You’ve got the gear. You’ve got the ammo. Now you just need a place where you won't get a ticket or a lecture from a ranger. Most people think they can just drive into the desert, toss a couple of soda cans on a ridge, and start pulling the trigger.
That’s how spots get closed.
Finding a shoot spot Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land offers is basically the gold standard for recreational shooters in the American West. It’s wide open. It’s free. But it isn't a lawless wasteland. If you don't know the difference between "public land" and "protected habitat," you're going to have a bad Saturday. Honestly, the BLM manages about 245 million acres, which sounds like an infinite playground, but a huge chunk of that is actually off-limits to shooting for reasons that aren't always obvious when you're looking at a map on your phone.
Why Some Spots Disappear and Others Stay Open
It’s about the "leave no trace" thing, but specifically for lead and brass.
The BLM operates under a "multiple-use" mandate. That’s fancy government-speak for saying the land has to work for hunters, hikers, cattle ranchers, and energy companies all at once. When a specific shoot spot Bureau of Land Management rangers oversee becomes a literal dump for old TVs and refrigerators, they shut it down. Quickly. We’ve seen this happen across the Berdoo Canyon area in California and parts of the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. People bring out "trash targets," leave the shards behind, and suddenly a gate goes up.
Safety is the other big one. You can't just fire anywhere.
Federal regulations (specifically 43 CFR 8365.1-5) are pretty clear. You aren't allowed to shoot within 150 yards of any residence, building, campsite, or occupied area. You also can't shoot across a road or a body of water. It sounds like common sense, but when you're out in the scrub brush, roads aren't always paved. Sometimes they're just two-track trails. If you’re shooting over a trail, you’re breaking the law.
The Backstop Requirement is Not Optional
You need a backstop. Not a "maybe" backstop. A real one.
📖 Related: Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Menu: Why You’re Probably Ordering Wrong
A proper backstop is a hill or an earthen mound free of rocks. Why no rocks? Ricochets. If you’re shooting into a rocky hillside, you’re basically playing a dangerous game of pinball with hot lead. An ideal shoot spot Bureau of Land Management land provides should have a clear line of sight and a solid, steep slope behind the target that can soak up every round.
I’ve seen guys shooting into the horizon. Don't be that guy. A .30-06 round can travel miles. If you can't see exactly where that bullet is going to stop, you shouldn't be pulling the trigger. It’s that simple.
The Mapping Nightmare: How to Actually Find a Spot
Google Maps is almost useless for this. It doesn't show property boundaries well enough to keep you out of trouble. You might think you’re on BLM land, but you’ve actually crossed onto a State Trust land or, worse, private ranch land.
Most seasoned shooters use an app like OnX Hunt or Gaia GPS. These apps show color-coded layers. Yellow is usually BLM. Blue is State. Green is Forest Service. If you want a reliable shoot spot Bureau of Land Management approved, you need to look for that yellow shading. But even then, you have to cross-reference it with the local Field Office website.
Why? Fire restrictions.
In the summer, especially in states like Nevada, Utah, and California, "Stage 1" or "Stage 2" fire restrictions kick in. During these times, target shooting is often banned because a single spark from a steel-core bullet hitting a rock can ignite dry cheatgrass. If you start a wildfire, you are liable for the millions of dollars it costs to put it out. Seriously. They will send you the bill.
Respecting the "Permanent" Closures
Some areas are closed forever.
👉 See also: 100 Biggest Cities in the US: Why the Map You Know is Wrong
- National Monuments: Many BLM-managed monuments, like Ironwood Forest in Arizona, have specific zones where shooting is banned to protect archaeological sites.
- Developed Recreation Sites: If there’s a toilet, a picnic table, or a sign-in kiosk, you need to move far away.
- Wildlife Areas: Some spots are closed seasonally for sheep lambing or raptor nesting.
If you stumble upon a pristine-looking valley and wonder why nobody else is there, check the signage. If there aren't signs, check the BLM "National Decisional Logs" or the specific Field Office’s recreational shooting page. It takes ten minutes and saves a $500 fine.
The Unspoken Rules of the Desert
If you want to keep your favorite shoot spot Bureau of Land Management land offers, you’ve got to act like a guest.
First, targets. Stop using glass. Stop using electronics. Use paper, cardboard, or self-healing reactive targets. Steel targets are great, but you have to be careful with the angle and the distance to prevent fires and splash-back. And for the love of everything, pick up your brass. Even if you don't reload, bring a bucket. Spent shells are the number one reason land gets closed to the public. It’s considered littering, and rangers are getting much more aggressive about citing people for it.
Then there's the "Hazardous Materials" issue.
Exploding targets like Tannerite are fun, but they are often banned on BLM land during fire season. Even when they aren't banned, using them near dry brush is a recipe for a 10,000-acre disaster. Also, never shoot at trees or cacti. In many states, like Arizona, shooting a Saguaro cactus is a felony.
Knowing Your Neighbors
You aren't the only one out there.
You might see a herd of cattle. They have a right to be there; the rancher pays for a grazing permit. If you startle the herd or—God forbid—hit one, you're looking at a massive legal headache. Usually, if you see cows, just move a few miles down the road. The same goes for OHV riders. If you hear a dirt bike nearby, pause. Those riders move fast and might pop out from behind a hill you thought was empty.
✨ Don't miss: Cooper City FL Zip Codes: What Moving Here Is Actually Like
Actionable Steps for Your Next Trip
Before you load the truck, do these things. Don't skip them.
1. Call the local BLM Field Office.
Don't rely on a forum post from 2018. Call the office responsible for the area you're heading to. Ask: "Are there any active fire restrictions or temporary closures for target shooting in [Area Name]?" They’ll give you the ground truth.
2. Download offline maps.
Cell service dies the moment you leave the pavement. Use OnX or a similar tool to download the topographical maps of the area so you can see the property lines even when you have zero bars.
3. Prepare a "Clean Up Kit."
Pack a rake and a few heavy-duty trash bags. A good rule of thumb is to leave the spot cleaner than you found it. Pick up your brass and maybe the trash left by the idiot who was there before you. It sucks, but it’s the "tax" we pay to keep public lands open.
4. Check your ammo.
If you're in a fire-prone area, avoid "bi-metal" or steel-core ammo. Take a magnet to your bullets. If the magnet sticks to the tip, that's a fire hazard. Many BLM areas allow shooting but specifically ban "incendiary" or "tracer" rounds.
5. Set up a proper range.
Set your targets at the base of a clear, steep dirt hill. Ensure there is no "line of fire" that crosses any trails. If you see someone else nearby, go talk to them. Establish a "cold range" agreement so everyone can safely check targets.
Finding a good shoot spot Bureau of Land Management provides is a privilege that’s currently under threat because of poor behavior. By following the 150-yard rule, ensuring a solid backstop, and being obsessive about cleaning up, you’re doing your part to make sure these areas stay open for the next generation. Check the current weather, verify the fire stage, and keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.