KELSEY CREEK NFSR 528G
Mile High Target Tailgating
KELSEY CREEK NFSR 528G
Mile High Target Tailgating
Sport shooting & tailgating come together in the Rockies
Only an hour from Denver, Colorado Springs, or Castle Rock the shooting area is free to the public, no reservations required, and open daily from dawn till dusk. Closed the first Monday of every month for maintenance except for holiday Mondays. Also closed the day after Thanksgiving through the 2nd weekend in December.
Pike National Forest target shooting area
Enormous berm backstop
Kelsey Creek NFSR 528G is a small dispersed shooting area in the Buffalo Creek Recreation District that features an exceptionally large berm backstop and is best suited for pistols, skeet, and rimfire rifles. There are no services or conveniences so bring everything you need for tailgating and target shooting including target stands.
Place your targets out to 100 feet
Set up your table, tailgate gear, targets, and target stands directly BEHIND your vehicle. Only use cardboard, paper, manufactured metallic (metal targets specifically designed for firearms), manufactured thrown-type clay (clay pigeons), manufactured polymer ground-bouncing, or self-healing firearm targets.
Have fun & stay safe
Please make a clear and obvious firing line with others. Everyone shoots SOUTH towards berm including skeet shooters. Communicate and work as a group to establish cease fires, cold ranges, and hot ranges. Never handle firearms during a cold range when others are past the firing line.
Clean up after yourself
Depart the range better than you found it. Take out an EXTRA bag or two of trash with you. Leave no trace of your visit. It is forbidden to abandon any property, debris or litter in this area.
Keep it Clean Keep it Open
Prevent wildfires
During extreme fire conditions known as RED FLAG days shooting indoors is the best option. Steel core rounds known as green tips can spark fires. Shooting tracer or any other type of incendiary rounds, and using exploding targets like Tannerite on the National Forest is illegal.
Know Before You Go
Know the Weather
Weather in Colorado can quickly change from a bright sunny day to light rain, chilly gusty winds, a light snow fall, then a cold drenching thunderstorm, and back again to sunny skies. Bring extra clothing for weather and appropriate for the altitude.
Check for Closures
Closures can be implemented by the USFS, County, or Range Officers. Federal closures may be in place even though the County does not or vice versa. Sign up for notifications about Kelsey Creek 528G closures.
Look at Traffic
US 285 is often backed up on weekends during the Summer months. Check the three traffic cameras between Conifer and Pine Junction on the CDOT website and use our maps for alternate routes to avoid traffic.
Know Laws, Ordinances, Rules, Procedures, & Etiquette
Visitors shall abide by all Rules & Regulations instituted by Federal Laws, USFS Orders, Colorado Regulations, Jefferson County Ordinances and area signage. Also, please adhere to Procedures & Protocol along with our recommendations on Safety & Etiquette for everyone's benefit.
Watch video series
This five-video series was created to help new and experienced target shooting participants have a safe and successful experience on public lands. From choosing a safe location to cleaning up afterward, each video in the series highlights an important aspect of target shooting.
Bring It
Ammunition
Personal Protection Equipment
Personal Protection Equipment
Shotgun shells with biodegradable wadding no larger than number 7 bird shot is recommended. Incendiary or tracer rounds of any kind are NOT allowed. Please clean up your casings, shells, and plastic wadding.
Personal Protection Equipment
Personal Protection Equipment
Personal Protection Equipment
Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) in particular eye and ear protection equipment is required. Baseball cap and suitable clothing is highly recommended. Everyone must be wearing PPE before entering the shooting area.
Gear and Maps
Personal Protection Equipment
Targets, Target Stands, & Trap
Download our equipment checklist & map to Target Tailgate like a boss. Map includes alternate routes to avoid highway 285 traffic. Gear up and be completely prepared and equipped since there are no services or facilities.
Targets, Target Stands, & Trap
Targets, Target Stands, & Trap
Targets, Target Stands, & Trap
Bring target stands and targets that are specifically designed and manufactured for firearm use. No EXPLODING targets.
