Is there federal land where you can go shooting in Virginia?

eastwood2400 · Dec 9, 2011

Hi all,

Question for you... When I used to live in Wyoming, you could go on federal land and just set up cans and shoot.

In Virginia, and specifically near the northern Virginia area, is there federal land (or state land) where you could do target practice? Now obviously I do target practice at indoor or outdoor ranges. But it would be nice to just go by myself, or with my wife, and do some target practice in a field somewhere alone. How does that work, or is that even possible in Virginia?

Thanks.

VApatriot · Dec 9, 2011

I am unaware of any public, federal land open to shooting in the northern Virginia area. However, there is a free public range in Jefferson National Forest, just outside of Blacksburg. I don't know of any other similar ranges in Virginia.

There is a range on Quantico Marine Corp Base that civilians can use, but it is operated by a private club and subject to their rules and membership.

peter nap · Dec 9, 2011

VApatriot said:
I am unaware of any public, federal land open to shooting in the northern Virginia area. However, there is a free public range in Jefferson National Forest, just outside of Blacksburg. I don't know of any other similar ranges in Virginia.

There is a range on Quantico Marine Corp Base that civilians can use, but it is operated by a private club and subject to their rules and membership.

I think Ed posted about a place in the NF where people go to shoot. Just a ravine or something like that...but, it's also illegal, so I wouldn't recommend it.

SFCRetired · Dec 9, 2011

Not in Virginia, but I would check the National Forests very closely. At the Tuskegee Nat'l Forest here in Alabama, there is a nice little range set up. The fee is $3.00 per day per shooter. It is also listed on the Nat'l Forest website.

Just a suggestion. Hope it helps you folks in Virginia.

hunter45 · Dec 9, 2011

peter nap said:
I think Ed posted about a place in the NF where people go to shoot. Just a ravine or something like that...but, it's also illegal, so I wouldn't recommend it.

This place? http://www.covecampground.com/TargetRange.html

peter nap · Dec 9, 2011

hunter45 said:
This place? http://www.covecampground.com/TargetRange.html

Is that NF or private Hunter?

Marco · Dec 9, 2011

The thing I miss about out West, is public land to shoot on!

C.H. Phelps WMA but it's resrticted to rifle only.
www.dgif.virginia.gov/wmas/detail.asp?pid=17

Here's more:
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/shootingranges.asp

These all require membership-

Here's also Issak Walton league:

Loudoun County Chapter
http://www.loudouniwla.org
Contact: Evie Abbess
Phone: (360)303-6312

Arlington-Fairfax Chapter
http://www.arlingtonfairfax-iwla.org
Contact: Robert Crisman
Phone: (540)338-7316

Prince William Chapter
http://www.pwiwla.org
Contact: Jerrie Norris
Phone: (703)368-6562

There's also
Fairfax Rod and Gun club
&
Fredericksburg Rod & Gun Club

eastwood2400 · Dec 9, 2011

Wow, super helpful. CH Phelps is not too far from northern Virginia. Too bad only rifle, but I could test out my new shotgun there. The thing is, if I am going to drive that far, might as well just go to the indoor or outdoor range again. ha ha. Anyway, I need to buy some random piece of land so I can just go there. I miss the West! Nothing like shooting and seeing wild horses come running by.

Agent19 said:
C.H. Phelps WMA but it's resrticted to rifle only.
www.dgif.virginia.gov/wmas/detail.asp?pid=17

Here's more:
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/shootingranges.asp

These all require membership-

Here's also Issak Walton league:

Loudoun County Chapter
http://www.loudouniwla.org
Contact: Evie Abbess
Phone: (360)303-6312

Arlington-Fairfax Chapter
http://www.arlingtonfairfax-iwla.org
Contact: Robert Crisman
Phone: (540)338-7316

Prince William Chapter
http://www.pwiwla.org
Contact: Jerrie Norris
Phone: (703)368-6562

There's also
Fairfax Rod and Gun club
&
Fredericksburg Rod & Gun Club

Felix · Dec 9, 2011

hunter45 said:
This place? http://www.covecampground.com/TargetRange.html

"Easy driving distance" from Baltimore, DC and the other major cities listed? Maybe by airplane but not by four wheeler at anywhere close to the legal speed limit, even disregarding the typical traffic staus. I can't imagine anyone from those cities making a trip of that distance frequently enough to stay proficient beyond the absolute minimum.

hunter45 · Dec 10, 2011

peter nap said:
Is that NF or private Hunter?

