Boondocking spots that turn out to also be gun ranges

[Reducto]

For the second time I've found online what seems to be a good 14 day free camping spot not too far from a decent sized town only to arrive and find out it's where everyone in that town goes to practice their shooting.

Where I am now the ground is covered in casings and today a few people came by to fire near me. There was nothing about this in the freecampsites.net or BLM pages about the area. I guess I'm wondering if there's a way to find out before driving somewhere if it's one of these hotspots.

I don't mean for this to be yet another gun debate thread - I'd just rather not park where there's regular gunfire.

 

[Donedirtcheap]

I have seen trains, noisy highways, tug boat horns etc mentioned on there but no gun ranges. Register on freecampsites.net and start putting it in the reviews. It would also be good for those who want to be near shooting areas. I'm guessing that it probably happens more in BLM type areas as some state rules prohibit shooting in areas other than designated gun ranges. You could also search the web for gun ranges as you locate potential camping spots. I know it wont help you with the exact problem you encountered now but it may help.

 

[rvwandering]

Please register on freecampsites as Donedirtcheap suggests and enter your reviews if the campsites is listed or add the campsite if it isn't listed already. That's the best way for all of us who use the site to know what we'll find at any particular spot.

We've camped at several places that had shell casings on the ground but only once, in Newfoundland, did anyone actually come to target practice. In Newfoundland boondockers have priority and anyone who wants to shoot has to make sure that it's okay with the people camping. We were fine with it and ended up learning a lot about life in Newfoundland.

I'm going to keep this in mind and make sure that I mention shell casing in any reviews or listings. Thanks for bring this up.

 

[Reducto]

Thanks! I will start getting better about posting reviews. The first one did actually list shooting as an attraction but it wasn't mentioned in any reviews and it was a big area so I figured it was ok. The sounds of automatic gunfire were non-stop. This one, Sand Cove Reservoir in Utah, I could find no mention of it whatsoever.

 

[highdesertranger]

well with the price of scrap brass I would be collecting those casings. I know an old desert rat who does that. 100 bucks for a 5 gallon bucket, mas or menos. claims he makes more that way than prospecting. when given lemons, make lemonade. highdesertranger

 

[minimotos95]

I do that, if you sort the centerfire brass by cartridge you can sell it to reloaders for much more than scrap price, up to about $0.75 a piece depending on the cartridge. rimfire brass is very thin, light and can't be reloaded, not really worth picking up, unless there's a huge mound of it.
for me anything I pick up that I can't use is scrapped, traded or sold.

you might be able to tell anything that's being used as a range from satellite view on google maps, just look for signs of heavy traffic and targets/garbage scattered.

 

[Reducto]

Where do you take the casings? A gun shop?

Most of what I'm finding is those plastic shotgun things but there has been some brass.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Those plastic shotgun hulls do sell for reloading also. Takes about 50 to make a pound...worth 8-10 bucks.
Amo is getting very expensive and reloading is common.

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Yes, check with a gunshop.

 

[Reducto]

Wow... it's starting to feel personal! I do not think the greater St George area is for me. Here's what I woke up to this morning

 

[WheelEstate USA]

I used to port my sailboat over at Apalachicola. I don't remember them shooting on SG, but I never spent much time there...too many tourists on the island.
Check out the area by Indian Pass. There used to be some primo spots over there....and a hella oyster bar too

 

[Reducto]

St George Utah!

 

[WheelEstate USA]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

O CRAP.....Am I ever cornfused....I missed the UTAH part.
I'm off in Fla in my mind....DUH

 

[minimotos95]

it's my understanding you have to go somewhere very remote in St. George area to get some peace during the spring/early summer. from what i have seen there's a lot of desert out there if your vehicle is up to some rougher roads. maybe ask the department of whatever utah calls it office, a motorcycle or 4x4 shop about any spots that are low traffic, secluded but not hard to get to.

I rarely pick up shotgun hulls unless they are high brass instead of low brass, fresh and not deformed, shot shell reloaders are few and far between. gun shows and smaller gun shops are generally good places to sell brass. of course most scrap yards will pay you up to or a little over $2 a pound for mixed range brass, some scrap yards are hesitant because of live primers.

 

[akrvbob]

When I saw the photos my first thought was how incredibly rude they were!! But the more I thought it about it I thought maybe it never occurred to them you might be sleeping n your van and that you must be shooting somewhere nearby so it was a good place. But that is still extremely rude! Maybe you were off hiking and one of their ricochets would kill you.

When you got there was there sign of shooting going on before? I always assume if they've shot there before they will come back again and they will feel "entitled" to it.
Bob

 

[Reducto]

On this gravel road there are established pullouts every mile or two and this was roughly the 5th one down. There are signs of shooting at every spot it's possible to pull over.

It was weird - they pulled right next to me like they wanted to share the experience but they never looked my direction once. I saw them, waved and said hi - no response. I took pictures of the situation - no response. I packed up and left - no response. Not even a motion over to me that they were going to start shooting and I should put on ear protection.

I should move on but the weather is so perfect and I found an unestablished place with no hills (they seem to like hills to shoot at) and great internet so I'm going to stay a bit then scavenge for some brass on my way out. I guess I'm stubborn.