Close to Tacoma, WA areas to shoot?

[ZeroRing]

No problem, happy to help. Please post a sit-rep after your visit out there... assuming I don't make it out there first.

 

[cwegga]

Be aware this spot was pretty grown up with bushes when I checked it out earlier this summer. I guess if I get the itch to go for a drive I could try to take some pictures.

I'm still going back and forth about giving up my spot because I really like the privacy.

 

[doug]

Be aware this spot was pretty grown up with bushes when I checked it out earlier this summer. I guess if I get the itch to go for a drive I could try to take some pictures.

I'm still going back and forth about giving up my spot because I really like the privacy.

Please!!!!!

 

[ZeroRing]

Be aware this spot was pretty grown up with bushes when I checked it out earlier this summer. I guess if I get the itch to go for a drive I could try to take some pictures.

That's why it's good to have teenagers to trek out to the 100-150-200 yard stumps to post (and then later retrieve) the targets.

I'm still going back and forth about giving up my spot because I really like the privacy.

PM is fine... and I promise not to share.

 

[Autonomous]

Just moved up to the area recently. Last week me and my brother headed out to the gravel pit at capital forest...
I think it was mid week at like 2 or 3 in the afternoon... there were a couple of folks shooting and one guy brass hunting... talked to one guy shooting next to us. Nice enough fellow. The other person shooting was in the bushes on the other side (we were buy the entrance). I could not see him when he was reloading mags or shooting so we did not go say hi.... after those two left we had the place to ourselves for a while.. it was nice enough... much better when we could actually hang targets and not worry about others shooting...
Oddly some folks on a dirt bike and a four wheeler showed up. First dude was polite enough and asked if they could "tear it up for um like 10 min". Second dude was trying to act tough I think... whatever...
More folks showed up withing 30 min of the off road folks... some guy having problems with a new semi auto AKM... they were respectful and good about verbal range calls...
More folks showed up and we split cause it was getting crowded... as we were leaving one guy started shooting while another was down range (note they were on different sides of the "bowl" and the one man was shooting away from where the other was...my brother thought i was being a "fudd" but admitted he would not feel safe if he was down range and another started shooting)
I think i am going to go check out that place Zero posted... could use a little less company... Glad i went down to the gravel pits though... Always good to see the old stand by place...
-A

 

[cwegga]

I'm still going back and forth about giving up my spot because I really like the privacy.

Ok well I still have my doubts but here it is.

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&encType=1&cid=1E444A30DEC1964E!168

This spot isn't perfect. There's really only enough distance to shoot handguns and plink with .22s and you do have to walk in a bit. If the link is working correctly the entrance is at #1. There's a gate and you have to haul your stuff down a forest road a bit. #2 is where other people seem to shoot. There is the usual trash, dead car, refridgerator etc. I have been hauling out small stuff with me when I go shooting. It would be nice if you would too. There are plenty of plastic bottles and brass/shotgun shells etc. that are easy to carry out. I prefer to shoot down at #3 or even farther out because I feel there is a better backstop, it is farther from the roads and I prefer not to be associated with loser trash dumpers. Even though shooters most likely didn't dump the old car or other big trash it makes us look bad when they are full of bullet holes. People will just assume that trash full of holes is from shooters.

If you go to this spot please be respectful. It is amazingly sad how much open land there is out here that is closed to shooting. This is the best, closest spot to my house that I have been able to find that isn't signed or I haven't been personally asked not to shoot on.

 

[ZeroRing]

Thanks Zero. Your instructions and directions worked great. Now I need to reload lots for the outing. Got to get there before the weather turns.

Looks like the weather has turned... :cigar:

 

[koolminx]

I've been thinking about those areas for a while now, as back in the day when I lived here I didn't have to go farther than about 2 miles in any direction form my house to shoot and that was in Illahee...

The place I go is a bit cluttered and the stumps are now placed in a fashion that prevents driving to the spot, so there's about 2/3rds of a mile walk carrying ten THOUSAND lbs of firearms and ammunition But it's easier on the way back out as the lead content has definitely dwindled

It's a pistol style spot but we take our Nagants and -06's and sight them in there.

Lots of crap that needs to be hauled out for sure, but I can't get my pickup back in there to take out the shrapnel that others have left behind.

It's NOT posted to keep out nor is it posted no shooting, nor is is posted Private.

Down near Mason lake off the Trails End road/E. Mason Lake drive, about 1/2 mile before entrance to the park. You'll see the HUGE stumps and the clear cut area on your right. Walk road to the back wall.

It's funny but the range everyone is talking about (I can't convert that damnable file, what the heck kind of file is it anyway?)... It is almost Directly across the Hood Canal form spots 1 2 3 & 4 that cwegga put up... I mean it's like 5 miles as a crow flies, but 40 miles by road...

