Posted: 6/8/2026 5:30:03 PM EDT
[Last Edit: ctdemolay0405][Edited]
| New AZ resident, looking for somewhere near Tucson to shoot in the desert, can anyone provide any decent recommendations? |
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All the places I used to shoot when I was growing up in Tucson are now developments. The bumpy backroads are now 4-6 lanes. I gave up desert shooting to go to a real range...which leads me to this - there is one area I know where "wildcat" shooting happens all the time. The deep irony is it is right next to a developed range. In Casa Grande, the Elzy Pearson Memorial Firing Range has 5 separate ranges, but juts south of it, all along the mountain line, people shoot all the time. I fear to drive out there due to possible tire damage fro0m all the glass and empty brass laying about, but for several hundred yards, it's opene season for those who just can't stand a range, even one that is unmonitored. Around the southern corner of that hill line are more spots, but you start getting into some private property, I think. Drove by, never stopped. Crappy dirt road.
The pic is old, it's paved down to the range now, going south from there is unpaved and that's where the wildcat shooting starts. 
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Originally Posted By armoredman: All the places I used to shoot when I was growing up in Tucson are now developments. The bumpy backroads are now 4-6 lanes. I gave up desert shooting to go to a real range...which leads me to this - there is one area I know where "wildcat" shooting happens all the time. The deep irony is it is right next to a developed range. In Casa Grande, the Elzy Pearson Memorial Firing Range has 5 separate ranges, but juts south of it, all along the mountain line, people shoot all the time. I fear to drive out there due to possible tire damage fro0m all the glass and empty brass laying about, but for several hundred yards, it's opene season for those who just can't stand a range, even one that is unmonitored. Around the southern corner of that hill line are more spots, but you start getting into some private property, I think. Drove by, never stopped. Crappy dirt road. The pic is old, it's paved down to the range now, going south from there is unpaved and that's where the wildcat shooting starts. https://i.imgur.com/45jlweM.jpg I like the Casa Grande range. I usually take a day off from work and meet my brother there a few times a year. I like that it is unmonitored, but at the same time there is always at least one person who does not know how to work with the other shooters and will walk down range with others shooting or shoot during an agreed cease fire. I have heard some fun things going on in that area south of the range. I believe that is private property. To the OP, so many people have moved to Arizona it can be difficult to find good shooting spots that are also safe. Another good spot near me recently got shut down because of the bad, disrespectful shooters causing a lot of damage, vandalism to the property, equipment, and cattle. So, spend some time scouting out BLM and forest land. It helps if you can find a spot where certain types of cars cannot go. |