Vancouver, Wa shooting areas

rickyrick · April 16, 2014, 05:54 PM

Hi, new to Washington state, need to know places to shoot.

People say go to federal lands but I'm not sure how to find them...

I routinely hear gun fire from Vancouver lake and it's vaguely mentioned that it's legal there in certain spots... Does anyone know exactly where?

Also I'm willing to travel an hour or so to shoot.

Oops. I meant this to go to general discussion forum, could a MOD please move...

big al hunter · April 16, 2014, 11:37 PM

Here is a good place to start http://www.dnr.wa.gov/BusinessPermit...rest_maps.aspx
I don't spend much time around Vancouver, but I hunt a little over an hour North of there on occasion. You should find a good place somewhere near you.

rickyrick · April 22, 2014, 02:05 PM

Bump

I hope maybe mods will move this to general discussion

Glenn E. Meyer · April 22, 2014, 02:22 PM

It is considered inappropriate to bump a thread - esp. with such a short time.

We have a free marketplace and if no one wants to answer - that's it.

Shooting what type of gun, BTW? When I lived in Portland years ago, there was an indoor range - a Place to Shoot - just on the other side of the river from Vancouver. Not a long range rifle place, IIRC.

JimDandy · April 22, 2014, 02:41 PM

I get at least two results here for Vancouver itself, let alone nearby.

hartcreek · April 22, 2014, 03:13 PM

One person gave you a link to DNR land but you can also shoot on Forest Service land. The closest Forest Service Land for you is up Highway 503 past the town of Cougar. Once you get past Cougar drive on to Eagle Nest or Eagle Roost something like that. Continue driving as if you were going to the Upper Falls Campground but watch on the right for roads you will see a road on the right with a small creek I think the road was 905.

I camped there last year. You will see a locked and closed Forest Service gate. There is a trail that goes behind the gate that leads to a large pile of scrap culvert. Once you are 150 yards from the road it is legal for you to shoot. Have fun and police your brass.

rickyrick · April 22, 2014, 05:55 PM

I've seen The Place to Shoot, it's a good option but you have to pay and use their ammo.... I was looking for something in the woods, as I have rifles and pistols....

Sorry for the "bump" but I had mistakenly posted to the wrong forum and didn't want to duplicate the thread...

I've been near Cougar a few times so I may scout up in that area.

kilimanjaro · April 22, 2014, 08:40 PM

You're near the head office for the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, go visit there and get a map of the Forest, and inquire about places to shoot and places not to shoot, and what the rules are. The front desk will help you out, it's their job.

In a nutshell, you can shoot anywhere on a National Forest except areas that are closed by order, or on or from any road or trail, in occupied areas, into or across any body of water, including streams, or the catch-all, in an unsafe manner.

Just use good sense, and do enjoy the Forest, it's quite pretty. Lots of good day trips and scenery.

Pick up your brass and targets, and don't shoot bottles or trees.

leadcounsel · April 22, 2014, 09:25 PM

You might ask this question over at Northwest Firearms, Washington Guns, and Seattle Gun Net. All are great local communities with awesome classifieds.

Welcome to WA and good luck.

rickyrick · April 22, 2014, 09:50 PM

Thank you, been WA for a few months but have never gotten as many clear answers as I have here.... I shoulda turned to my trusted TFL friends first, lol.

Thanks a bunch

hartcreek · April 23, 2014, 12:03 AM

Ricky Rick

Eagles Nest is the store at the head of the Lake. I could be wrong about the road number but I do not think so. The guys at the store can confirm about the road number as the creek has a skinny dipping hole on one side of the asphault road and the 905 road on the other side with the gate and a nice place to camp along a creek just off the asphault road.

I spent two days there last year is how I know about that spot.

The problem is that many areas up ther have lots of people and some area are closed to shooting and others it is hard to find a good place 150 yards from a road or seasonally used structure. That specific spot is perfect because it is in a little valley and it is a short walk up the trail past the gate toward the pipe pile which is way more then 150 yards from a road.

Bart Noir · April 23, 2014, 02:14 PM

This map of Washington ranges is courtesy of WaGuns.org. Actually, it's one their web pages.

So you might find a real firing range you like in your area.

WA State shooting ranges

Bart Noir

rickyrick · May 1, 2014, 06:00 PM

How about mt hood national forest?

The gov website says target shooting is an appropriate use of the forest

kilimanjaro · May 1, 2014, 06:10 PM

Same rules as Gifford Pinchot NF. Go visit their offices and get a map and ask where. Enjoy.

rickyrick · May 1, 2014, 06:21 PM

Awesome both are great areas.

I will take care of the forest, same manners as shooting on farms in Texas

April 16, 2014, 05:54 PM	#1
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,238	Vancouver, Wa shooting areas Hi, new to Washington state, need to know places to shoot. People say go to federal lands but I'm not sure how to find them... I routinely hear gun fire from Vancouver lake and it's vaguely mentioned that it's legal there in certain spots... Does anyone know exactly where? Also I'm willing to travel an hour or so to shoot. Oops. I meant this to go to general discussion forum, could a MOD please move... __________________ Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!!

