Target practice in the mountains/woods?
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- Warrant Officer
- Posts: 122
- Joined: Wed May 25, 2016 8:59 pm
Target practice in the mountains/woods?
Hey all just curious who ever goes shooting in the woods/mountains instead of at a regulated range?
ive read on WDFW that there are sections of baker/snoqualmie national forest where it's allowed with proper backstop and as long as you clean up (obviously) but that is a huge area and would have no idea where to start other than atleast 150 yards from homes/campsites etc.
Are there any popular "go to" spots?
How can I find a proper backstop?
Answers to any of these question would help greatly.
Even a general area a little more specific than baker-snoqualmie forest would help.
preferably an hour and a half or less from Seattle.
Thanks!
ive read on WDFW that there are sections of baker/snoqualmie national forest where it's allowed with proper backstop and as long as you clean up (obviously) but that is a huge area and would have no idea where to start other than atleast 150 yards from homes/campsites etc.
Are there any popular "go to" spots?
How can I find a proper backstop?
Answers to any of these question would help greatly.
Even a general area a little more specific than baker-snoqualmie forest would help.
preferably an hour and a half or less from Seattle.
Thanks!
Re: Target practice in the mountains/woods?
150 yards away from homes or campsites is nothing. Might as well be 15 feet as bullets can travel for miles, and are lethal all along the way.
If you don't want to go to the range - and I don't blame you as it is costly, seek out what we call a 'gravel pit' in the area you wish to plink.
These aren't actual gravel pits so much as areas that were excavated for the fill used in making adjacent logging road systems. Usually several acres in size, and sometimes there are a couple right next to each other, they all have one thing in common - they slope downward toward the bank at the end. It is this bank, or wall of earth that you would use as your backstop. To use anything else other than solid earth as a backstop would be grossly negligent.
Use google earth to scan the area you wish to go, and look for dirt colored clearings right next to logging roads. Then go explore in person to verify that what you found is indeed a pit. It may take some time and gas, but once you've found one that suits your needs you will know where to go in the future. That is,... provided the area doesn't become closed off due to people who failed to 'pack it out'
The best of luck.
onmygame
If you don't want to go to the range - and I don't blame you as it is costly, seek out what we call a 'gravel pit' in the area you wish to plink.
These aren't actual gravel pits so much as areas that were excavated for the fill used in making adjacent logging road systems. Usually several acres in size, and sometimes there are a couple right next to each other, they all have one thing in common - they slope downward toward the bank at the end. It is this bank, or wall of earth that you would use as your backstop. To use anything else other than solid earth as a backstop would be grossly negligent.
Use google earth to scan the area you wish to go, and look for dirt colored clearings right next to logging roads. Then go explore in person to verify that what you found is indeed a pit. It may take some time and gas, but once you've found one that suits your needs you will know where to go in the future. That is,... provided the area doesn't become closed off due to people who failed to 'pack it out'
The best of luck.
onmygame
Re: Target practice in the mountains/woods?
You may find this helpful,
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mbs/home/ ... RDB5324910" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOC ... 478900.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mbs/home/ ... RDB5324910" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOC ... 478900.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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- Warrant Officer
- Posts: 122
- Joined: Wed May 25, 2016 8:59 pm
Re: Target practice in the mountains/woods?
Thank you very much this is very helpful.
I said atleast 150yards because that's the law, not because I was thinking that would stop the bullet, I believe it's because the noise can't be that close to others? Anyways thanks again
I said atleast 150yards because that's the law, not because I was thinking that would stop the bullet, I believe it's because the noise can't be that close to others? Anyways thanks again
- fisherman92
- Lieutenant
- Posts: 236
- Joined: Tue Dec 24, 2013 3:19 pm
- Location: Western WA
Re: Target practice in the mountains/woods?
I know of a good pit up near Darrington if your interested in shooting up there?
Haven't been there for a year or so but its a nice large pit.
Haven't been there for a year or so but its a nice large pit.
Re: Target practice in the mountains/woods?
I go up the Mt. Baker Highway every weekend to go shooting, out at one of a few gravel pits. The main one out there can get a little busy on nice weekends, but it is pretty big. Last weekend (12/11/16) My buddy and I took my Jeep through a few inches of snow to get there and it was empty except for us the whole time! Some good wheeling tooScheindogg wrote:Thank you very much this is very helpful.
I said atleast 150yards because that's the law, not because I was thinking that would stop the bullet, I believe it's because the noise can't be that close to others? Anyways thanks again
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- Warrant Officer
- Posts: 122
- Joined: Wed May 25, 2016 8:59 pm
Re: Target practice in the mountains/woods?
Thank you everyone and for the DMs I will check at least a couple of these places out!!
Re: Target practice in the mountains/woods?
There is a decent pit out on the N.fork Snoqualmie, you have to drive about 12-13 miles on the FS road. The pit will be on the right when the road turns left. About the first ten miles is private timber property but the FS road is open to the public, may be hard to get in there in the winter though.