Shooting in the Texas Panhandle the other day…

M

Model29-26.5

Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2024
Messages
1,061
Reaction score
1,923
Location
Nashville TN
I shot these out in the backyard of a family member in the Texas panhandle a few days ago.
19-3, 25-5, 28-2, 25-5, 629 No dash.
What a pleasure it was.
Currently in New Mexico with so much amazing vast open land and what seems to be unending hills/mesas/humps and areas to shoot in, but.. got to wait until I hit the Butterfield Shooting range I guess.
I am not familiar or experienced in where you can shoot or what is legal. I know you’re ok on private property if it’s far enough out.
It seems there would be plenty of places all over up dirt roads and such, away from the roads, no buildings around where you wouldn’t see another soul, but I don’t want to take any chances.
Can anyone here set me straight here on exactly what is legal?
Thanks



attachment.php
 

Attachments

  • IMG_6726.jpg
    IMG_6726.jpg
    161.2 KB · Views: 233
Register to hide this ad
I would assume the key is having permission to be on land. If it’s public land then being outside town limits is probably the only requirement
 
Ask the locals. There are sometimes public ranges in rural communities where folks go to shoot. Often no range control, no one else there, but it is understood that shooting is ok. I spend the summers in a rural area in the Colorado mountains that has such a range and often spend a few hours there and half the time see no one else. Ask around.

Jeff
SWCA #1457
 
Permission

There isn't a lot of public land in Texas, Texas was mostly privately owned when it was admitted in to the United States. To hunt you need permission to hunt. most good hunting is on leased land. As for shooting I guess if you are far enough in the boonies no one cares. On privately owned land, the owner can shoot when he wants. But he is liable if someone gets hurt. Had a case locally where a land owner was shooting on his property (5 acres) and a kid 3/4 of a mile or so away was shot while on his trampoline in his backyard. Lots of lawyer stuff there.
SWCA 892
 
austintexas said:
There isn't a lot of public land in Texas, Texas was mostly privately owned when it was admitted in to the United States. To hunt you need permission to hunt. most good hunting is on leased land. As for shooting I guess if you are far enough in the boonies no one cares. On privately owned land, the owner can shoot when he wants. But he is liable if someone gets hurt. Had a case locally where a land owner was shooting on his property (5 acres) and a kid 3/4 of a mile or so away was shot while on his trampoline in his backyard. Lots of lawyer stuff there.
SWCA 892
Click to expand...

“Know what your target is and what is beyond it.”
 
22hipower said:
Ask the locals. There are sometimes public ranges in rural communities where folks go to shoot. Often no range control, no one else there, but it is understood that shooting is ok. I spend the summers in a rural area in the Colorado mountains that has such a range and often spend a few hours there and half the time see no one else. Ask around.

Jeff
SWCA #1457
Click to expand...

Thanks Jeff.
A little Google digging and it looks like Ojito Public Wilderness has designated shooting areas.
Gig here in ABQ tomorrow night…. Monday in the wilderness.
 
Model29-26.5 said:
A little Google digging and it looks like Ojito Public Wilderness has designated shooting areas…
Click to expand...

Might check with the local authorities, just to be sure of all the conditions, rules, and stipulations. Would be a shame to be a long way from home and lose your nice revolvers over some minor misunderstanding.

Here in Indiana we have some designated public ranges. Only a few of those are manned at any given time, and it seems a lot of them have their own individual sets of rules that you are supposed to know and be observing when/if the friendly conservation officer comes by to check on you. ;)
 
M29since14 said:
Might check with the local authorities, just to be sure of all the conditions, rules, and stipulations. Would be a shame to be a long way from home and lose your nice revolvers over some minor misunderstanding.

Here in Indiana we have some designated public ranges. Only a few of those are manned at any given time, and it seems a lot of them have their own individual sets of rules that you are supposed to know and be observing when/if the friendly conservation officer comes by to check on you. ;)
Click to expand...

If there are any staff around, I will make double sure.
See if there’s a number to call.
Thanks
 
When shooting on Forest Service land out west there are a few rules.
No shooting over or across a numbered FS road or highway, and no shooting within a certain distance of campsites or permanent structures.

I believe the actual distance is measured in feet (75 and 150 ), but to stay safe I usually try to be several hundred yards from a camp or building.

I live in a lower valley a couple hours north of Phoenix, and the valley is popular with snowbirds due to a nice winter climate.
This time of year, you can count on tourists being camped at most of the "usual" shooting areas here on Forest Service land.
Once spring turns into summer, the tourists will gravitate to higher, cooler elevations and we get our favorite shooting areas back.
 
Much of the open land in the west is leased for cattle. It might be BLM, Forest Service, State or School trusts but if there is cattle visible any where I would find another spot.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
It occurred to me the other day…
Replies
11
Views
542
Jim Watson
J
M
Did anyone snag this 99.9% 29-2 the other day?
Replies
8
Views
756
505Gibbs
505Gibbs
TeamPB
I'm in Texas for the USGP and I wandered into Cabela's
Replies
9
Views
609
bobsguns
bobsguns
francoisallais
The fourth of the family
Replies
0
Views
58
francoisallais
francoisallais
T
AM I IN THE RIGHT FORUM?
Replies
6
Views
510
StrawHat
StrawHat

Latest posts

Back
Top