April 16, 2014, 11:37 PM	#2
big al hunter Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2011 Location: Washington state Posts: 1,558	Here is a good place to start http://www.dnr.wa.gov/BusinessPermit...rest_maps.aspx I don't spend much time around Vancouver, but I hunt a little over an hour North of there on occasion. You should find a good place somewhere near you. __________________ You can't fix stupid....however ignorance can be cured through education!

April 22, 2014, 02:05 PM	#3
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,238	Bump I hope maybe mods will move this to general discussion __________________ Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!!

April 22, 2014, 02:22 PM	#4
Glenn E. Meyer Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2000 Posts: 20,064	It is considered inappropriate to bump a thread - esp. with such a short time. We have a free marketplace and if no one wants to answer - that's it. Shooting what type of gun, BTW? When I lived in Portland years ago, there was an indoor range - a Place to Shoot - just on the other side of the river from Vancouver. Not a long range rifle place, IIRC. __________________ NRA, TSRA, IDPA, NTI, Polite Soc. - Aux Armes, Citoyens

April 22, 2014, 03:13 PM	#6
hartcreek Junior member Join Date: April 22, 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 1,549	Places to shoot One person gave you a link to DNR land but you can also shoot on Forest Service land. The closest Forest Service Land for you is up Highway 503 past the town of Cougar. Once you get past Cougar drive on to Eagle Nest or Eagle Roost something like that. Continue driving as if you were going to the Upper Falls Campground but watch on the right for roads you will see a road on the right with a small creek I think the road was 905. I camped there last year. You will see a locked and closed Forest Service gate. There is a trail that goes behind the gate that leads to a large pile of scrap culvert. Once you are 150 yards from the road it is legal for you to shoot. Have fun and police your brass.

April 22, 2014, 02:41 PM	#5
JimDandy Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2012 Posts: 2,556	I get at least two results here for Vancouver itself, let alone nearby.

April 22, 2014, 05:55 PM	#7
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,238	I've seen The Place to Shoot, it's a good option but you have to pay and use their ammo.... I was looking for something in the woods, as I have rifles and pistols.... Sorry for the "bump" but I had mistakenly posted to the wrong forum and didn't want to duplicate the thread... I've been near Cougar a few times so I may scout up in that area. __________________ Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!!

April 22, 2014, 08:40 PM	#8
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	You're near the head office for the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, go visit there and get a map of the Forest, and inquire about places to shoot and places not to shoot, and what the rules are. The front desk will help you out, it's their job. In a nutshell, you can shoot anywhere on a National Forest except areas that are closed by order, or on or from any road or trail, in occupied areas, into or across any body of water, including streams, or the catch-all, in an unsafe manner. Just use good sense, and do enjoy the Forest, it's quite pretty. Lots of good day trips and scenery. Pick up your brass and targets, and don't shoot bottles or trees.

April 22, 2014, 09:25 PM	#9
leadcounsel Junior member Join Date: September 8, 2005 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 2,119	You might ask this question over at Northwest Firearms, Washington Guns, and Seattle Gun Net. All are great local communities with awesome classifieds. Welcome to WA and good luck.

April 22, 2014, 09:50 PM	#10
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,238	Thank you, been WA for a few months but have never gotten as many clear answers as I have here.... I shoulda turned to my trusted TFL friends first, lol. Thanks a bunch __________________ Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!!

April 23, 2014, 12:03 AM	#11
hartcreek Junior member Join Date: April 22, 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 1,549	Road 905 Ricky Rick Eagles Nest is the store at the head of the Lake. I could be wrong about the road number but I do not think so. The guys at the store can confirm about the road number as the creek has a skinny dipping hole on one side of the asphault road and the 905 road on the other side with the gate and a nice place to camp along a creek just off the asphault road. I spent two days there last year is how I know about that spot. The problem is that many areas up ther have lots of people and some area are closed to shooting and others it is hard to find a good place 150 yards from a road or seasonally used structure. That specific spot is perfect because it is in a little valley and it is a short walk up the trail past the gate toward the pipe pile which is way more then 150 yards from a road.

April 23, 2014, 02:14 PM	#12
Bart Noir Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2000 Location: Puget Sound, USA Posts: 2,215	This map of Washington ranges is courtesy of WaGuns.org. Actually, it's one their web pages. So you might find a real firing range you like in your area. WA State shooting ranges Bart Noir __________________ Be of good cheer and mindful of your gun muzzle!

May 1, 2014, 06:00 PM	#13
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,238	How about mt hood national forest? The gov website says target shooting is an appropriate use of the forest __________________ Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!!

May 1, 2014, 06:10 PM	#14
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	Same rules as Gifford Pinchot NF. Go visit their offices and get a map and ask where. Enjoy.

May 1, 2014, 06:21 PM	#15
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,238	Awesome both are great areas. I will take care of the forest, same manners as shooting on farms in Texas __________________ Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!!