Public Lands
You might not know it to look at our bustling cities and towns, but only 17.6 percent of Arizona’s lands is privately owned. More than a quarter of Arizona is owned by the state’s 21 Indian tribes, while more than half of the Grand Canyon State is held by the federal and state governments and administered through agencies such as
- 21 Indian tribes
- U.S. Bureau of Land Management
- Arizona Game and Fish Department
- U.S. Forest Service.
Arizona’s public lands are the lasting domain of the American people, and thoughtful visitors take great care to preserve and protect them for future generations. When you travel through them, please treat them as you would a precious heirloom: leave artifacts, stones, plants, and animals where they are, and leave no trace of your presence.
Arizona Public Shooting Areas
Choose the area for more information, reports and pictures
Pima County Natural Resources Parks & Recreation
Pima County Natural Resources Parks & Recreation offers two public shooting ranges in the Tucson area and near Ajo, Arizona.
Public shooting is allowed on wild land properties in compliance with state statutes, unless otherwise posted.
- Tucson Mountain Park Shooting Range
Discharge of firearms is prohibited at all Pima County parks. For more information contact Pima County Natural Resources Parks & Recreation at (520) 877-6000 or www.pima.gov/nrpr/index.htm or www.tucsonshooting.org
Arizona State Parks
- No shooting allowed on or in AZ State Parks
National Park Service
- No shooting allowed on or in National Parks
Arizona National Forests
Shooting is allowed on National Forest System Land providing,
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It does not create a public hazard or serve as a direct threat to public safety.
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It does not damage or destroy natural features such as plants, historic features or property.
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It does not create litter; refuse accumulation and abandoned personal property.
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It does not violate an existing restriction or closure..
AZ Wildlife Areas
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.
BLM Lands
Public lands managed by the BLM are open to shooting (and hunting),
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 ~ (a)(1)&(2)
- 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(a)(1)
- Does not facilitate and create a condition of littering, refuse accumulation and abandoned personal property. (Title 43 CFR Sec. 8365.1)
- Does not violate an existing use restriction, closure order or supplementary rules notice. (Title 43 CFR Sec. 835
BLM Arizona administers 12.2 million surface acres of public lands, and another 17.5 million subsurface acres within the state.