Hunting & Shooting

Hunting is licensed through California Department of Fish & Wildlife

Be Legal: All shooters must follow firearms safety and obey California State laws on the use of firearms.

Hunting

Hunting is seasonal and the rules are simple: Follow the state laws and regulations pertaining to hunting – including seasons, dates and licensing.

Forests and grasslands may place some areas as off limits to hunting. So check with your local Forest Service ranger to be sure you're following all the rules.

• Hunting permitted in California during hunting seasons designated by the CDFW.
• Hunting NOT permitted in those areas where discharge of firearms is prohibited by County Ordinance, California or local law, federal regulations.
• Hunters must follow all laws, including no hunting within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site, or occupied area.
• Valid California hunting license required.

For more hunting information for California, visit California Department of Fish and Wildlife or call them at 562-590-5132.

Recreational and Target Shooting

TARGET SHOOTING ON ELDORADO NATIONAL FOREST

Respect Your Sport / Keep It Safe and Clean

You are responsible for where you shoot and where your bullets go. 

Choosing a Target Shooting Area

When visiting the Eldorado National Forest, familiarize yourself ahead of time with the location. A good shooting area has legal access, a backstop that absorbs bullets without producing ricochets, an unobstructed view so no one can wander into the line of fire unseen, and no nearby buildings (especially occupied private residences), campsites or trails.

• Know where you are in the forest
  • National Forest System lands are surrounded by private lands.
  • It can be difficult to know with certainty if you're on public land or private property.
• Maps
  • Many roads and trails in the forest may be just beyond what you can see in the direction you're target shooting.
  • Eldorado National Forest Recreation Map and Motor Vehicle Use Map to provide a safe target shooting environment for all forest visitors.

Tips

1. Always consider firearms as loaded, to prevent accidental discharge.
2. Be sure of your target and what is beyond the target.
3. Pick up after yourself.
4. Preplan your trip to stay safe for you and other forest visitors.

Safety, Rules and Regulations

All target shooters must follow firearms safety and obey federal and California laws and regulations for firearms possession and use.

• Review Firearms Use Guide for the Eldorado National Forest.
• It is prohibited to discharge a firearm or any other implement capable of taking human life, causing injury or damaging property 36CFR261.10(d):
  • In or within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site, or other occupied area; or
  • Across or on any Forest System road, or a body of water adjacent thereto, or in any manner or place whereby any person or property is exposed to injury or damage as a result in such discharge;
  • Into or within any cave.
• Appropriate Targets
  • Use paper targets only and do not leave litter and debris behind.
  • Respect your sport and keep it clean.
• Inappropriate Targets
  • No glass and household appliances for use as shooting targets. These items cause trash and dumping problems in the forest.  36 CFR 261.11( e) $300.
  • It is unlawful to damage any natural feature or other property of the U.S. such as trees, signs, outbuildings or other objects on federal lands that are there for public use.  36 CFR 261.9(a) $5000 fine or up to 6 months in jail.
• Explosives on national forest system lands is PROHIBITED! This includes detonating binary explosive targets. 36 CFR 261.52(b) $5000 or up to 6 months in jail.