where do you exercise your traditional muzzleloader?

[RobD]

basically, where can you shoot and where do you shoot?  it might be at least interesting to hear where we get to enjoy our firearms. 

seems the urban and suburban encroachment is reducing shooting ranges and woods for some of us, if not a lot of us.  then, there are the anti-gun groups and the local, county and state rules that seem to be increasing as do the years, shutting down ranges and making it near impossible to find places to shoot without really long drive times.

here in this heavy socialist state of new jersey (gawd, the founding fathers are rolling in their graves over where this once pinnacle state of individual freedoms has sunken to new all time levels) i do have a number of ranges to shoot at, but there are caveats and rules and stiff regulations for most, but thankfully not all.  there is NO ccw allowed for anyone in nj.

i'm fortunate to belong to the town pistol club and we shoot centerfire and rimfire only on monday nights at the police range not 200 yards from my house.  of course, i can't walk there with guns and ammo in hand, that would be a severe violation and i'd lose all rights to firearms, so i hafta drive.  the range is climate controlled and the boothed targets are motorized from 5 to 25 yards, yearly dues are $50. yep, no muzzleloaders of any type allowed.

i also belong to the largest jersey based firearms club, ANJRPC - association of nj rifle and pistol clubs.  membership is in the tens of thousands and they have a 5 to 50 yard pistol range where muzzleloaders are allowed, a 50 to 100 yard rifle range where muzzleloaders are welcome, a 200 to 300 yard high power and BPCR range, a 5 to 50 yard rimfire only range, a shotgun (trap and skeet) range, and an archery range divided into field and target.  the range is open every day from sunrise to sunset.  they have VERY strict rules, which is both good and maybe not so good.  dues for seniors (me) are $165/year.  it's an hour's drive away.

my trad muzzleloader club, GSBPA - garden state black powder ass'n - has a rented tract of land in a 7000 acre timber farm.  we constructed a nice ten station woods walk last year for 10 to 50 yard steel plates.  however, the "range" is locked by club officials and only open for matches and events.  unfortunately, this club doesn't understand how to create and run a club (you know, the usual "people issues") and may disband.  yearly dues are $40.  an hour twenty drive for me.

there is a free public jersey shooting range that's strictly for muzzleloaders, shotguns and rimfires, no handguns of any kind.  no supervision, yer on yer own, and that can sometimes create people issues.  5 to 70 yards. 1-1/2 hour drive.

over this summer i've become friends with some extraordinary fine folks in rural lower ny who collectively have a private community range where i get to shoot literally whatever i want, at distances from 5 to 700 yards (yes, SEVEN HUNDRED).  no dues, free food and BEER, long range targets of paper and steel are on a target camera.  we shoot muzzleloaders there a bunch!  yay!  pinch me, i'm dreaming!  1-1/2 hour hi speed drive away!

 what's on your shooting range list?

[Maven]

I guess I'm fortunate to live in rural Ulster Co., New York, where there are many gun/fishing/hunting/muzzle loading clubs.  There are at least 5 within 15 miles of my home, but I belong to Marbletown Sportsmen's Club in Stone Ridge, and have for 35 yr.  We no longer have a ML presence or even much interest in it, but nothing prevents me from using a ML on the 25-, 50- or 100 yd. ranges (barring the problem of target mounting "hardware") that I mentioned in another post.  The range doesn't get much use during the week, but is especially busy prior to deer season for which it closes.

[Ohio Joe]

Mostly at our local Range about 2 miles from me.  I also have access to tens of thousands of acres of State and Federal lands that we're allowed to use as well. Then there's the location of where we hold our annual Spring Shoot & Rendezvous for Chadron Fur Trade Days location. I also have a standing invite from quite a few local Ranchers to come out and shoot anytime (I kind'a like to reserve those places for hunting deer, rabbit, and coyotes). You remove a coyote or two or three or more from a Rancher's life and you gotta friend forever.

My shooting spots are quite a few where I live,,, but mostly I just use our local Range because of the convenience of it. I can shoot out to 300 yards there, shoot trap if I'd like, and take part in any Matches being held. In fact, I was just recently asked to come back on the BoD at Northwest Nebraska Shooter's Association come January 2019, and I probably will... I've served as President, Vice President, and Treasurer, in the past - so I expect I'll go back on the NNSA BoD in January in some capacity seeing how I'll be retiring at the end of March 2019. Just have to see which direction the wind's blowing in 6 months.       

[Uncle Russ]

I strongly expect recreational shooting was not something I thought of when I moved here for retirement.
I mean after all, I had been hunting, shooting, fishing in this area for 15 years prior to moving here.
But that was then, and this is now.....

I live smack-dab in the middle of the Columbia Basin Wildlife Refuge....and, outside of an "Aproved Shooting Facility" there is no "open" rifle or handgun shooting allowed, period....
Of course that changes with the Wildlife Seasons...
During Water Fowl Seson, you can shoot any shotgun using steel shot in any legally designated area.
During Big Game Season, if you are lucky enough to draw a special permit for Desert Area 1, you can shoot both rifle and hand gun.......I would like to think my number is coming up as I have applied for 11 straight years with no luck.....much like ever permanent resident of the area I know where the big bucks hang out...not the scrawny Mule Deer, but farm fed Whitetail that are fat and heavy with HUGE racks...it not unusual to find a carcass, minus the rack, that are big and heavy as young steers.!!
But, sport shooting in general, there is only one range within 75 miles, and that is located in Ephrata....32 miles from the house. This year that Range was closed due to Wildfire from early July to late August.
DNR was petitioned to open the Range before it's scheduled opening of 15 September.
What a mess that was!
I have a Range key that has not been used this year!
At a cost of over $100 bucks for key access to a beautiful range, I don't see this as bad deal, but when I don't get to use that Range I do see that as a really poor investment in my part.
Still yet, there's still a good two months left before the deadline hits us, so there is still a chance I will get use my "gold plated" key.

