Public places to shoot in Texas?

[Scott in Houston]

All over YouTube are gun review videos like this one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8Vm2r7CZFY&NR=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And the shooters appear to be, and in some videos claim to be, in public areas out in the desert or wilderness. (Public land)

Does Texas have anywhere like this? I'd love to have a place to go plink targets, cans, etc. for a change.

[Mike1951]

For many years, there were several sites in the Sam Houston National Forest around Cold Spring and New Waverly. One, west of New Waverly, was a proper shooting range. A few years ago, it was still open from September through the end of hunting season.

But the other informal shooting areas were permanently shut down by the USFS. These were also frequented by full auto shooters, but I think it was the dumping that finally did them in. Folks were not good about hauling away the items they brought with them as targets, i.e. propane bottles, appliances, etc.

I do know that there is a range in Lufkin that includes a plinking pit. That is almost unheard of. But I believe it is a membership range.

I'm old enough to remember being allowed to shoot at city dumps, gravel and sand pits, etc.

Good luck finding anything short of privately owned land.

[Oldgringo]

But the other informal shooting areas were permanently shut down by the USFS. These were also frequented by full auto shooters, but I think it was the dumping that finally did them in. Folks were not good about hauling away the items they brought with them as targets, i.e. propane bottles, appliances, etc.

I'm old enough to remember being allowed to shoot at city dumps, gravel and sand pits, etc.

In the immortal words of (comic strip) Pogo, "I have seen the enemy and it is us". {SIGH}

[JJVP]

I've heard that the steps at the state capitol are open for target practice.

[Rex B]

Having spent much of my youth in New Mexico, I was amazed to learn there is almost no public land in Texas. it's almost all privately owned.
So unless you or someone in your family or circle of friends has a rural plot of land, plinking and informal practice is a non-starter.

My intention is to buy 20 acres away from town, just because.

[TexasGal]

Having spent much of my youth in New Mexico, I was amazed to learn there is almost no public land in Texas. it's almost all privately owned.
So unless you or someone in your family or circle of friends has a rural plot of land, plinking and informal practice is a non-starter.

My intention is to buy 20 acres away from town, just because.

Let us know where and we promise to pack out our trash

[Rex B]

Having spent much of my youth in New Mexico, I was amazed to learn there is almost no public land in Texas. it's almost all privately owned.
So unless you or someone in your family or circle of friends has a rural plot of land, plinking and informal practice is a non-starter.

My intention is to buy 20 acres away from town, just because.

Let us know where and we promise to pack out our trash

Just leave the brass!

[G.A. Heath]

Many small community and some county Law Enforcement ranges are open to public use for residents. This is the case with the Gaines County Law Enforcement Range which is primarily used by the four departments in the county along with the optimist club for turkey/ham shoots, and a number of residents who can ready the sign at the gate that says to call for public use. You might want to check out your county/city LE range to see if it is available for public use.

[Scott in Houston]

Many small community and some county Law Enforcement ranges are open to public use for residents. This is the case with the Gaines County Law Enforcement Range which is primarily used by the four departments in the county along with the optimist club for turkey/ham shoots, and a number of residents who can ready the sign at the gate that says to call for public use. You might want to check out your county/city LE range to see if it is available for public use.

Thanks for the suggestion.

I am really looking for a place I can do things like shoot into milk jugs to test ammo, or plink aluminum cans, etc. I get why they're hard to find. The trash was probably a major issue. I just wish it still existed.

[shootthesheet]

Personally I am glad Texas doesn't have a lot of land being held in waste by the state government. It is my hope we can one day take back all "Federal" land and sell most of it off. I agree we need to protect historical places but beyond that the land would be better managed if it was in private hands and not being a burden on taxpayers.

That does nothing for people who live in more urban places but like TexasGal wrote if a person wants a place to shoot as they choose they should do like those of us in rural areas and buy/lease the land outside of their city. Those who don't have the option of going to their own place and shoot/train when they want and how they want with who they want have been missing out. I don't think even 20 acres is necessary if the place has a natural backstop or one can be made. It seems to me 3-5 would be enough even for rifles. The option of leasing may be attractive to a landowner looking to make some extra money on land they don't use especially if a shooter was willing to do improvements okayed by the owner such as cleaning the area of trees, brush or trash. With a lease a shooter wouldn't have to pay taxes or be locked into a long term expense of paying for the land. I think ownership is best but getting a smaller piece of land isn't always easy or practical.

[srothstein]

Personally I am glad Texas doesn't have a lot of land being held in waste by the state government.

Haven't driven through downtown Austin lately, huh?

[Bill]

Having spent much of my youth in New Mexico, I was amazed to learn there is almost no public land in Texas. it's almost all privately owned.
So unless you or someone in your family or circle of friends has a rural plot of land, plinking and informal practice is a non-starter.

My intention is to buy 20 acres away from town, just because.

Actually its not , there is about 750,000 NF acres in Big Bend, 600,000 acres in east Texas, you just can't shoot there, also over 125 state parks