Target Shooting in Indiana

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6_gunner

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I'm getting frustrated trying to find somewhere to target shoot in north-central Indiana!

There are only two ranges in my area: one charges more for membership than I can afford; the other is an FOP range. I can shoot there if I become an associate member of the FOP, but I can't for the life of me figure out how to do that. Although the local police have tried to be helpful, I keep getting referred from one person to the next and nobody seems to know who I need to talk to to get a membership!

Now comes the legal question:

Lacking a range at which to shoot, and woefully rusty on my handgun marksmanship, I'm wondering if there's any place I can just go and shoot. Other states have BLM land where people can apparently legally go and set up targets at whatever safe area they please. Is there any place like that in Indiana? Can I just pick a spot along the river with a solid backstop and blast away at tin cans? If it's not private property, outside city limits, and there are aren't any "no target shooting" signs, then is it fair game?
 
Try the DNR in Indiana and see where the other gun ranges are located. I went to one in Pike county today.
 
Thanks for the link. I checked the website for the local chapter of the FOP (Grant County), but I don't think they had an option to apply online. I had assumed that I had to join the local chapter in order to shoot at their range. Does an associate membership allow me to shoot at any FOP range? If so, that is a great help.

I'm still curious if there's any place totally open to the public where I can go and shoot, like the BLM land in other states.
 
The DNR has a good public range at Kingsbury. They have others elsewhere.
Meanwhile, almost all clubs that have competitions like IDPA and USPSA are open to the public for the matches.
Over the course of a year, a hundred-dollar club membership might be cheaper than the public range fees.
 
I'm wondering if there's any place I can just go and shoot.
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Yes, any place that is properly zoned and you have permission to be.

[Other states] . . .Is there any place that I can just go and shoot.
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We have to pay our own way here.

If it's not private property, outside city limits, and there are aren't any "no target shooting" signs, then is it fair game?
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Do you have a specific place in mind? Where would this be?:confused:
 
Thanks for the responses!

I'm going to keep trying to join the local chapter of the FOP so I can use their range. I found a printable application that I can send in.

Do you have a specific place in mind? Where would this be?
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Well, I don't really have a specific place in mind. I was really just curious as to whether we have anything equivalent to the BLM land that's available in western states.
 
Something for nothing is a West of the Mississippi concept. We have to work.

Why not ask around or approach local farmers/landowners for permission to shoot on their land? I'll do _____ (bail hay, paint your fence, pull weeds, etc.) if you let me target shoot on your land.
 
If it's not private property, outside city limits, and there are aren't any "no target shooting" signs, then is it fair game?
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Somehow people from cities think anything that's not built up has no ownership and is fair game to use. We used to chase people out of our woods every year. Their excuse was "we didn't know anybody owned this".

If it's public land, you may have more problems trespassing than on private land. Trust me. Every square inch of Indiana is owned by someone, either privately or public. As noted by El T, there is no BLM here.

You need to put your location besides "Indiana". You'd probably get a lot more good suggestions.
 
Indiana Son

Other Than Making Friends Of A Local Farmer Or Quarry/gravel Pit Owner, I Know That The Jasper Pulaski State Conservation Area Has Rifle And Pistol Ranges. You Probably Should Call Ahead And Make Arrangements And Check Availability. Also Your Local Gun Store Or Bait Shop Would Be A Good Place To Ask Around For Places To Shoot. Most Local Sportsmen Are Helpful, And You Might Find To Be Like Minded Shooters. There Also Used To Be A Public Range(or At Least Had Some Public Access) Up Around Winamac, You Might Check Into That.

Good Luck,

Box
 
For free Hoosier shooting try Willow Slough Wildlife area, a DNR facility free for use. It has a 25, 50, 100 yard and trap range (bring your onw launcher for clays), and a bow range with a tree stand set up target area.

It's right across the Illinois border from the Kankakee/St. Anne's area qand not far off route 41 or I-65.

Another one I have yet to test drive, is the Jasper-Pulaski Wildlife area. I understand they have 25, 50, 100, and 200 yard ranges? It's more centrally located than Willow Slough.

The ranges are clean, with a DNR Range Officer to keep things reasonably controlled, but you are pretty much on your own once you're there and get the basic safety briefing from him.

I've never had a problem with the "idiot crowd" at the range, but that may just be dumb luck, or maybe the range officer actually does his job?

I've met some really nice guys there and had a chance to swap guns for test firings, including a chance to use a beautiful Holland & Holland double rifle in 600 Express in the original Louis Vuitton custom case that's probably worth more than any car I've ever owned. Darn that thing did kick but what a hoot to shoot a true "elephant gun".
 
In northern Indiana there's Willow Slough (west side), Jasper-Pulaski (about middle), and Kingsbury (30 minutes SSW of South Bend)

The DNR hunting regulation books have public ranges listed. Also, there's a really nice IHMSA range close to Knox. Blythe's in Valpo has a really nice indoor range.
 
If you are not law enforcement, you must join FOP as an associate/auxillary member. I am guessing that you live in Marion. There is a range at the old Huntington resavoure (sp). They charge a daily fee but they may have a yearly fee. I believe there is a RO on duty there. Deer Creek and other conservation clubs also have trap shoots and CMP shoots that are open to the public. Trap shoots and CMP shoots require payment to participate.
 
I'll second the range at Jasper Pulaski State Park. 25, 50, 100, and 225 yard ranges with enough room for at least a dozen shooters each. Also a little field type thing for skeet. Bring your own thrower.
 
I really appreciate the responses.

I'm closer to central Indiana than northern Indiana. Some of the suggestions have been a little far away.

Huntington Reservoir sounds like it would be worth visiting for a serious range trip.

It looks like the FOP range is the best bet for a local place. I've shot there before; once with a LEO and several times with a friend who had a membership. I'm working on getting an associate membership.


There used to be a public range nearby; I think they called it Hog's Back, for anybody who might know the area. I believe it was DNR-run, but I'm not sure. It would be nice if we could get that re-opened. I think the land is just sitting unused now. :(
 
The DNR range at Huntington (Roush Lake) is very nice. There is a rangemaster on duty and they run the cease fires. There are a bunch of stations out to 25 yards, quite a few at 50 yards, and about 5 at 100 yards. The cost is only $4 for a day. There is also a trap shooting area. Check it out if it's close to you.

Jer..
 
The NRA has a range registry that may help:
http://www.nrahq.org/shootingrange/findlocal.asp?State=IN

I'm not sure where you are, but I've found Sand Burr Gun Ranch (Rochester, IN) and Atlanta Conservation Club (Atlanta, IN) to be nice and friendly. I'm not sure how close those would be to you, but those are the ones I know of in north/central Indiana.

If you provided more information about what you can afford in terms of membership and how far you'd be willing to travel to shoot, we might be able to help narrow it down.
 
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