The local state gamelands rifle range opens at noon on Sunday so I go out before noon to pick up brass. The regulations regarding shooting hours are posted all over the place and on every shooting bench. Nearly every week, the local Deputy Game Warden writes up folks that cannot read or tell time and start shooting early. The fine is stiff and can result in the loss of the weapon and a fine for every round more than the three rounds permitted in the firearm.

Last Sunday, I arrived at 10:30 A.M. and the Deputy was writing up two early shooters. As I continued to pick up brass, I heard the older gentleman get a bit surly and disrespectful toward the Deputy. As he was writing the field receipts, four more shooters walked past him and started shooting. I approached the deputy and told him that I was a witness and he took my name and address. The deputy proceeded to write up the four new arrivals. As I was leaving, another shooter arrived and was ready to start early shooting. The deputy warned the last arrival of the established shooting times. The shooter seemed to be amazed at the rules. Like I said, you cannot fix stupid.

Starting April 1, 2011 anyone using Pennsylvania state gamelands rifle ranges must have a valid Pennsylvania hunting license or pay for a $30.00 annual permit. Each license or permit holder may bring one guest to the ranges. All the best...
Gil

Yup........Witnessed many forms of stupid at local ranges !!!

My favorite is the non-member that shows up giving no regard to the rules let alone the membership and can't understand why he's been asked to leave.

These fools are everywhere Gil...locked gates and fences don't even stop them.

Maybe a really big sign with 6" high letters in red saying "Your firearms WILL be confiscated and you WILL be fined if you shoot before 12 noon" then the Ranger must follow up on it and confiscate firearms. Maybe they will learn then.

Cheers, Vince

That had an open state range just North of here. They had to shut it down as it just got out of hand. I went out there one weekend day and it sounded like a war zone. Gil, your lucky to still have such an area.

they cracked down on ranges over here the regs are so plurry strict its nearly laughable. I go out to the local beach away from town 15kms or so and do what I please. if people are out fishing I just go along abit further. plenty of good big backstops and easy to find 100yrds flat ground. river beds are just as good.

I think the biggest problem is people have become used to thinking that they are entitled to do as they please. This can be using a range regardless of rules to hunting private ground without permission just because they purchased a license. It really shouldn't be too much of a surprise when we see that there is an awful lot of the population that believes in "entitlements" in the rest of their lives too.

Gil...Why noon on Sunday?

squirrles sleep in, bushy.

we ran out of chlorine for the gene pool a long time ago.

we had some nice places to plink here. gone. long gone. trash, trash and more trash and vandals got it all shut down, that and idiots and gang bangers.

you'd be hard pressed to find public land to shoot hi-power in this state. very hard pressed. there's more slated to close cuz crackheads and illegals use open areas to bust off cases of ammo, haul thier trash out and shoot at it then just leave it. wasnt always like that. but it is now. and its getting worse.

oh you can fix stupid, but its illegal as that species is protected by the left and losing them will dimish the current regime's voter base.

What about Cherry Creek above Ojai? They close that one too?

bout 2.5 hours from me...not sure. have to check.

I spent several weekends camped up there helping to clean it up. I'd hate to find out I wasted my time.

Been to Lions Creek too. It's one of (use to be) jumping off places for a ride (horses) to one of the hot springs in the area

We had a nice outdoor shooting range here that was shut down for good thanks to the idiots not adhering to the rules. We do have an indoor range that is open to members only which is nice, but to me an outdoor range is the best. The closest outdoor range to me now is 60 miles away.

Bushmaster,
I suspect the noon range start time on Sunday s based on the old blue laws like not being able to buy beer until noon on Sunday. Fortunately, i belong to a gun club a few miles up the road, am on the board of directors and run the high power rifle matches. However, the folks that frequent the state gameland ranges leave a lot more factory once-fired brass on the ground. All the best...
Gil