Free state range

THier · Feb 24, 2019

1st, I tried a search,, couldn't find any info.

I still have my AGC membership, but now that I have moved east, Middle River, looking for someplace close for pistol shooting. I stopped in yesterday (saturday) spoke to a couple guys who were waiting for 90mins + for a lane. Is this "normal" how about weekday evenings, 4pm or so?

Also, what are balt county laws for private property?

I rent a house from a family farming operation that has A LOT of property. I usually shoot steel, so rounds pretty much self destruct at the target. I am thinking of asking the landlord, (we have been here over a year, they are "gun friendly") if any of their land would be available for pistol shooting.

Thanks

Bertfish · Feb 24, 2019

If you can get public water and sewer in Baltimore County you cant shoot on your land

THier · Feb 24, 2019

Ok, I'm clear here, but a couple close houses (ear range)I dont want to shoot here. I'll to have to find out IF they have other land and IF I can get the ok.

Funny thing is, I have been given the ok to rid the property of coyotes, but dont really want to go there, since it has been since the late 80s since I have had my hunting license, and coyotes weren't a problem then, not sure of the legalities of coyote hunting.

danb · Feb 24, 2019

Coyotes are one of the few mammals that are in season 365 days a year, and even at night mid-Oct through Mid-march. http://www.eregulations.com/maryland/hunting/furbearer-seasons-limits/

DNR wants them all gone. Coyotes are becoming a real problem. Shoot em if you see em.

Vetted84 · Feb 24, 2019

Long waits at Free State are not uncommon. A very popular place.

I find myself these days using Continental Arms. Been a long time since I had to wait there for a lane.

Trekker · Feb 24, 2019

THier said:
1st, I tried a search,, couldn't find any info.

I still have my AGC membership, but now that I have moved east, Middle River, looking for someplace close for pistol shooting. I stopped in yesterday (saturday) spoke to a couple guys who were waiting for 90mins + for a lane. Is this "normal" how about weekday evenings, 4pm or so?

Also, what are balt county laws for private property?

I rent a house from a family farming operation that has A LOT of property. I usually shoot steel, so rounds pretty much self destruct at the target. I am thinking of asking the landlord, (we have been here over a year, they are "gun friendly") if any of their land would be available for pistol shooting.

Thanks

For Free State gun range, 90-120 minutes most often occurs on weekend afternoons to evenings. This is not always the case, but often enough that it is worthwhile to make a phone call to ask about the waiting list before driving over. There have also been weekend afternoons/evenings when I was able to walk right in and get assigned a lane.

Weekdays, particularly mornings through early afternoon, have much slower traffic.

StantonCree · Feb 24, 2019

When it first opened i walked right in. After about a year I’ve had a few 90+ waits and with the hour drive there i said no more but am happy their business is flourishing

THier · Feb 24, 2019

danb said:
Coyotes are one of the few mammals that are in season 365 days a year, and even at night mid-Oct through Mid-march. http://www.eregulations.com/maryland/hunting/furbearer-seasons-limits/

DNR wants them all gone. Coyotes are becoming a real problem. Shoot em if you see em.

No centerfire rifle though correct? (Balt co)

Racer Doug14 · Feb 24, 2019

THier said:
No centerfire rifle though correct? (Balt co)

You'd be better to call DNR and get the low down.

What I mean, is that the three season( bow, BP, and firearms) is generally for the whitetail seasons. Fur bearing might be totally different allowed weapons.

Sundazes · Feb 24, 2019

As I recall, there are areas in Balt county that are designated as metropolitan area. They have distinct boundary lines. You can not discharge firearms inside those boundaries. The lines are as bad as the gerrymandering. Each local precinct should have a map showing them. They should be available online as well.
There are distance from dwelling rules as well. Make sure you have written concent from the owners too.