Stay Safe, and clean up your messes

 

[fleshfrombone]

Hey guys and gals. I've got a spot out in that neck of the woods. I can't really give you directions as I just kinda "know" where it is if that makes sense. I can tell you it's out by Dewatto, go a few miles down the road until you see a sign saying now entering Mason County then keep going a few more miles until you see a lone post sticking out of the ground next to a dirt road leading up a fairly steep hill. At the top of the hill there's been clear cutting and theres a few open areas where you can park and set up. The road is called forest springs but it isn't marked (I only know it's called forest springs because at one time there was a piece of cardboard with that written on it stapled to the post).
LOL thats the best I can give you. I would be happy to show people but it would need to be a decent sized group because it's a **** of a drive for me. It's a fairly small spot, best for pistol and shotgunning but my brother in law tells me there's another spot that leads right down by the water to a beach. As far as I'm concerned it Shangri La out there. Quiet, remote, and mountain views. Can't beat that with a stick.

 

[koolminx]

I think I know where that's at. It sounds like it's only a couple mines from the other dewatto place. I thought all the shoreline there on the North shore was clogged with homes... Sort of like the rest of the Dewatto.

 

[ZeroRing]

Hey guys and gals. I've got a spot out in that neck of the woods. I can't really give you directions as I just kinda "know" where it is if that makes sense. I can tell you it's out by Dewatto, go a few miles down the road until you see a sign saying now entering Mason County then keep going a few more miles until you see a lone post sticking out of the ground next to a dirt road leading up a fairly steep hill. At the top of the hill there's been clear cutting and theres a few open areas where you can park and set up. The road is called forest springs but it isn't marked (I only know it's called forest springs because at one time there was a piece of cardboard with that written on it stapled to the post).
LOL thats the best I can give you. I would be happy to show people but it would need to be a decent sized group because it's a **** of a drive for me. It's a fairly small spot, best for pistol and shotgunning but my brother in law tells me there's another spot that leads right down by the water to a beach. As far as I'm concerned it Shangri La out there. Quiet, remote, and mountain views. Can't beat that with a stick.

THAT looks like a promising spot! I'm interested in seeing the spot just past where Capstan Rock Road cuts off.

47d30'13.40"N - 123d1'12.84"W <--- got to love Google Earth

 

[fleshfrombone]

THAT looks like a promising spot! I'm interested in seeing the spot just past where Capstan Rock Road cuts off.

47d30'13.40"N - 123d1'12.84"W <--- got to love Google Earth

It's a nice area, no doubt about it. People tend to respect each other out there as well. While shooting we've had trucks go by that wave and keep going instead of crowding your space.

I think I know where that's at. It sounds like it's only a couple mines from the other dewatto place. I thought all the shoreline there on the North shore was clogged with homes... Sort of like the rest of the Dewatto.

I haven't beenn down there yet myself so I can't vouch personally but he says its down there and his roommate confirmed it. It's sort of blocked off by a berm so you need a truck to get back there. Next time my dirt bike is up and running I'll head out that way and tell you guys what I see.

 

[cwegga]

It's a nice area, no doubt about it. People tend to respect each other out there as well. While shooting we've had trucks go by that wave and keep going instead of crowding your space.



I haven't beenn down there yet myself so I can't vouch personally but he says its down there and his roommate confirmed it. It's sort of blocked off by a berm so you need a truck to get back there. Next time my dirt bike is up and running I'll head out that way and tell you guys what I see.

Well, I went out there today and checked things out. There are some ok places to shoot out there but the best looking place (a bit past Capstan Rock Rd, on the right, with a hump at the entrance and down a short steep hill) is totally trashed. Shotgun hulls and ammo boxes everywhere, a dead TV and misc. trash, old clothes and porno mags spread around. :'( It makes me sick to see how people trash places.

I wasn't able to get to hood canal. I tried one road but it was gated maybe half a mile from the water and said no trespassing. I didn't explore down one road that it looked like there were 4x4 ruts past the ditches/dirt mounds but now looking at google maps it might go far enough. If anyone else is out there it's the one with two shot up wrecked cars at the entrance.

It was a nice drive though. Got me out of the house and there are some amazing views out there. At some points out there you can see the Olympics, the Cascades and Mt. Rainier all by just turning around.

 

[fleshfrombone]

Well, I went out there today and checked things out. There are some ok places to shoot out there but the best looking place (a bit past Capstan Rock Rd, on the right, with a hump at the entrance and down a short steep hill) is totally trashed. Shotgun hulls and ammo boxes everywhere, a dead TV and misc. trash, old clothes and porno mags spread around. :'( It makes me sick to see how people trash places.

I wasn't able to get to hood canal. I tried one road but it was gated maybe half a mile from the water and said no trespassing. I didn't explore down one road that it looked like there were 4x4 ruts past the ditches/dirt mounds but now looking at google maps it might go far enough. If anyone else is out there it's the one with two shot up wrecked cars at the entrance.

