Plans C-D-E

Our Plan A range is now unavailable unless we had carry match materials a fairly long haul.

Our Plan B range is a great spot and we're looking forward to shooting there on January 21.

 However, we needed a Plan C, D, and E. Why? One word: cattle.

Our Plan B range sits on prime grazing land that has been in the "rest-rotation" cycle this year. Right now, this pasture is covered with prime food for cattle. It's not a matter of "if" cattle are going to return, simply a matter of "when." Although we will inquire with the Forest Service as to when cattle might be authorized to return to the Plan B area, they may or may not tell us.

It's up to us to have a Plan C, D and E should we should up at the Plan B range only to find ourselves holster deep in cow-calf pairs. That's why we went out Saturday to find other potential shooting spots. We found three.

Each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, as do practically all public land shooting spots. Unless and until we have a gated private range, we simply have to live with the pros and cons each spot brings.

The Plan C Range is actually a legal and quasi-developed shooting range maintained by the 1st Regiment of the Beaverhead Brigade, whoever the heck they are. It's in an old borrow pit on Forest Service land south of the Beaverhead Road (Yavapai County #78) perhaps a mile west of Highway 179.

The Plan D Range is on Old Hwy 179 maybe a half mile from the Stage Stop Day Use Area which is also known to historians as the "Beaverhead Stage Station."

The Plan E Range is along the same Old Hwy 179 not far from this road's southern intersection with the new Hwy 179.

Discussion of the Plan C, D and E Ranges continues with notes accompanying the photos below.

 We don't know this range has a formal name but we're giving it one--The Beaverhead Borrow Pit. (BBP). This is a view looking from the east end toward Yavapai Cty. Road # 78 (AKA: The Beaverhead Road).  Note the other shooter's vehicle in the background.  When we use this area, we will line all our trucks across the area at the bottom of the photo so all the trucks face east.  We have sufficient vehicles to essentially block off the east end of this area.

This area will be our first choice when cattle reappear at the Plan B Range.It's certainly going to be easy to get the trailer in and out of here.  Parking and the backstop are perfect and there is ample space  to set up at least three stages at once.

Here's a view of the BBP looking east from the approximate area out trucks would be parked.  This is a wonderfully, wide-open area to set up a pistol match.  The last time we looked at this place was years ago and is was a mess.  Obviously, someone has graded and shaped the area for use by shooters.  There's even a sign that says "Pick Up Your Targets."  We will attempt to contact the Beaverhead Brigade to find out the "back story" on this shooting area.  There's no doubt whatsoever that this place has the official blessing of the Forest Service to be used as a range.  

The two primary disadvantages to this location are the presence of other shooters as well as an abundance of pallet nails everywhere.  We believe our match set up will clearly separate ourselves from other shooters.  Likewise, we do have a magnetic sweeper and we will try to remove as many nails as possible before we use this area.

Here is the Plan D area not far from the Stage Stop.  We suspect the area is actually closed but,as of right now, it has an official road number sign and so we would use it until someone tells us we can't.  There's a nice shooting area in the middle top of this photo.  We would be shooting somewhat to the left so the range would be sloped to our right.  Parking and backstop are fine.  Any moisture will turn the parking area into slick snot and the shooting area to goo.

 The Plan E Range offer OK parking.  It's not optimal but it will work with a little careful jockeying of the vehicles alongside the road.

If there's any moisture in the shooting area, this is the kind of stuff that will attached 3-5 pound gobs of weird mud to each of your boots or shoes.  Likewise, the area is filled with rocks so any movement within a stage would have to be carefully managed to avoiding tripping hazards.  This would also be one of the dustiest areas in which to shoot.  The Plan E Range is what we call a "deep backup" and only to be used when all other alternatives are unavailable.

In closing, we wish to note that we will continue an aggressive search for additional alternative shooting spots.  Ideally, someday we will find a permanent location with many advantages and few, if any, liabilities.
Until then, let's just be thankful that we actually now have four potential shooting spots to use while we look for other suitable locations.