Vjornaxx · Feb 24, 2019

Weekdays and weeknights usually have no waits - unless they are running a class.

george g. · Feb 24, 2019

There's always Select Fire,I normally go there on the way home from work.Never any waits, but not the cleanest.

Racer Doug14 · Feb 24, 2019

Also, better to ask your hunting g related questions over in that forum. With a new thread.

ezracer · Feb 24, 2019

Long waits at Freestate are common. It's a very nice range and is very popular.
That said, I could understand waiting a little on weekends to get a lane.

What I CANNOT STAND is waiting for a lane on weekdays. I understand they have a business to run. They have 12 lanes. On weekdays they will have Homeland Security practicing there or some private security guard agency
there taking up 6 of the 12 lanes. It's best to call ahead.

I've been going to the BelAir Gun Range ( formerly Horst and McCann ) for the last few years. On weekdays I get a lane EVERY TIME I go. All the guys there are great especially the owner, Mike Horst.

:thumbsup:

Sundazes · Feb 24, 2019

I found an older copy of the map. Check for newer regulations.

danb · Feb 24, 2019

Racer Doug14 said:
You'd be better to call DNR and get the low down.

What I mean, is that the three season( bow, BP, and firearms) is generally for the whitetail seasons. Fur bearing might be totally different allowed weapons.

THier said:
No centerfire rifle though correct? (Balt co)

Yes and no, mostly no. http://www.eregulations.com/maryland/hunting/furbearer-hunting-trapping/

Firearms

Taking coyote, fisher, gray fox, nutria, opossum, raccoon, red fox and skunk with firearms is subject to these regulations:

A shotgun may not hold more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined.
Rifles and handguns may be used. Full metal-jacketed, incendiary, or tracer bullets may not be used.
Muzzleloading rifles, shotguns and handguns may be used. To be considered a muzzleloader, a rifle, shotgun or handgun must be loaded from the muzzle, and a revolver must be loaded from the front of the cylinder. Muzzleloaders are considered unloaded if the ignition system is disabled by removal of the cap, primer, battery or primer powder.
It is illegal to have a loaded firearm in, on or leaning against any vehicle. This includes ammunition in the magazine or a muzzleloader ready to fire.

Centerfire rifles are generally ok except that there are local county rules that may apply. IDK if centerfire rifle is ok in your area of Baltimore County. I'd call DNR and ask. You will obviously still need a hunting license.

knastera · Feb 24, 2019

I'm a member of FreeState. If you go there on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday night between six and seven, the wait is either non existent or very short.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

knastera · Feb 24, 2019

71Chevelle427 · Feb 25, 2019

ezracer said:
Long waits at Freestate are common. It's a very nice range and is very popular.
That said, I could understand waiting a little on weekends to get a lane.

What I CANNOT STAND is waiting for a lane on weekdays. I understand they have a business to run. They have 12 lanes. On weekdays they will have Homeland Security practicing there or some private security guard agency
there taking up 6 of the 12 lanes. It's best to call ahead.

I've been going to the BelAir Gun Range ( formerly Horst and McCann ) for the last few years. On weekdays I get a lane EVERY TIME I go. All the guys there are great especially the owner, Mike Horst.

I'm a member at Freestate, although I much prefer to shoot outdoors. I usually go straight from work, 3pm or so, and very rarely have any sort of wait. Half the time, I am the sole shooter for a short while.

I hate waiting for anything, I guess since I am getting older...Absolutely refuse to even try going there on weekends. Way too many inexperienced shooters, and simply too crowded.

One of my co-workers lives in Belair, and is a member at Belair Gun Range. He says that members there get priority for lanes...which is the way it should be IMO.

ezracer · Feb 25, 2019

knastera said:
I'm a member of FreeState. If you go there on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday night between six and seven, the wait is either non existent or very short.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

WOW! Maybe they've added 6 more lanes.
:lol:

I never go on weeknights..I figured it would be crowded. I guess I just have bad luck at Freestate. I still won't go there.
To each his own.

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