Uncle Russ..

[rollingb]

I reckon I got it made where I'm at, I can step out my door and shoot 20 to 1000 yards in a couple of directions, and the places where the timber is thick is great for camping and hunting.

Only drawback is, the population here is so sparse I don't have anyone close by to shoot with.

Traditional muzzleloader shooting needs to be shared with others. 

[Two Steps]

For a long time I shot at the local 4H Camp.  The range set up wasn't great but it worked.  The ML range was small dark and was only about 25yds so I used the regular rifle range most of the time.
Then the State came in...knocked everything down and built up a really nice range area.  Shortly after that, they closed the range on Sunday and Monday...my two days off .  Now I just go behind a buddies plant on Sunday afternoons...I can get 50yds there.  Other than that it's just off to the woods and an old logging road.

[RobD]

I reckon I got it made where I'm at, I can step out my door and shoot 20 to 1000 yards in a couple of directions, and the places where the timber is thick is great for camping and hunting.

Only drawback is, the population here is so sparse I don't have anyone close by to shoot with.

Traditional muzzleloader shooting needs to be shared with others. 

dang it brother, yer making me mighty jealous!!  can i come over and shoot with ya?  pretty pleeze??   

[Hawken]

All I gotta do is step out the back door and however far I want to shoot....no problem!

I'd die in 3 months if I had to live in a city!!

[Bigsmoke]

I'd die in 3 months if I had to live in a city!!

I used to think that as well.  Sorry to say, I have survived being able to see my next door neighbors and I am still here.  The only good news about that is the "city" is only about 10,000 poor misguided people.  Mostly, I stay inside the house or in the shop or on the patio most of the time, so it isn't too bad.
I imagine the neighbors would get a tad bit upset if I were to step out the back door and fire off a few shots, though.  That part of my life seems to be gone forever.

[prairie dog]

When I lived near Dallas, Texas I watched shooting ranges disappear at a steady rate.  Before moving out of there I had to drive 45 minutes to a public range or 2 hours to a club range.  Here in New Mexico I am 10 minutes to the club range.  If I wanted I could shoot on public lands. 

[rollingb]

I reckon I got it made where I'm at, I can step out my door and shoot 20 to 1000 yards in a couple of directions, and the places where the timber is thick is great for camping and hunting.

Only drawback is, the population here is so sparse I don't have anyone close by to shoot with.

Traditional muzzleloader shooting needs to be shared with others. 

dang it brother, yer making me mighty jealous!!  can i come over and shoot with ya?  pretty pleeze??   

You're welcome to stop by any time and shoot to your heart's content. 

[AxelP]

I usually do my shooting on national forest/blm land where it is legal to do so. I live maybe 15-20 minutes away from good safe shooting spots. I can also shoot at home, but do it rarely-- just to try out something or another. I don't like to bother my neighbors. I hardly ever shoot at a "pay to shoot" range unless I am at a specific event or rondy.  Of course, I am not a competition shooter, just a casual hunter and history enthusiast. I grew up in rural California and spent much of my childhood roaming the foothills with an old .22 rifle or shotgun. Mostly hunting for rabbits and quail. I have lived in the city a few times in the past where shooting was prohibited but mostly I have lived out a bit so I guess I am a bit spoiled.

[Ironhand]

Guess I'm spoiled. I can shoot 600 yards off of my patio. I have a 200 yard benchrest range set up at home and 2 gun clubs within a 20 minute drive from my house. Got to love rural Michigan 

IronHand

[Winter Hawk]

The public range closest to my house was closed a number of years ago because the college students were shooting the trees behind the 100 yard range to cut them down.  Now it is strictly for LEO use.  This year Ohio has deemed that you have to pay a yearly fee to use the unsupervised public ranges except for the ones for archery.  I joined the Athens Fish & Game Club about 9 years ago because they have 25, 50, 100 and 300 yard ranges.  There are several black powder guys there although I have yet to see one of them shooting there. 

I generally go during the week and I'll be the only one there except sometimes the OU police department will be using the 25 and 50 yard ranges.  Cost is $50/year and the club does a lot for kids so it's a good deal.  Monthly meetings start with a pot luck supper at 6:00 and the business meeting starting at 7:00, which usually lasts 1/2 hour.  Last Saturday was a family day with chicken provided and the rest pot luck, and we will have a Turkey dinner for the November meeting.  Also several times a year there will be a swap meet and also fish fries.  I figure on driving 30 minutes over rural roads to get there.

Ohio law prohibits target shooting on public land except at official ranges.  This includes the Wayne National Forest and all village, city, county and State land, which is a bummer.  I know folks regularly ignore this with no ill consequences, but with my luck if I tried it the law dogs would be on me in a heart beat.   So I drive out to the Fish & Game Club.  A bummer really, as a piece of the Wayne is a 10 minute walk away....

~Kees~

[Ohio Joe]

~Kees~ back when I was a whole lot younger and in my early 20's (40 years ago I guess) and I lived in Ohio, we were allowed to hunt & shoot along the rail road tracks in the country, so we found us some old spurs that were no longer in use and we had quite a few plinking expeditions. 'Course, I reckon that's frowned on now. I've been out here in Nebraska for 30 years, and I've never regretted the move.

$50.00 a year ain't bad for Range usage. I pay $40.00 annually at our local club even though I have endless places to go shoot out here. However, a handy Range 2.5 miles from me is hard to beat. As much as I go shooting, I'd probably burn up 5 or more times that annual $40.00 fee in gas traveling to -and- from the public lands. (Not that they're that much further, but on average a 15/20 mile round trip would add up pretty fast.