I believe it's private. I don't know anything about it, but I think that's the place that Ed posted about.

billlarkins · Dec 13, 2011

Forest Service Ranges in VA

VApatriot said:
I am unaware of any public, federal land open to shooting in the northern Virginia area. However, there is a free public range in Jefferson National Forest, just outside of Blacksburg. I don't know of any other similar ranges in Virginia.

There is a range on Quantico Marine Corp Base that civilians can use, but it is operated by a private club and subject to their rules and membership.

There are closer (to NoVA) forest service ranges than Blacksburg, at Augusta Springs in Augusta county, one in Bath county, and one at Low Moor, I64 exit 21 in Alleghany County. All permit rifle and pistol. But the National Forest in VA is in the west, not near NoVA anywhere, sorry!

Grapeshot · Dec 13, 2011

VDGIF Ranges

George Washington and Jefferson National Forest Shooting Ranges (7)
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/shootingranges.asp

Amelia Wildlife Management Area (WMA

C.F. Phelps Wildlife Management Area (WMA)

opencarrypalmtrees · Dec 31, 2011

we need a shooting range in loudoun county that is free for everyone : )

the isak walton league requires that you go to a meeting and pay some hefty annual membership fee. The silver eagle group in ashburn is easily $30 bucks each time you go or again you can pay some massive annual membership fee. I would really like to see our representatives recognize we in loudoun county like to go shooting and shooters clearly pay their taxes. They build massive parks with playgrounds soccer fields baseball fields but they do nothing to help open a free park for shooting. It needs to be proposed and it needs to have a section for rifles pistols and shotguns.

zoom6zoom · Dec 31, 2011

hunter45 said:
I believe it's private. I don't know anything about it, but I think that's the place that Ed posted about.

It's private, there's a fee to use it. It's also best to have a vehicle with decent ground clearance to make it up to the range.

conhntr · Dec 31, 2011

opencarrypalmtrees said:
the isak walton league requires that you go to a meeting and pay some hefty annual membership fee. The silver eagle group in ashburn is easily $30 bucks each time you go or again you can pay some massive annual membership fee. I would really like to see our representatives recognize we in loudoun county like to go shooting and shooters clearly pay their taxes. They build massive parks with playgrounds soccer fields baseball fields but they do nothing to help open a free park for shooting. It needs to be proposed and it needs to have a section for rifles pistols and shotguns.

Too be fair there is bull run shooting center http://www.nvrpa.org/park/bull_run_public_shooting_center

It is a nvrpa park and loudoun is one of the members. Has nice facilities but is shotgun/bow and arrow only!

opencarrypalmtrees · Dec 31, 2011

the bull run shooting center only allows you to shoot at clay targets with a shotgun

"""Quote Originally Posted by opencarrypalmtrees View Post
the isak walton league requires that you go to a meeting and pay some hefty annual membership fee. The silver eagle group in ashburn is easily $30 bucks each time you go or again you can pay some massive annual membership fee. I would really like to see our representatives recognize we in loudoun county like to go shooting and shooters clearly pay their taxes. They build massive parks with playgrounds soccer fields baseball fields but they do nothing to help open a free park for shooting. It needs to be proposed and it needs to have a section for rifles pistols and shotguns.
Too be fair there is bull run shooting center http://www.nvrpa.org/park/bull_run_p...hooting_center

It is a nvrpa park and loudoun is one of the members. Has nice facilities but is shotgun/bow and arrow only! """

problem is there isn't even a paper target range for shotguns

what fun is that?

jfritz · Mar 25, 2015

Public Land you can shoot near NOVA

I just got off the phone with the forest service in Monongahela National Forest (WV). They have more standard rules for fire arms than VA (no shooting across roads, no shooting from moving vehicles etc.). It's about a 90 minute drive from Dulles airport to get to the northern tip. Haven't made the drive yet, but it sounds like a viable option for a day out shooting.

Grapeshot · Mar 25, 2015

Target Shooting Areas

http://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/gwj/recreation/otheractivities/?recid=73539&actid=106

Is there federal land where you can go shooting in Virginia?

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