Shooting Sports Near Tatum Ranch

Ranges near Tatum Ranch

Few places in the country put this much range variety within a short drive. Ben Avery Shooting Facility, run by the Arizona Game and Fish Department on 1,650 acres in north Phoenix, is one of the largest publicly operated shooting complexes in the United States and the first government-run range to earn a 5-star rating from the National Association of Shooting Ranges, with rifle and pistol bays out to long distance, a dedicated clay target center, and archery. For indoor, air-conditioned practice and training, C2 Tactical and Scottsdale Gun Club both run modern indoor ranges in the Scottsdale/north Phoenix area with memberships, lane rentals, and a full slate of classes from basic handgun to concealed carry courses. Rio Salado Sportsman's Club, on about 140 acres in northeast Mesa, adds covered rifle benches out to 500 yards, lighted pistol bays, a practical pistol range, and skeet and sporting clays. Cowtown Range in Peoria is a private outdoor range built around elite marksmanship training in high-desert terrain.

• Ben Avery Shooting Facility: 1,650-acre AZGFD public range, north Phoenix (I-17 and Carefree Highway), rifle/pistol/clay/archery, 5-star NASR rated
• C2 Tactical: indoor range and training center, Scottsdale/north Phoenix and Tempe
• Scottsdale Gun Club: indoor range, open to the public, memberships and classes
• Rio Salado Sportsman's Club: outdoor range, Mesa, rifle/pistol/skeet/high-power/silhouette
• Cowtown Range: private outdoor range, Peoria

Source: azgfd.com; c2tactical.com; scottsdalegunclub.com; rsscaz.com; cowtownrange.com

Competitive shooting: USPSA, Steel Challenge, Cowboy Action, and 3-Gun

The Phoenix area has one of the more active competitive shooting scenes in the country. Cactus Combat Match League, based at Ben Avery, is one of the oldest and largest practical shooting organizations in the United States, running frequent USPSA-style matches and Steel Challenge with mentors on hand for newcomers. Phoenix Rod and Gun Club hosts its own practical pistol matches most months for a modest match fee. For cowboy action shooting, the Arizona Cowboy Shooters Association is SASS-affiliated and runs monthly matches plus larger annual events like the Blackout at Bloody Basin. Flagstaff Action Shooters, further north, runs USPSA, multi-gun/3-Gun, and Steel Challenge matches, giving Arizona shooters range and terrain variety within a day's drive. Ben Avery itself also hosts larger annual events, including cowboy action shooting matches, on top of the regular club calendar.

• Cactus Combat Match League (Ben Avery): USPSA-style practical pistol and Steel Challenge, mentors welcome for new shooters
• Phoenix Rod and Gun Club: monthly practical pistol (USPSA) matches
• Arizona Cowboy Shooters Association (SASS-affiliated): monthly cowboy action matches, annual Blackout at Bloody Basin
• Flagstaff Action Shooters: USPSA, multi-gun/3-Gun, and Steel Challenge matches

Source: cactusmatch.com; phoenixrodandgun.org; sassnet.com/arizona_cowboy_shooters_association; flagstaffactionshooters.org

How to get involved: PractiScore

PractiScore is the registration and live-scoring platform used by USPSA, 3-Gun, Steel Challenge, and most other action-shooting matches nationwide, including the clubs and matches listed above. New shooters can create a free account, search by state or club to find upcoming local matches, register online, and see real-time results and rankings during the match. It is also how shooters find the bigger area and national-level matches, since major USPSA Section and Area championships, and large multi-gun and Steel Challenge events, all use PractiScore for registration and squadding. Most local clubs, including Cactus Combat Match League, welcome brand-new shooters and pair them with an experienced mentor for their first match.

