Target practice on public lands in SC

Maui19 · December 29, 2018, 04:56 PM

There are no outdoor ranges near me---well actually there is one but it is waaay more than I can afford. Anyway, I am trying to determine if it is legal fire my long guns on public lands here. I have done a bunch of searches, and I find references to target practice in some info published by the state, but there is nothing I can sink my teeth in. I would love to avoid having to call a state office to try to get this information, but that may be what I have to do. Unless you guys can point me in the right direction here.

Thanks for any info or thoughts you may have.

lamarw · December 29, 2018, 06:37 PM

How about your local Sheriff's Office?

jmr40 · December 29, 2018, 08:02 PM

I'd contact the closest National Forest office.

FITASC · December 29, 2018, 09:16 PM

WHAT public land? Call the folks who manage that land

Mike38 · December 29, 2018, 09:21 PM

The SC Department of Natural Resources / Fish & Game may also be able to answer your questions. I have a 1200 acre wildlife area near me owned and operated by the Illinois Dept of Natural Resources. I gave them a call about target practice on occasion. What the heck, all they can do is say no. You guessed it, they said no. But, in Iowa, their DNR has designated areas on some state owned land for target practice. And I think they are open year around except during hunting seasons. It's worth asking.

USNRet93 · December 30, 2018, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maui19

There are no outdoor ranges near me---well actually there is one but it is waaay more than I can afford. Anyway, I am trying to determine if it is legal fire my long guns on public lands here. I have done a bunch of searches, and I find references to target practice in some info published by the state, but there is nothing I can sink my teeth in. I would love to avoid having to call a state office to try to get this information, but that may be what I have to do. Unless you guys can point me in the right direction here.

Thanks for any info or thoughts you may have.

Here in CO, legal to shoot on public lands(National Forest) but not 'Park' land..very few restrictions..100 feet from any road, against hill, pointed away from traffic..BUT contact the Forest Service, as has been mentioned.

https://www.fs.fed.us/

old roper · December 30, 2018, 09:18 AM

We have mix of State and Federal land here in Co. Federal land here can be close to shooting

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/arp/r...STELPRD3836311

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE...rdb5402898.pdf

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/psicc...id=fsm9_032539

USNRet93 · December 30, 2018, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old roper

We have mix of State and Federal land here in Co. Federal land here can be close to shooting

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/arp/r...STELPRD3836311

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE...rdb5402898.pdf

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/psicc...id=fsm9_032539

Do you know about the 'uncontrolled' shooting area above Lyons? The one in Lefthand was closed mostly because of all the yahoos who shot up there and left their garbage..like old TVs, car batterys(?), assorted junk..

Going to the one above Lyons in about an hour..

old roper · December 30, 2018, 12:27 PM

No, I don't know about the ones in Lyons. I lived Black Forest, there enough problems down here going up to Woodland Park. At some pt all front range public land be closed to shooting.

USNRet93 · December 31, 2018, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old roper

No, I don't know about the ones in Lyons. I lived Black Forest, there enough problems down here going up to Woodland Park. At some pt all front range public land be closed to shooting.

Why is that? This, Harris shooting Park and another one by Deckers are wide open and widely used..is there some sort of legislation pending?

old roper · December 31, 2018, 09:07 AM

You might want to read this. Does have lanes bet that's real safe.

https://kdvr.com/2018/05/11/forest-s...t-harris-park/

dakota.potts · December 31, 2018, 06:16 PM

Where in South Carolina are you? When I lived in Greenwood, we would drive to Laurens to shoot at the outdoor public (DNR) range. As I remember, there are also such ranges in Greenville, Spartanburg, and Columbia. I'm less familiar with Eastern South Carolina but I'd be surprised if there wasn't a public range close enough to you to make use of.

Capt Rick Hiott · December 31, 2018, 06:23 PM

Im in Summerville,SC ,,,Where are you in the state?

Public range's scare me...…

There is two by me,,,one at Twin Ponds and the other at Boggy Head. Both are north of Charleston close to MtPleasant.

Also check with Palmetto State Armory,,,,they have one somewhere in the state.....

USNRet93 · January 1, 2019, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old roper

You might want to read this. Does have lanes bet that's real safe.

https://kdvr.com/2018/05/11/forest-s...t-harris-park/

That's too bad and why the one up Lefthand canyon was closed..because idiots shot up things like TV, computers and car batterys(?) and left that crap up there. They do have a dumpster at Harris but it's always packed full.

The 2 times I have been there, the people were very conscientious, very polite and altho no lanes..I saw nothing really scary or unsafe. BUT yup, a small percentage of 'range ninjas' will cause it to close.

If you'd like directions to one above Lyons, PM me..it's seldom crowded, would like to keep it that way.

KEYBEAR · January 1, 2019, 08:43 PM

In the state of Indiana we have a lot of shooting Ranges . I very nice DNR (state) Range is 12 miles from my home . At this range You have 25 yard-50 yard-100 yard and 200 yard all have good benches three at each yardage . Now the problem this range it in the middle of camp grounds a lot of campers . In the summer people dump the kids off and go back to the camp . The kids some 7/8 years old with guns most from the city . I built my own range years ago and will never go back to the state range .

unclejack37 · January 2, 2019, 08:21 AM

Try this web site. It covers gun ranges in each county in South Carolina.
http://dnr.sc.gov/shooting/bycounty.html
I have 83 acres in Oconee county, but if you know someone with at least 8 acres and the land is listed as agricultural ask them for permission.