It was a nice drive though. Got me out of the house and there are some amazing views out there. At some points out there you can see the Olympics, the Cascades and Mt. Rainier all by just turning around.

I seriously hope the spot you are talking about that was trashed isn't the same that I was about good for pistol and shotgun only. We spent about 20 mins before leaving last time cleaning up the trash out there, I even cut my hand pretty bad on somebodies beer bottle during the process. The road you are talking about with the mounds and the wrecked cars in front of it is the one I'm referring to that supposedly leads down to the water. Like I said I haven't been there personally to confirm but my brother and law and roommate both say its there. Last time we went out there the only berm that served to keep us out was actually made up of loose piles of leaves to the left of the real berm with what looked to me like just enough room to squeeze on by. For some reason they didn't want to go though, my bro-in-law's rommie didn't want to mess up his truck. Was that your first time up there by the way?

 

[cwegga]

Yeah, it was my first time up there. I felt like going for a drive yesterday so I cruised over there. It's not too far for me. I live pretty close to the Bear Creek store.

Anyway the place that was trashed was I think the next turn after the one with the old cars and is on the opposite side of the road (the right side if you're still going in). It kinda forked and had two shooting lanes, one that was shorter and currently has a big puddle across it and one that is longer. The longer one is probably around 100yds but doesn't have a great backstop.

But there were multiple places that were trashed. At least a couple of turn offs with a truck load of trash dumped and most turn offs were littered with shotgun hulls. I just don't get it. It's not hard to pick up after yourself when you have big, brightly colored, plastic shotgun shells laying around and the dump by the airport only charges like $10 for a minimum fee as long as your trash weighs less than 300lbs. Like I said it makes me sad. there'd be a lot less "No Shooting" signs if people picked up after themselves. There's a great shooting spot I can't use because it's signed that's about 3 minutes away from my house.

 

[fleshfrombone]

That really pisses me off. That spot with the mountains and the running stream is a great place to shoot and it's going to get get shut down like you said because idiots can't throw their garbage where it belongs. When we left it about a month or so ago it was pristine again. Talk about rotten apples spoiling the bunch.

Yeah, it was my first time up there. I felt like going for a drive yesterday so I cruised over there. It's not too far for me. I live pretty close to the Bear Creek store.

Anyway the place that was trashed was I think the next turn after the one with the old cars and is on the opposite side of the road (the right side if you're still going in). It kinda forked and had two shooting lanes, one that was shorter and currently has a big puddle across it and one that is longer. The longer one is probably around 100yds but doesn't have a great backstop.

But there were multiple places that were trashed. At least a couple of turn offs with a truck load of trash dumped and most turn offs were littered with shotgun hulls. I just don't get it. It's not hard to pick up after yourself when you have big, brightly colored, plastic shotgun shells laying around and the dump by the airport only charges like $10 for a minimum fee as long as your trash weighs less than 300lbs. Like I said it makes me sad. there'd be a lot less "No Shooting" signs if people picked up after themselves. There's a great shooting spot I can't use because it's signed that's about 3 minutes away from my house.

 

[ZeroRing]

I ALMOST made the trek out there today... sad to hear the lastest reports about the mess though.

That reminds me though... ANY time I go out shooting I need to remember to include a rake, snow shovel, leather gloves, and a box of green Hefty lawn & leaf bags with the rest of the "gear". Haul out more than you haul in.

And yeah, irresponsible idiots that can't clean up after themselves give all shooters a bad rep. :angry:

 

[fleshfrombone]

I ALMOST made the trek out there today... sad to hear the lastest reports about the mess though.

That reminds me though... ANY time I go out shooting I need to remember to include a rake, snow shovel, leather gloves, and a box of green Hefty lawn & leaf bags with the rest of the "gear". Haul out more than you haul in.

And yeah, irresponsible idiots that can't clean up after themselves give all shooters a bad rep. :angry:

You know what? We should all organize a day to go shooting and clean up after we're done. It's our spot too right?

 

[sfdgunny]

cwegga said in a post from September of last year:

Ok well I still have my doubts but here it is.

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&encTyp...30DEC1964E!168

This spot isn't perfect. There's really only enough distance to shoot handguns and plink with .22s and you do have to walk in a bit. If the link is working correctly the entrance is at #1. There's a gate and you have to haul your stuff down a forest road a bit. #2 is where other people seem to shoot. There is the usual trash, dead car, refridgerator etc. I have been hauling out small stuff with me when I go shooting. It would be nice if you would too.


I plan on taking out more than I take in, but am wondering if I'm a little confused on the map or is it a little off?!?

Is the shooting place off to the Northwest of Tahuya Blacksmith Rd. just north of its intersection with Belfair Tahuya Rd? Just point me to the right side of the intersection and we'll get it from there.

Thanks to all of you responsible outdoorsmen.

 

[fleshfrombone]

The link didn't work. Next time I go I'll try and write down some directions.