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Target Shooting
Recreational Shooting
Our Forests and Grassland offer off-range dispersed shooting and shooting at developed ranges. Both options can accommodate training needs for shooters while adhering to federal rules and regulations, local restrictions, and standard firearm safety practices.
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Sport Shooting Partners
The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland is part of the Northern Front Range Sport Shooting Partnership, comprised of Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin and Larimer counties and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. This group helped the Forest with the Recreational Sport Shooting Management Decision, signed in 2019, that identified unsuitable areas for shooting in an effort to increase public safety. Closing these areas is contingent on public shooting ranges opening to provide opportunities for recreational shooters. Currently the Devils Nose Target Range and the Clear Creek Shooting Park are under construction with plans to open in 2025.
Shooting at Developed Ranges
Visit a local range and follow all safety regulations for that range. Baker Draw is currently open and Devil's Nose is expected to open in 2025. Colorado Parks & Wildlife also maintains a list of shooting ranges across the state for public use.
Dispersed Shooting
According to the Code of Federal Regulations (title 36), recreational shooting can take place on the National Forests and Grasslands under these conditions:
- You are at least 150 yards from a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation area or occupied area.
- You are not shooting across or on a National Forest System Road or an adjacent body of water.
- You are not shooting into or within a cave.
- You are not shooting in any manner or place where any person, property or resource is exposed to injury or damage as a result of such discharge.
- You are not firing any tracer bullet or incendiary ammunition.
Rocky Mountain Region Closure Order: R02-2016-03 prohibits using an explosive, including exploding targets. An explosive is defined as any chemical compound, mixture, or device, the primary or common purpose of which is to function by explosion.
For safety reasons some areas have been closed to discharging a firearm. These restrictions are in place in addition to the Code of Federal Regulations. These closures do not apply to legal hunting activities.
Boulder Ranger District (National Forest System lands near Boulder, Nederland & Allenspark)
See a consolidated map of shooting closures on the Boulder Ranger District.
- Brainard Lake Recreational Area
- Former Allenspark Dump
- South Nederland Closure
- Flood Related Shooting Closure - James Canyon, Lefthand Canyon, Mount Alto, and Sugarloaf Mountain
- Lefthand Slot Canyon Closure
- Lefthand Entrance Closure
Canyon Lakes Ranger District (National Forest System lands in Larimer County)
- Five areas closed:
- Buckhorn Road
- Stove Prairie Road
- Big Elk Meadows Road
- Christy Meadows
- Greyrock Trail
In addition to these, some unsuitable areas are expected to close in northern Larimer County in fall 2024.
Clear Creek Ranger District (National Forest System lands near Idaho Springs & Georgetown)
- Barbour Forks Trailhead Area
- Beaver Brook Trailhead Area (map)
In addition to these, some unduitable areas in southern Clear Creek County are expected to close in fall 20024.
Pawnee National Grassland (National Forest System lands in Weld County)
South of County Road 96 and West of County Road 63. The closure is located in Township 8 North, Range 63 West, Section 7.
Please note: Shooting is not allowed in the area along County Road 61 due to the lack of safe backstops.
Sulphur Ranger District (National Forest System Lands near Sulphur Springs)
No specific closures outside the regular Code of Federal Regulation restrictions are currently in place on the Sulphur Ranger District. Some limited closures are expected fall of 2024.
Weapons Safety Rules
- Treat every weapon as if it were loaded.
- Never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot.
- Keep your finger straight and off the trigger, until you are ready to fire.
- Keep the weapon on safe, until you intend to fire.
- Know your target and what lies beyond.
Local Target and Alcohol Regulations
- You may only shoot targets that are:
- cardboard,
- paper,
- self-healing,
- manufactured metallic (metal targets specifically designed for firearms),
- or manufactured thrown-type clay (clay pigeons)
- Wooden backing on targets is not allowed.
- You may not possess an open container of an alcoholic beverage while discharging a firearm. See shooting restrictions and area closures for details.
- You may not use an explosive, including exploding targets.
Know Before You Go
Check out this sport shooting safety video series. This video series was created to help new and experienced target shooters have a safe and successful experience on public lands.