Firearms & Target Shooting
Recreational target shooting is an appropriate use of the forest, when done safely and with respect to the land and forest property. The Mt. Hood National Forest is open to target shooting unless specifically ordered and signed closed.
It's your responsibility to know the areas of the Forest where target shooting is always prohibited.
When target shooting is done in the right way, it poses little threat to people’s safety or to natural resources. However, careless, unsafe shooting can cause wildfires and natural resources damage as well as pose serious threats to human life – both to forest staff and visitors.
Learn about target shooting principles & ethics and cleanup events at trashnoland.org.
General Prohibitions for all Forest Service Lands
The U.S. Code of Federal Regulations describes general prohibitions, closures, and regulations for acts or omissions within National Forests. The CFR prohibits acts such as firing tracer bullets/incendiary ammunition or possessing/using fireworks or exploding targets.
LEARN MORE: 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 251
The following long-standing laws govern safe discharge of firearms on National Forest lands. Discharging a firearm or any other implement capable of taking human life, causing injury, or damaging property is not allowed:
- In or within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area
- Across or on a National Forest System Road or a body of water
- In any manner or place whereby any person or property is exposed to injury or damage as a result
- Into or within any cave
Fireworks and exploding targets are illegal on national forests.
To ensure your safety and the safety of others, and to protect our natural resources, please adhere to the following universal guidelines:
- Firearms should always be considered loaded
- Firearms should be unloaded when not actually in use
- Never point the muzzle of your gun at anything you are not intending to shoot
- Keep your safety on and your finger off the trigger until you are on target
- Be sure of your target and what is beyond your target to prevent endangering any person or property
- Before discharging your firearm scout out the area for other people that may be recreating near you
- Only shoot in an area with a safe backstop, preferably an earthen mound
- Don't shoot glass, appliances, furniture, vehicles or targets on trees
- Pick up & pack out shell casings, targets, and other shooting debris
- Always wear eye and ear protection when shooting
- Don't shoot while under the influence of drugs or alcohol