Where to shoot? South Vancouver Island

lickalotapus13

lickalotapus13

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Victoria BC
Hi guys,

I live in Victoria BC, and am wondering if any members that live on the Island can point me to somewhere I could shoot on Crown land. A few guys I know told me about somewhere on Old Renfew Rd north of Shawnigan Lake where I could go and spend an afternoon. But, was curious if there are other spots where I could go...

Thanks in advance!!

:)
 
The ranges I know of are langford rangers, North Saanich Gun range, and Vancouver Island Fish and Game (malahat range)

VIFGA is easiest to get into from what I hear.

As for places to shoot I always see some spent ammo casing when I used to go 4byin out near the power lines near sooke (before I had my PAL)
 
I hear that the RCMP are cracking down on Shawnigan bush shooters. I have a friend that lives off Renfrew road and there have been alot of busts.....seems they seize your guns and let you have them back regardless if they should have taken them or not.
I copied this from island 4x4's site, it outlines why they are cracking down.


Concerns over firearms being used inappropriately on rural properties in the Shawnigan Lake area have been renewed after police seized guns, ammo and marijuana from a vehicle in the 2700 block of Renfrew Road just after midnight on May 2.

Shawnigan Lake RCMP officers seized five rifles, one shotgun, a substantial amount of ammunition and a small amount of pot after the late-night spot check on a Jeep Cherokee parked on the side of the road.

The SUV's headlights were curiously turned off just as the patrol car rolled by, which prompted police to have a closer look.

According to police, the three men in the Jeep said they had been target shooting in the rural, forested areas west of Shawnigan Lake and Koksilah Provincial Park.

Shawnigan Lake RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jason Kerr said it was determined that all three men had been drinking and had not stored their guns properly.

The trio, which includes a 21-year-old from Shawnigan and two Victoria men, now face charges.

"Instances involving the inappropriate use of firearms in the forested/ rural areas around the lake are increasing," Kerr said.

"In 2010, Shawnigan Lake RCMP responded to a total of 10 complaints involving the careless use of firearms. In 2011, that number increased to 29," he explained.

"To date in 2012, the detachment has responded to 18 complaints about the careless use of firearms, that compares to 10 complaints for the same time period in 2011."

Those wishing to shoot their guns should do so legally at one of the established gun ranges that are available on the south Island, Kerr suggested.

Mounties will be upping their efforts in the investigation and enforcement of unsafe and/or illegal gun use.

"The RCMP encourage the public to report persons observed using firearms in an unsafe manner," Kerr said.
 
willisjake said:
Those wishing to shoot their guns should do so legally at one of the established gun ranges that are available on the south Island, Kerr suggested.
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Well theres the problem, the RCMP doent even know where its legal to shoot or not...

sure report carless firearms use but why should i be punished for doing a LEGAL activity..


the way i look at it.. how many times have i been swept with a muzzle in the bush.. 0!!

how many times at VFGPA , oh im gonna say 15 or 16 times iv had a LOADED gun pointed at me... yup thats more responsable then out in the middle of no hwere
 
ultimate_monkey said:
why should i be punished for doing a LEGAL activity..
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Systemic anti gun/anti self defense activism by the Canadian political and criminal justice systems spanning 4 decades.

c-51, c-17, c-68, PQ bill 9, bogus charges pursuant to non-existent "laws", people criminally charged for defending themselves and their homes with firearms, seizure of Montague's home, forced closures of shooting clubs, blatant anti gun activism by RCMP and CFOs.

It's been around for quite a while now.
 
I'm also interested in this. I'm thinking about joining a range, but shooting outside would be a lot more fun.

My only real concern is that I might be unaware of some law prohibiting shooting in a certain area. Can you guys share some precise locations with a good backstop/hill where I could practice shooting some cans with my 12ga? I'd also be up for going with another shooter -- msg me if interested. I'm west of Langford near Goldstream.
 
I've been shooting near Shawnigan for quite some time, have recently been shooting farther north but I'm not sure I'll be going back to the lake, just to avoid any potential heat (not that I'm doing anything wrong, and run a tight operation when using firearms). I can understand a seizer of firearms if its from some drunk guys out driving, acting shady by turning off their headlights, packing drugs while improperly storing their weapons. They don't come off as the responsible type.
 
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hi there
im looking for to buy my 1 handgun
which one should i buy ? and aslo someone told me abt BIKAL VIKING 446
can anyone tell me abt this gun.
 
Has there been any secret spots found yet? Dammit guys I know for a fact there has got to be a few 1k yard crown land areas that you guys arent sharing.....I dont blame you!
 
PBNJ said:
Has there been any secret spots found yet? Dammit guys I know for a fact there has got to be a few 1k yard crown land areas that you guys arent sharing.....I dont blame you!
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I have been assured that they exist (well at least 800yrd spots). But I certainly don't know where they are.
 
