Desert shooting in AZ

[TroyMN]

My understanding in the rural Scottsdale area you can shoot unless posted closed. I have family that lives there, I live in MN. We tried to find a good SAFE area to shoot 400-1000 yards but could not really come up with any nice spots. Are the shooting spots kinda like fishing spots, can't tell you it's a secret... Are there some well know safe spots to shoot that type of distance ? I only have one steel target down there, kinda a pain to hike it in, but would prefer to only have to hike in the target or shooting gear not both. That could take a couple trips. I have shot long range practice at Ben Avery with the Dersert Sharp Shooters, but I like the idea of actual desert shooting. Also there are no practices for the second week in June.
Any help would be greatly appreciated! Happy to shoot with other members if you have the time.
Thanks
Troy

 

[Angmo]

Silence really is the answer. They are all secret fishing spots...

 

[lancetkenyon]

Shooting within city limits is a no-no, so "rural Scottsdale" is technically illegal to be discharging a firearm. And some of the Scottsdale PD are quite particular about this.

Get out into the desert around Sycamore Canyon or past it on the Beeline and you should be good....as long as you are off the Indian reservations. Also remember any State Trust Land is illegal to target practice on as well. You need written permission or a valid AZ hunting license to even be on STL.

We shoot at a place north of Wickenburg and can get out to 1760. Probably farther.

 

[ZombieMonkey]

Issue you're going to run into this time of the year is many of the shooting spots are BLM land and as such is currently closed to shooting because of fire restrictions.

Other issue you have to be careful about for reaching is is that no ATV trails cross your path. Many spots which would otherwise be good are ruined because of ATV riders.

 

[bkw1911]

Yeah pretty much may-sept they are ticket crazy for shooting in blm, state trust land, and national forest. Best bet is join us in Phoenix Saturday for our monthly match. 1st match is free and we'll have steel from 300-710ish-yds. Lots of fun.

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[ZombieMonkey]

Quick question bkw, are the matches always on a particular Saturday each month (i.e. on the third saturday, etc)? I work graves Friday night so coming out has been difficult for me to say the least. I'm usually stuck banging away at steel in the desert somewhere. Figured getting into the competitive side might be fun at some point.

 

[bkw1911]

Quick question bkw, are the matches always on a particular Saturday each month (i.e. on the third saturday, etc)? I work graves Friday night so coming out has been difficult for me to say the least. I'm usually stuck banging away at steel in the desert somewhere. Figured getting into the competitive side might be fun at some point.

Always the 3rd Saturday. 7am through the summer, 8am through the winter. Your always welcome in late too. You just miss some stages but you can get worked in. Just show up in uniform if you aren't too dead after your shift.

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[ZombieMonkey]

I may have to do that some time this summer, just need to get some gear switched around as I am moving things around for a new rifle. Once I get everything sorted out I think I will have to give it a go, sounds like fun. Thanks for the info.

 

[on2wheels]

Always the 3rd Saturday. 7am through the summer, 8am through the winter. Your always welcome in late too. You just miss some stages but you can get worked in. Just show up in uniform if you aren't too dead after your shift.

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bkw1911 - Where in Phoenix do you have these shoots? I generally go out off Vulture Mine Rd and set up there or up to Cowtown.

 

[bkw1911]

bkw1911 - Where in Phoenix do you have these shoots? I generally go out off Vulture Mine Rd and set up there or up to Cowtown.

Phoenix rod and gun club. If you don't know where it is its in south mountain south of baseline on 7th Ave til it curves and dead ends at the range. We usually meet at the 300yd line or 500yd line. The details are usually posted a week before either on here in the tactical competitions section or on azlrprs Facebook page. First time is free and it's pretty low key so you'll get lots of help and you can borrow anything you forgot or don't have.

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[on2wheels]

Thanks for the information, I will look into this. Sounds very interesting. Far better that running all the way to Rio Salado or Usery Mountain range from the far, far west valley.