo, head west toward canyon city and try the public land out that way.

You should be able to pick up some national forest/blm maps at the ranger office or a sporting goods store.

 

[Slugless]

I can vouch for land west of canyon city. Head west into the Arkansas river valley and there are small towns along the way that provide roads north or south from the river. Some real nice BLM areas north of the river. I don't know about south of the river, but north of the river the BLM built check dams in the watersheds to slow the runoff of rain from the mountains to the river after the big flood in the sixties. They are perfect berms for shooting because they typically bulldozed dirt to make the dams resulting in a long flat spot upstream of the dam. Keep your eyes and ears open for the dirt bikes and atvs that also use the same land.

 

[earplug]

Check out Oil Well Flats area for camping. Its on highway 9, North of Canon City. Its a MTB/Hiking area that has campsites. Shooting is forbidden at the trail complex, but there is a shooting area on the West side of highway 9. We alway hear the gunfire when were there. Lots of possibilities on highway 9.
There was a vehicle that was flooded while messing around in a dry stream bed. Consider that when looking for a campsite and shooting area.

 

[Mr. Hill]

Good point about the flash flood danger. Also, watch out for lightning!

 

[bnolsen]

Also don't shoot down into where there might be a seasonal wash. Apparantly that's off limits as well.

 

[mdThanatos]

You could also venture down to Raton, NM, about an hour and a half south and hit up the NRA Whittington Center to change things up. They have some camping/lodging areas too.

 

[xxjumbojimboxx]

Thanks everyone for the great answers... I think well be running to canyon city soon

 

[dirtman]

We used to take our own horses into the Gunnison National Forest... we would get combo lic for elk and deer.... one of the best places to hunt, ride, camp all of it.... just absolutly great area.... xxjum i envie your area.... it just don't get a better then that.... good shooting.