Question:  Where Can I Shoot On Public Lands And What Are The Rules?

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Answer:  Bureau of Land Management
Public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management are open to shooting (and hunting), unless otherwise designated. To ensure that you are on public land, it is recommended that you obtain a land status map, available from the BLM online from the Arizona Public Lands Information Center at www.publiclands.org call 602.4177.9300 or e-mail az_plic@blm.gov. Maps are also available from the Tucson Field Office, 12661 E. Broadway, Tucson, AZ, 520.258.7200. Public room hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Shooting and possession and use of firearms are allowed on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management provided that the specific shooting activity involved:

Does not create a public hazard, public nuisance or direct threat to public safety and use. (Title 43 CFR Sec. 8365.1-4.)
Does not damage or destroy natural features, native plants, cultural resources, historic structures or government and/or private property. (Title 43 CFR Sec. 8365.1-5)
Does not facilitate and create a condition of littering, refuse accumulation and abandoned personal property. (Title 43 CFR Sec. 8365.1-1)
Does not violate an existing use restriction, closure order or supplementary rules notice. (Title 43 CFR Sec. 8365.1-6)
USDA Forest Service - Coronado National Forest
Shooting is allowed on National Forest System Land providing,

It does not create a public hazard or serve as a direct threat to public safety.
It does not damage or destroy natural features such as plants, historic features or property.
It does not create litter; refuse accumulation and abandoned personal property.
It does not violate an existing restriction or closure.
Regulations for shooting on the National Forest come from Code of Federal Regulations

36 CFR 261.10

d. Discharging a firearm or any other implement capable of taking human life, causing injury, or damaging property as follows:

In or within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area, or
Across or on a National Forest System road or a body of water adjacent thereto, or in any manner or place whereby any person or property is exposed to injury or damage as a result in such discharge.
Into or within any cave

Arizona Game and Fish Department
Target shooting or any other type of shooting not related to hunting is not permitted on lands managed by the State of Arizona. Hunting information is available online at www.gf.state.az.us. />
Pima County Natural Resources Parks & Recreation
Pima County Natural Resources Parks & Recreation offers two public shooting ranges in the Tucson area, the Southeast Regional Park Shooting Facility and Tucson Mountain Park Shooting Range, as well as the Virgil Ellis Shooting Range near Ajo, Arizona.

Public shooting is also allowed on wild land properties in compliance with state statutes, unless otherwise posted. Discharge of firearms is prohibited at all parks. For more information contact Pima County Natural Resources Parks & Recreation at (520) 877-6000 or www.pima.gov or www.tucsonshooting.org. />
Formal Shooting Venues
For information on formal shooting venues in Tucson, please visit the following websites:

www.azgfd.gov
www.tucsonshooting.org
www.tucsonshooting.com
www.wheretoshoot.org

Answered by: U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution,