New resident to CA. Please don’t gate keep. Any outdoor spots to shoot freely in Nor Cal?

[westsidearms]

Stanislaus County

I consider that Central California. You still have 365 miles to the Oregon border.

 

[jarhead714]

I consider that Central California. You still have 365 miles to the Oregon border.

These discussions of regional distinction and those with regard to the weather are the most entertaining to be found on the California Internets.

 

[Robdog1]

Just for me, from my perspective, I will grant you that Santa Rosa is about the absolute southern tip of Northern California

To me it goes Santa Barbara> San Diego = SoCal, Lompoc/Vandenberg > Monterey = Central, above Monterey = NorCal. Draw a line inland accordingly.

 

[Deadcoyote]

To me it goes Santa Barbara> San Diego = SoCal, Lompoc/Vandenberg > Monterey = Central, above Monterey = NorCal. Draw a line inland accordingly.

So your geography is about on point with the classic Spanish colonial concept of California geography, Southern California becomes central at point conception then becomes Northern California at point Sur. For us up here I’ve always heard it said that Northern California doesn’t start until you hit point Arena., which is still a decent ways north of Santa Rosa. It’s all semantics.

Realistically the silliest thing to me as a person from rural Northern California is anytime I’m traveling in San Jose or any point south of there and someone tells me I’m in “nor cal”

 

[H. Bowman]

Stanislaus is more than 300 miles south of me. I'm no help.

 

[karlP]

Cow Mountain north of Santa Rosa is popular. There's also some BLM north of Sacramento (unsure which areas are shootable).

Make sure you check the local BLM website for fire restrictions; a lot of BLM under fire restrictions will not let you shoot steel cased, or incendiary targets/ammo during the summer/"hot Fall" months. It will save you from an awkward conversation with the BLM ranger...

I believe the updated restrictions was no target shooting at all during the current fire restrictions. Am I wrong?

 

[jarhead714]

There’s BLM restrictions in free Arizona and Nevada. There is no chance in hell of shooting anywhere NEAR the Bay Area.

 

[honeybadger270]

Central CA-Merced

Look up BLM areas

Tons up in that area

Head out to little panoche hills, easy drive for you! All those hills in that area have spots for long distance or anything you want really

 

[Devious2011]

Cow Mountain north of Santa Rosa is popular. There's also some BLM north of Sacramento (unsure which areas are shootable).

Make sure you check the local BLM website for fire restrictions; a lot of BLM under fire restrictions will not let you shoot steel cased, or incendiary targets/ammo during the summer/"hot Fall" months. It will save you from an awkward conversation with the BLM ranger...

Great info!

 

[.dC0m]

I believe the updated restrictions was no target shooting at all during the current fire restrictions. Am I wrong?

I believe you are correct, but it depends on the local BLM office.

In NV, I believe they specify which areas target shooting is allowed, while other areas are off limits during fire restrictions. Can't say the same for the CA BLM offices - haven't been to those areas in a while.

 

[Deleted member 16735]

Stanislaus County

Candy Rock Quarry up highway 4 towards Arnold

 

[echo1]

Stanislaus has BLM east of Modesto off hwy132, at Lake McClures west side, Hunters Valley. It's a long barren ridge with everything shot to pieces, can be snakes and dirt squirrels. The road eventually terminates at the lake. Pretty crappy and desolate but there are some shots at distance. There are a couple places just as far on Del Puerto Canyon Road at Mines Road, you have to pay. Also, if you go south on McCracken Road off 132 near Vernalis, when you get between the 2 big ditches, the Delta Mendota & the California Aqueduct, you can get some isolated spots before you get to I5. Many places have big berms. My buddy had a 1K range just before Westly. Check with BLM to see if there are restriction. It'd be cheaper just to go to any of the ranges or clubs. Manteca Sportsman for instance, is good enough. PAX

 

[Devious2011]

Stanislaus has BLM east of Modesto off hwy132, at Lake McClures west side, Hunters Valley. It's a long barren ridge with everything shot to pieces, can be snakes and dirt squirrels. The road eventually terminates at the lake. Pretty crappy and desolate but there are some shots at distance. There are a couple places just as far on Del Puerto Canyon Road at Mines Road, you have to pay. Also, if you go south on McCracken Road off 132 near Vernalis, when you get between the 2 big ditches, the Delta Mendota & the California Aqueduct, you can get some isolated spots before you get to I5. Many places have big berms. My buddy had a 1K range just before Westly. Check with BLM to see if there are restriction. It'd be cheaper just to go to any of the ranges or clubs. Manteca Sportsman for instance, is good enough. PAX

That’s helpful! Thanks

 

[Eldoman]

Lot's of mention of BLM land. You can also shoot on Forest Service land. Make sure it's a safe place to shoot, make sure the fire danger is low and please leave it cleaner than you found it.

 

[jarhead714]

Lot's of mention of BLM land. You can also shoot on Forest Service land. Make sure it's a safe place to shoot, make sure the fire danger is low and please leave it cleaner than you found it.

Considering it’s the first weeks of September in California (generally the hottest days throughout the entire state,) I’d say what you suggest is a near impossibility unless precipitation is actually falling from the sky and wetting the ground, which is at least a possibility.

 

[Eldoman]

Considering it’s the first weeks of September in California (generally the hottest days throughout the entire state,) I’d say what you suggest is a near impossibility unless precipitation is actually falling from the sky and wetting the ground, which is at least a possibility.

That's right. I'll start going out to shoot again after we get a few rains.

 

[Legasov]

BLM maps will show you. Please pick up your trash, dont shoot up appliances and leave them there.

 

[Legasov]

Stanislaus has BLM east of Modesto off hwy132, at Lake McClures west side, Hunters Valley. It's a long barren ridge with everything shot to pieces, can be snakes and dirt squirrels. The road eventually terminates at the lake. Pretty crappy and desolate but there are some shots at distance. There are a couple places just as far on Del Puerto Canyon Road at Mines Road, you have to pay. Also, if you go south on McCracken Road off 132 near Vernalis, when you get between the 2 big ditches, the Delta Mendota & the California Aqueduct, you can get some isolated spots before you get to I5. Many places have big berms. My buddy had a 1K range just before Westly. Check with BLM to see if there are restriction. It'd be cheaper just to go to any of the ranges or clubs. Manteca Sportsman for instance, is good enough. PAX

Hunters valley is fairly easy to find. Its a rough road, go slow if you dont want to ruin your suspension.

 

[Hit Factor]

Stanislaus County

Go to some local ranges, like Linden or Manteca, and start making some connections with local shooters. People are willing to share info, but most people are not willing to post good spots on the internet for anyone with the wherewithal to type “good public land for shooting near Stanislaus County” into a search bar to find. That’s how good, clean places to shoot get overrun and turned into places like Spenceville.

 

[Legasov]

Go to some local ranges, like Linden or Manteca, and start making some connections with local shooters. People are willing to share info, but most people are not willing to post good spots on the internet for anyone with the wherewithal to type “good public land for shooting near Stanislaus County” into a search bar to find. That’s how good, clean places to shoot get overrun and turned into places like Spenceville.

Not to mention, a lot of people who cant legally own guns think that these places are perfect to do crap like mag dump out of moving vehicles or let off their Draco into the side of a levee.