Shooting on Public Land

Most of Nevada is federal land, much of it managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Recreational target shooting is allowed on most BLM land in the state unless an area is specifically closed, which makes Nevada one of the best places in the country to shoot in open country.

Shooter with a rifle facing open Mojave desert hills outside Boulder City, Nevada
Open Mojave desert outside Boulder City

Rules for shooting on public land

  • Shoot only where a safe backstop stops every round.
  • Never shoot from or across a road or toward trails, camps or structures.
  • Do not shoot glass, appliances, signs or trees.
  • Pack out every target, casing and piece of trash.
  • Check for local closures and fire restrictions before you go.
Tall dirt berm used as a backstop in the desert outside Boulder City, Nevada
A tall dirt berm makes a safe backstop

Current closures and fire restrictions are posted by the BLM Nevada office.

Shooter firing toward a dirt berm in the Southern Nevada desert
Shooting into a berm in the Southern Nevada desert

Desert safety

  • Carry more water than you think you need.
  • Shoot early in summer, when heat can top 110 degrees in Southern Nevada.
  • Tell someone where you are going. Cell coverage disappears fast.
  • Watch for rattlesnakes and flash flood washes.

Hunting on public land? The Nevada Department of Wildlife runs hunter education and licensing.

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