First Aid Kit with Tourniquet
Targets, Target Stands, & Trap
First Aid Kit with Tourniquet
Always include your First Aid Kit and tourniquet(s) with your gear anytime you head out to the range.
Instructor
Targets, Target Stands, & Trap
First Aid Kit with Tourniquet
Newbies should train with a professional instructor or bring a certified instructor with you. Also, train with Lena before visiting range.
Safety First
RULES
SAFETY CALLS
SAFETY
- All shooting is towards the berm backstop on SOUTH side. Shooting trees, natural resources, or any other direction is illegal, irresponsible, and dangerous.
- Alcohol, drugs, intoxicants, and all PERSONS under the influence of such are prohibited from this area.
- Pack out everything you brought into this area. If you can, then please pick up a
- All shooting is towards the berm backstop on SOUTH side. Shooting trees, natural resources, or any other direction is illegal, irresponsible, and dangerous.
- Alcohol, drugs, intoxicants, and all PERSONS under the influence of such are prohibited from this area.
- Pack out everything you brought into this area. If you can, then please pick up an EXTRA bag or two of trash.
- Pets are NOT allowed in this area at any time.
- OPEN daylight hours dawn till dusk.
- CLOSED every 1st Monday of the month for maintenance and care except holiday Mondays.
SAFETY
SAFETY CALLS
SAFETY
- Make a CLEAR and obvious firing line with everyone.
- Work together as a GROUP to establish cease fires, hot range and cold range safety calls.
- Never handle any firearms while people are down range PAST the firing line.
- Treat all firearms as if they are LOADED.
- Keep your weapon on SAFE until you are ready and intend to shoot it.
- Keep your finger
- Make a CLEAR and obvious firing line with everyone.
- Work together as a GROUP to establish cease fires, hot range and cold range safety calls.
- Never handle any firearms while people are down range PAST the firing line.
- Treat all firearms as if they are LOADED.
- Keep your weapon on SAFE until you are ready and intend to shoot it.
- Keep your finger OFF the trigger until the sights are on your target.
- Never point a gun at a person or ANYTHING you are not willing to destroy.
- Eye and ear protection must be worn by everyone when range is declared HOT.
- Communicate and follow all SAFETY CALLS immediately.
SAFETY CALLS
SAFETY CALLS
SAFETY CALLS
- CEASE FIRE All shooting stops immediately. Put firearms in SAFE MODE. Engage safety, open action, unload ammunition, sling rifles, and holster pistols.
- COLD RANGE Guns remain in SAFE MODE. Do not handle or touch any firearms. You can now go down range past firing line in a GROUP to patch, score, set up, and retrieve targets. You may also p
- CEASE FIRE All shooting stops immediately. Put firearms in SAFE MODE. Engage safety, open action, unload ammunition, sling rifles, and holster pistols.
- COLD RANGE Guns remain in SAFE MODE. Do not handle or touch any firearms. You can now go down range past firing line in a GROUP to patch, score, set up, and retrieve targets. You may also pick up trash, shells, and cartridge casings.
- HOT RANGE After everyone has returned behind the firing line, put on PPE, and given a ready THUMBS UP, then hot range will be called and firing begins.
If you observe ANY unsafe condition, then shout as loud as possible
“CEASE FIRE.”
Safety is everyone’s responsibility!
Contact Us
Directions - Less than an hour drive from Denver
From the Denver metropolitan area take US HWY 285 South through Conifer to Pine Junction. At the traffic light in Pine Junction turn left (South) on County Road 126 (Pine Valley Road) and travel about 14 miles. After passing Redskin Creek Road (NFSR 550/Wellington Lake), Kelsey Creek NFSR 528G is the next right at the bottom of the hill.
Hours
Open during DAYLIGHT hours dawn till dusk. Closed the 1st Monday of every month for maintenance except on holiday Mondays. Also, closed the day after Thanksgiving through the 2nd weekend in December. USFS Rocky Mountain Region, South Platte Ranger District, Jefferson County, or Range Officers may close area to shooting at any time for various reasons. Know before you go and have an alternate range backup plan in place.
