Public places to target shoot

[u/BishSalad]

I know this is a question asked every so often here, but I think it is ok to ask again as some BLM areas get shut down and even gated from time-to-time.

I'm looking for spots less than 45 minutes drive from Eugene where I can legally set up targets and practice shooting. It seems unnecessarily difficult to find this information through BLM resources.

Thanks in advance, and know that I take the responsibility of gun ownership very seriously and always practice proper shooting ethics, including clean up of the site after use.

[u/themehkanik]

Get OnX Offroad maps. Shows all the public land.

[u/Proud_Cauliflower400 → u/themehkanik]

I second OnX for mapping, they have multiple layers and map options for roads most people don't even know exist or hardly get used by common folk.

OnX has saved my ass a couple of times when I got turned around at a Y or roads crossing each other. I like to carry white paper plates and zip lock bags as back up road markers that I can stick to branches or trees for visual references but a lot of times people will grab them or take them thinking they're trash or because people are sadistic assholes that don't want other people "in their spots" if your worried about markers being removed, you can utilize sticks with unique shapes or attributes or lay them in certain ways as direction pointers. Getting out, familiarizing yourself with what everything around that area looks like while creating a directional aid saves people from time to time from getting lost.

Directional tools and familiarizing yourselves to your path of travel by noticing and remembering unique physical features can and will save your life or save you from having to be rescued. It could be as simple as a spent shell casing pressed into tree bark pointing towards the direction of travel you came from should you get turned around or unsure. Just clean up as you travel back out.

Nothing beats having a map of the area, including the roads and a compass and knowing how to use them. Pictures on your phone are helpful as long as you have a charger in your vehicle.

If you go into the woods or deep enough into the woods, you should have a couple packages of energy bars/granola bars or whatever long term storage and ready to eat food items, and 3 to 5 gallons of water.

The water, especially if you're unaware of creeks or streams can be a vehicle saver if your radiator overheats and or has a slow leak issue that might develop up in the mountains.

It's easy to have the long term storage food and water in a rubber/plastic tote in your vehicle, tire chains, bungee cords, 20+ feet of rope, a knife, dry tinder for fire starting and a couple unopened packs of Bic lighters and a basic mechanics tool kit/tire patch kit and a battery operated tire pump as well as a spare tire. FOR THE LOVE OF WHATEVER GOD YOU DO OR DO NOT PRAY TO, CHECK YOUR VEHICLES SPARE TIRE'S AIR PRESSURE PERIODICALLY AND BEFORE GOING OUT INTO THE WILDERNESS. A FLAT SPARE TIRE IS WORTHLESS IF YOU NEED IT. Normal vehicle issues on a public road can be a life or death situation on a forest road, especially during the fall and winter months.

Be smart, not dead, or spend money on going to open to the public shooting ranges. Be prepared or be dead.

[u/lmWritingThis → u/Proud_Cauliflower400]

Happy cake day.