What kind of targets are you allowed to use when shooting at an outdoor public gravel pit? I have only used my paper or steel targets but are you allowed to bring say water bottles or something like that to shoot? I know people do but I was wondering if that is allowed, I wouldn't want to get caught or something. I would clean up everything afterwards of course. I normally shoot at ranges so I don't have as much knowledge about outdoor shooting. I know that the law says you need an earthen backstop and you can't shoot trees or things like tannerite, but I am not sure about other stuff.

A backstop is very important.

As far as targets, it depends where you are. It seems that most of the state and federal lands prohibit explosive targets like Tannerite, but on private land that would be fine.

Other than that ... really, pretty much anything is fine as long as you clean it up. Realistically, though, most people who shoot trash (old TVs, whatever) won’t or can’t clean it all up. The same goes for things like glass bottles.

If you can and will clean it, though, then go for it.

Thanks for the fast reply! I was going to head up to the sedro woolley gravel pit sometime next week now that it appears to be open again and was thinking about what I should bring. Then I got wondering if there are any restrictions on what you can shoot but I couldn't really find anything. Not planning on bringing out any old tvs or whatever, probably just sodas or watermelons and stuff like that. Know anything that makes a good target?

tangerines and oranges,

colored ice cubes

From DNR as well as the State WAC 332-52-145:

Biodegradable shotgun clays are handy and fun.

Hey thanks for that. So the way I am reading it, unless you make your own targets you are only allowed to use manufactured things that were created and intended to be targets(paper targets, steel, clays)? So if I buy a watermelon or a 2 liter soda and shoot it, since it wasn't manufactured for the specific purpose of target shooting would that be wrong? I doubt anyone would get in trouble for it and wouldn't be too worried, but it's nice to know.

Bottles would be considered garbage. Technically, watermelon would as well, but you'd have a hard time finding a ranger to cite you for shooting fruit (something that will quickly dissolve back into the earth).

Paper is good, as long as you take it home. Steel is good as long as you take it home, clays are good because they are bio-degradable.

Here is the biggest issue with shooting garbage / debris. At the end of the day, nobody wants to call a long cold range so you can head down range and pick up all your bits and pieces. Most people just pack up and go.

If you have a small area to yourself and have a trash bag on hand, then I think you may have a little more wiggle room in this arena. But if you are going out to a busy pit, don't be the guy who shoots trash.

Yeah I only go out to those kind of places on weekdays when they aren't so busy. Thanks for the help though! I'll have to go by cabelas and see what I can find there.

One thing to consider when shooting on private land (usually owned by gravel companies, logging companies, or farmers) is make sure you have permission. Preferably in the form of a letter from the owner.

Just because "eveyone else is doing it" doesn't mean that a LEO can't show up and start citing everyone for trespass. Ran into that problem years ago with my dirt bike. Probably 30 riders on a vacant piece of land. Deputy gave us 10 minutes to load and leave before he started citing.

With shooting it may be tough to get permission from private owners due to the trashing of land and total disregard for safety shown by too many shooters.

Grapes are fun shoot. When you hit one there is nothing left. The misses are quickly eaten by critters. Same thing with apples. Every year I gather a couple buckets from my neighbors and have a blast!