Summer and recreational target shooting go hand in hand, especially during August’s National Shooting Sports Month®. There are a variety of resources available to help you identify the best places to shoot near you.
Whether it’s an indoor range, sportsmen’s club or public land, there are scores of options within driving distance in nearly every part of the U.S. Here are some new, handy reference points to help you as you map out that next range visit.
BLM-Managed Shooting Ranges
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees 245 million acres of public land (or 10 percent of America’s land base), concentrated across 12 western states, including Alaska. In these BLM-managed lands, BLM offers a number of target shooting ranges for public use.
Thanks to provisions included in the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, which was passed by Congress in Dec. 2024 and signed into law by former President Joe Biden Jan. 4, 2025, BLM created a new Shooting Ranges webpage earlier this year that displays qualifying shooting ranges managed by BLM, leased by partners or owned and managed by partners on former BLM public lands.
This new webpage features an interactive map of all the existing ranges on BLM-managed public lands. The map has an intuitive interface, including a search bar with filters to narrow results by state or range type. With a click or a tap, users can access range information and directions. For added utility, users can access a full-screen accessible version of the map.
In all, there are 93 qualifying ranges found on the interactive map. What makes a “qualifying range?” According to BLM, the ranges highlighted here must include opportunities for pistols and rifles, as well as certain safety features such as berms and buffer distances and a designated firing line. Additionally, these ranges may provide opportunities for archery, skeet, trap or sporting clays, along with amenities like shade structures, trash receptacles, restrooms and benches.
A positive development for recreational shooters, BLM notes it is currently “considering locations where additional ranges are needed to better serve the American public and provide for safe and fun recreational target shooting opportunities.” Initial BLM assessments, which included outreach to Western Governors’ Offices and state fish and game agencies, have identified the potential for 36 additional ranges across eight states.
If you live out west, this new webpage is a very useful resource for identifying excellent outdoor shooting range opportunities.
U.S. Forest Service
The EXPLORE Act, mentioned above, defines a target shooting range as a developed and managed area authorized or operated by the BLM or its lessee for the “purposeful discharge by the public of legal firearms, firearms training, archery or other associated activities.”
Shooting ranges managed by the U.S. Forest Service are included in this definition. As such, the Forest Service has extensive information on target shooting on national forests and grasslands, active shooting ranges, archery ranges and more on its Shooting Sports and Ranges landing page.
There are a variety of helpful resources for those interested in target shooting on national forests and grasslands on this site. Under a “Target Shooting on National Forests and Grasslands” drop-down menu, the Forest Service provides tips for which types of targets are approved, how to practice safe gun handling and a list of certain prohibitions (such as shooting on a road, body of water or into/within caves).
While the BLM resource is limited to 12 western states, the Forest Service has information on lands and ranges across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, divided into four primary categories:
- Active Shooting Ranges: There are nine distinct regions identified with active shooting ranges that meet the EXPLORE Act requirements. For example, the Southern Region (which includes Ala., Ark., Fla., Ga., Ky., Miss., N.C., Okla., S.C., Tenn., Va. and W.Va.), displays comprehensive information on ranges located in national forests, such as current conditions, operational hours, seasons of use, range distances, fee sites, facility and amenity information and the recreational opportunities available. Alerts and fire danger status is displayed prominently, as well. (Speaking of fires, use caution while target shooting on public lands. The National Wildfire Coordinating Group has helpful resources and flyers to help sports shooters prevent wildfires while enjoying target shooting.)
- Forests With No Shooting Ranges and Have Applicable Restrictions: Two regions are identified here, the Southern Region (Puerto Rico) and Eastern Region (New Hampshire). A current restriction listed for the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire is the Forest Plan limits the amount of recreation infrastructure to campsites in developed campgrounds.
- Forests With No Shooting Ranges or Restrictions: A total of 10 regions are outlined, representing 28 states. These Forest Service units have no restrictions of applicable law or land use plan that prevents the establishment of a target range. More than 70 national forests are listed — ranging from the expansive Tongass National Forest in Alaska to the Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana.
- Archery Ranges: Archery-only target ranges are listed in four regions, which include Colo., Utah, Nev., Calif., Pa. and parts of Idaho.
Where To Shoot Mobile App
NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, recently launched its newly improved Where To Shoot™ mobile app to help connect target shooters, hunters and outdoor enthusiasts with shooting ranges across the U.S. Available for Apple iOS and Android devices, the app provides fast, convenient access to one of the country’s most comprehensive directory of shooting ranges.
The updated Where To Shoot app introduces a streamlined design and enhanced search tools that allow users to quickly find shooting facilities wherever they are — whether at home or traveling. Search functionality is customizable, allowing users to search for ranges based on location, indoor/outdoor range preference and even by events and training opportunities.
The Where To Shoot mobile app is available for free download through the App Store and Google Play. Users can also search for ranges online at WhereToShoot.org.
Let Freedom Plink
As summer winds down, fall will be upon us before we know it. Make it a point to get out to the range this National Shooting Sports Month. If you do, invite a friend along for some friendly competition and participate in the #RangeChallenge. Share your experience on Instagram with the #RangeChallenge hashtag for a chance to win one of eight $500 gift cards that will be drawn throughout the month. Let Freedom Plink!
