Participants who are new to sport shooting are encouraged to begin at a shooting range which has oversight by a Range Safety Officer. Beginning in a verified range helps new sport shooters learn safety protocol in a more controlled setting before deciding to engage in dispersed shooting. A list of shooting ranges in Colorado is available from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and can be viewed in the map below.
You should also be aware that though target shooting is allowed on most National Forest System lands, there are some regulations, restrictions, closures, and safety steps you should know before you shoot. For specific sport shooting regulations, restrictions and closure information on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/arp/recreation. General sport shooting safety information can be found in the Partnership brochure below.
There are also a few places within the Partnership boundaries that currently DO NOT allow shooting sports to occur. Those are:
National Forest System Land Closures in Boulder County
- Brainard Lake Recreational Area
- Former Allens park Dump
- South Nederland Closure
- Flood Related Shooting Closure – James Canyon, Lefthand Canyon
- Mount Alto, and Sugarloaf Mountain
- Lefthand Slot Canyon Closure
- Lefthand Entrance Closure
National Forest System Land Closures in Clear Creek County
- Barbour Forks Trailhead Area
- Beaver Brook Trailhead Area
National Forest System Land Closures in Larimer County
- Buckhorn Road
- Stove Prairie Road
- Big Elk Meadows Road
- Christy Meadows
- Greyrock Trail
For updates and maps that detail the specific boundaries of the closure areas, visit the www.fs.usda.gov/detail/arp/recreation/?cid=STELPRD3836311.
Currently, there are no “designated shooting areas” within the four Partner counties. That is precisely what Sport Shooting Partners is trying to establish. If all goes as planned, within the next few years there will be multiple designated areas where shooting can be done in a safe, sustainable manner.
There are, however, designated shooting areas and shooting ranges in neighboring counties. You can find a list of shooting ranges through Colorado Parks and Wildlife and also find information about Baker Draw Shooting Area. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has also compiled some helpful information about Shooting Sports in Colorado.