Any public land to shoot on

[4x4]

Does anyone know of any place way out in the country where nobody would notice if you were shooting? Serious question.

I always see on Youtube people shooting out in the middle of nowhere. I was wondering if anyone knows any sites like this near central Indiana? Something with a strong natural backstop.

 

[JohnP82]

I think it is safe to say that no matter how far out and vacant the land is, it is still owned by someone therefor making it private property. There are many people that have the privelage of having plenty of land to shoot on.

Personally I would never just show up somewhere and treat it like my personal range. I know a few people that are able to shoot on other people's land, but they have permission from the property owner.

 

[dhnorris]

if you don't have anywhere to shoot you should google gun ranges and go to the ones near you. most will let you plant some lead for $5.00 or so. I do not recommend driving around until you find what you think looks good and letting fly. Those desolate shacks city boys see, we call homes and what you might call wasteland we call yards.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

I always used to drive down to Morgan Monroe State Forest and go shooting. Just this past weekend I was shooting my Mosin and AK-47 down at lake Monroe, but I was camped on public ground (not a campground). I think Lake Monroe is about the only lake that allows that (camping in areas other than an official campground). In either case of course it's important to know your surroundings and your backstop.

 

[sepe]

If you don't want to pay for range time, either make friends with someone with quite a bit of land or keep it at a DNR range. The DNR range near me is all paper targets (bring your own) or clays (bring your own). I do see some people shooting pop cans and it annoys me a bit because they usually just leave them. That brings us to the last point. Regardless of where you shoot, leave it looking nicer than when you showed up.

 

[CountryBoy19]

You can typically shoot in National Forests, like the Hoosier National Forest that is spread all across southern IN in bits and pieces. So maybe if you put your location in your profile so we can see where you're from we could help you out on your request. Do NOT just drive out to a piece of property that "looks public" and start shooting. I assure you, that you cannot tell the difference between public and private land just by looking at it.

 

[singlesix]

I always used to drive down to Morgan Monroe State Forest and go shooting. Just this past weekend I was shooting my Mosin and AK-47 down at lake Monroe, but I was camped on public ground (not a campground). I think Lake Monroe is about the only lake that allows that (camping in areas other than an official campground). In either case of course it's important to know your surroundings and your backstop.

Target shooting is not allowed on State Forest Property except for established ranges. It is also important to know the regulations.

DNR: Forestry FAQs

 

[GoDawgs]

That public land you see in youtube videos is generally going to be out west (http://www.famguardian.org/Subjects/LawAndGovt/ChallJurisdiction/map-owns_the_west.jpg). Indiana does not have much nor do most states east of the Rockies.

Why do you need to shoot public land in the middle of nowhere? My thought process is if am going to spend $10-50+ dollars on ammo, and a few more bucks for gas for a trip to the range, why not spend $5-10 for the use of the facility as well?

 

[Kirk Freeman]

I always see on Youtube people shooting out in the middle of nowhere.

Those people are taking advantage of taxpayer land. It's ours and I guess we let them use it.

You will not find BLM land in Indiana. We have to pay our own way here.

There are no public lands managed by the BLM in Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. Selling Public Land