• Create a free account at practiscore.com to find and register for local matches
• Search by club or state to find upcoming USPSA, 3-Gun, Steel Challenge, and cowboy action matches
• Major Section, Area, and national championship matches are also posted and squadded through PractiScore

Source: practiscore.com

Shooting on National Forest, BLM, and State Trust Land: what the rules actually say

The rules are different depending on whose land you are standing on, and it is worth knowing the difference before you go. On Tonto National Forest, recreational target shooting is generally allowed, subject to standard federal rules: no discharging a firearm within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, or developed recreation area, no shooting across a road or body of water, and no incendiary or tracer ammunition. Target shooting is suspended during fire restrictions, which the Forest Service issues seasonally. BLM land in Arizona follows a similar pattern: roughly 97 percent of BLM land is open to dispersed recreational shooting under the same 150-yard and safe-backstop rules, with some specific areas, like monuments, closed. Arizona State Trust Land is the one that surprises people: recreational and target shooting is prohibited there year-round. Trust land discharge of a firearm is allowed only for lawful, licensed hunting under Arizona Game and Fish rules, and any access to trust land at all requires a Recreational Use Permit from the Arizona State Land Department.

• Tonto National Forest: recreational shooting generally allowed, 150-yard buffer from structures, no shooting across roads or water, suspended during fire restrictions
• BLM land in Arizona: about 97 percent open to dispersed recreational shooting under similar buffer rules
• Arizona State Trust Land: recreational/target shooting prohibited year-round; firearms discharge allowed only for licensed hunting, and a Recreational Use Permit is required for any access

Source: fs.usda.gov/r03/tonto; blm.gov/programs/recreation/arizona/recreational-shooting; land.az.gov/recreational-shooting-state-trust-land

Arizona's concealed carry laws: a genuine point of pride

Arizona has been a constitutional carry state since 2010, meaning any person 21 or older who is legally allowed to possess a firearm can carry it concealed without a permit, and open carry is allowed at 18 and up under the same eligibility rules. That is a real vote of confidence in law-abiding gun owners, and it puts Arizona among the most permissive and respected states in the country on this issue. Arizona also still issues an optional Concealed Weapons Permit through the Department of Public Safety on a shall-issue basis, mainly so residents can carry concealed while traveling, since an Arizona permit is currently honored in roughly three dozen other states through reciprocity agreements. Arizona, in turn, honors valid concealed carry permits issued by every other state.

• Constitutional (permitless) carry since 2010: concealed carry at 21+, open carry at 18+, for anyone legally eligible to possess a firearm
• Optional Arizona CWP available on a shall-issue basis through DPS, mainly useful for reciprocity while traveling
• An Arizona-issued CWP is currently honored in roughly 37 other states; Arizona honors valid permits from all other states

Source: azdps.gov; nraila.org/gun-laws/state-gun-laws/arizona; usconcealedcarry.com/resources/ccw_reciprocity_map/az-gun-laws

Can I go target shooting on State Trust Land near Tatum Ranch?

No. Arizona State Trust Land prohibits recreational and target shooting year-round; a firearm may only be discharged there for lawful, licensed hunting, and any access requires a Recreational Use Permit from the Arizona State Land Department. Tonto National Forest and most BLM land nearby do allow recreational shooting under standard safety-buffer rules, except during fire restrictions.

What is the closest range to Tatum Ranch for someone new to shooting?

Ben Avery Shooting Facility, a large AZGFD-run public range in north Phoenix, is the most complete option for new shooters, with supervised bays, classes, and archery in addition to rifle and pistol. C2 Tactical and Scottsdale Gun Club are indoor, air-conditioned options nearby with beginner and concealed carry classes.

How do I find and sign up for a local match?

Create a free account at PractiScore.com and search by club or state. Cactus Combat Match League at Ben Avery, Phoenix Rod and Gun Club, and the Arizona Cowboy Shooters Association all post their matches there, and most clubs pair new shooters with a mentor for their first match.

Do I need a permit to carry a concealed handgun in Arizona?

No. Arizona has been a constitutional carry state since 2010, so anyone 21 or older who can legally possess a firearm may carry concealed without a permit. An optional Concealed Weapons Permit is still available through the Department of Public Safety, mainly for reciprocity when traveling to other states. This is general information, not legal advice.