Old 454 · January 2, 2019, 10:40 AM

Yes state ranges in Indiana are ok. But recently the stopped allowing you to pick up brass that other leave behind.

I go to Jasper Pulaski and to Winamac.
I know a few of the range matters at JP... they jokingly stated that no rifle brass makes it back to there recycling or what ever it is they do with it.

December 29, 2018, 04:56 PM	#1
Maui19 Member Join Date: March 8, 2006 Posts: 41	Target practice on public lands in SC There are no outdoor ranges near me---well actually there is one but it is waaay more than I can afford. Anyway, I am trying to determine if it is legal fire my long guns on public lands here. I have done a bunch of searches, and I find references to target practice in some info published by the state, but there is nothing I can sink my teeth in. I would love to avoid having to call a state office to try to get this information, but that may be what I have to do. Unless you guys can point me in the right direction here. Thanks for any info or thoughts you may have.

December 29, 2018, 08:02 PM	#3
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,809	I'd contact the closest National Forest office. __________________ "If you're still doing things the same way you were doing them 10 years ago, you're doing it wrong" Winston Churchill

December 29, 2018, 09:16 PM	#4
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,446	WHAT public land? Call the folks who manage that land __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

December 30, 2018, 09:18 AM	#7
old roper Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2007 Posts: 2,155	We have mix of State and Federal land here in Co. Federal land here can be close to shooting https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/arp/r...STELPRD3836311 https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE...rdb5402898.pdf https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/psicc...id=fsm9_032539 __________________ Semper Fi Vietnam 1965 VFW Life member NRA Life Member

December 30, 2018, 12:27 PM	#9
old roper Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2007 Posts: 2,155	No, I don't know about the ones in Lyons. I lived Black Forest, there enough problems down here going up to Woodland Park. At some pt all front range public land be closed to shooting. __________________ Semper Fi Vietnam 1965 VFW Life member NRA Life Member

December 29, 2018, 06:37 PM	#2
lamarw Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2010 Location: Lake Martin, AL Posts: 3,311	How about your local Sheriff's Office?

December 29, 2018, 09:21 PM	#5
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,710	The SC Department of Natural Resources / Fish & Game may also be able to answer your questions. I have a 1200 acre wildlife area near me owned and operated by the Illinois Dept of Natural Resources. I gave them a call about target practice on occasion. What the heck, all they can do is say no. You guessed it, they said no. But, in Iowa, their DNR has designated areas on some state owned land for target practice. And I think they are open year around except during hunting seasons. It's worth asking.

December 31, 2018, 09:07 AM	#11
old roper Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2007 Posts: 2,155	You might want to read this. Does have lanes bet that's real safe. https://kdvr.com/2018/05/11/forest-s...t-harris-park/ __________________ Semper Fi Vietnam 1965 VFW Life member NRA Life Member

December 31, 2018, 06:16 PM	#12
dakota.potts Senior Member Join Date: February 25, 2013 Location: Keystone Heights, Florida Posts: 3,084	Where in South Carolina are you? When I lived in Greenwood, we would drive to Laurens to shoot at the outdoor public (DNR) range. As I remember, there are also such ranges in Greenville, Spartanburg, and Columbia. I'm less familiar with Eastern South Carolina but I'd be surprised if there wasn't a public range close enough to you to make use of. __________________ Certified Gunsmith (On Hiatus) Certified Armorer - H&K and Glock Among Others You can find my writings at my website, pottsprecision.com.

December 31, 2018, 06:23 PM	#13
Capt Rick Hiott Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 376	Im in Summerville,SC ,,,Where are you in the state? Public range's scare me...… There is two by me,,,one at Twin Ponds and the other at Boggy Head. Both are north of Charleston close to MtPleasant. Also check with Palmetto State Armory,,,,they have one somewhere in the state..... __________________ Capt Rick Hiott Charleston,SC

January 1, 2019, 08:43 PM	#15
KEYBEAR Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2012 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,059	In the state of Indiana we have a lot of shooting Ranges . I very nice DNR (state) Range is 12 miles from my home . At this range You have 25 yard-50 yard-100 yard and 200 yard all have good benches three at each yardage . Now the problem this range it in the middle of camp grounds a lot of campers . In the summer people dump the kids off and go back to the camp . The kids some 7/8 years old with guns most from the city . I built my own range years ago and will never go back to the state range .

January 2, 2019, 08:21 AM	#16
unclejack37 Junior member Join Date: October 3, 2014 Location: Delaware Posts: 121	Try this web site. It covers gun ranges in each county in South Carolina. http://dnr.sc.gov/shooting/bycounty.html I have 83 acres in Oconee county, but if you know someone with at least 8 acres and the land is listed as agricultural ask them for permission.

January 2, 2019, 10:40 AM	#17
Old 454 Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2011 Location: Chesterton Ind. Posts: 822	Yes state ranges in Indiana are ok. But recently the stopped allowing you to pick up brass that other leave behind. I go to Jasper Pulaski and to Winamac. I know a few of the range matters at JP... they jokingly stated that no rifle brass makes it back to there recycling or what ever it is they do with it.