Zombie thread revival alert.

We're moving to Nanoose Bay so I'm looking for crown land with 500m plus shooting potential.

I see lots of clearcuts that look road accessible that are in the +700m range and run parallel to the road. They look promising.
 
good luck.

geologist said:
Zombie thread revival alert.

We're moving to Nanoose Bay so I'm looking for crown land with 500m plus shooting potential.

I see lots of clearcuts that look road accessible that are in the +700m range and run parallel to the road. They look promising.
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Yeah.. remember you need to be no less than 400m from any hwy to discharge a fire arm. Also, I just moved to a place about 20 km south of Courtenay.I was on the mainland prior.
The Island Timberlands DB's and the TimberWest DB's (amoung others) both have a strangle hold on a fair portion of the island (Thank you BCgov. -past 'n' present , Lord Dunsmuir and HR MacMillan!!) You'll have great difficulty finding decent range because the property "they own" is all gated and they have signs stating no shooting or hunting during the week. and only on weekends might you be able to get in.. if youre lucky but i doubt it. I have yet to see an open gate. Of course behind the gates exist all sorts of ranges with good reach. Like 500m min.. but yeah. stay out! KEEP OUT !! GO AWAY!!! WE DONT LIKE YOUR KIND HERE!!! thats pretty much what it feels like when you read the sign(s). on a side note... need fire wood? just wait till you find out what a permit costs you to go in there and clean up their rape mess.....

When you do find a place.... Dont forget to pick up your brass and plastic. It truly is an eyesore for such beautiful surroundings. If you must drop your brass and plastic, take it to victoria and place it on the lawns of parliment. Just an idea... or your local mainland city hall.

Ive also visited BC assessment to look at all the private land on VI. Strangely enough my place and all the places of my friends, neighbours, and countrymen show up.. but for what ever odd reason the "private lands" owned by the above mentioned land rapers does not.. even in the interior around Kelowna you can see private range land on the "service". So, one such as myself who considers himself to be logical and reasonable cannot with any certainty verify where private land ends and crown land begins. its a real "wtf?!?!" sort of situation.

Campbell river area supposedly has a fish n game club that has a 600 m length of real estate dedicated to those times when you really feel like reaching out and touching something, but thats in CR. A long drive. Try Cook Creek FSR. I was up there not long ago and their seems to be a few spots that might work. You may have to go in like 10km tho... Its nice up there.. so... pack it in, pack it out.. or they are liable to put up a gate.......
 
Just went hunting up Kapoor Main and was disappointed to see shotgun/sks shells and shot up appliances everywhere. Makes all gun owners look bad and ensures that gates will be locked in the future. Please stay in Victoria if you are planning on coming up to Shawnigan to make a mess of our woods.
 
stephen492 said:
Just went hunting up Kapoor Main and was disappointed to see shotgun/sks shells and shot up appliances everywhere. Makes all gun owners look bad and ensures that gates will be locked in the future. Please stay in Victoria if you are planning on coming up to Shawnigan to make a mess of our woods.
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I think that's the main problem with back woods shooting these days. Lots of trash left behind. People never obey the leave nothing but footprints behind motto anymore.

I would live to find a good backwoods place to shoot anywhere on the island. You used to be able to get keys to the logging roads if you had or knew anyone with property up that way. I havent known anyone in a long while with the keys though.
 
Interesting this thread has come up again. I moved to Nanaimo from the lower mainland a few months ago and was all excited because I thought I was finally going to be able to go out in the bush and plink tin cans with relative ease. Then I learned that timberwest and island timberlands have a complete and total strangle hold on back woods access. I've found through Google earth and topo maps all kinds of great places to go target shooting but unfortunately they are all gated off.

Island timberlands actually has a road access blog for weekend use but they don't exactly clarify what kind of activity is permitted. They do say no quads, camping, or fires.

However I'm sure given a little more time I will figure out a way to circumvent their blockades and enjoy the woodlands that the government gave them to rape pillage and destroy. I also suspect certain locals with certain privileges have access and it's just a matter of meeting them and proving you're trustworthy. Or maybe I'm dreaming.
 
Mt Washington 49.735055,-125.211702

Take your quad pass where the old bridge used to be and you will find plenty of nice long spots to shoot.

No one ever bothers me up there :)
 
Awesome thanks for the tip. I just checked the access blog and it now says "no target practice/shooting" - "unless authorized by island timberlands"... yeah right like they are going to authorize anyone.

Also a good tip - if you take a tarp or poly with you when you go shooing, just lay it down where you're shooting and then when you're finished you can pick it up and dump all spent brass/casings into a box, container, etc.... EZPZ.
 
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