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Queen Valley...out of commission?

Alister

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Jun 29, 2007
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Hi everyone,

im new here but have been shooting for a while and the collection keeps getting bigger and better. Anyhow, one of my favorite spots has been behind Queen Valley. However, last weekend there were state trust signs posted everywhere with the instructions written on them"no camping, smoking, hunting or shooting, etc etc".

Does anyone know what is going on?
 

mzbk2l

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Where, exactly, were you? I know that most of the road out to the Whitlow dam overflow is state land, but I was told that the dam and the overflow were National Forest land.

The guy who first took me out there cautioned me against shooting on the road out to the overflow, but he said the overflow itself is a legal shooting area.

I guess my question is, were you all the way down into the overflow area, or were you just in the vicinity? Sounds like we need to find a good map of the National Forest land, because that is my favorite place to shoot, too.
 

Zastava

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I know the closed area Alister wrote about. It's the large open area that's north of the Whitlow Dam where the majority of people go to shoot. I was there just recently andsaw the signs myself. From what I recall the signs were actually Federal Governmentand they basically ban everything from shooting to off roading and believe it or not swimming.
 

mzbk2l

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Zastava, welcome. (Although I'm not sure I like you, bringing news like that.) :)

That's a bummer; I've put many thousands of rounds in those hillsides. They'll probably close Sycamore to shooting next. Geez, where's a guy to go if he wants to let off a few rounds in the desert these days? The border? :)

Anyone have any recommendations for National Forest land with a nice backdrop like Queen Valley has?
 

Alister

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I would like to go back to Queen Valley but I do not want my stuff confiscated. I wish I knew of another good area that isnt two hours drive to get to.
 

mzbk2l

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OK, this topic is bugging me - I'd hate to see my favorite shooting area closed off.

Here's what I can find on the US Forest Service Website:

List of areas of Tonto that are closed to shooting as of July 5:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/recreation/rec-shooting-index.shtml

Current news released, including fire restrictions: (the WHOLE forest is closed to shooting because of high fire danger right now)
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/home.shtml

PDF file of the guide to recreational shooting (I don't know how current it is):
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/recreation/rogs/visitorinfo/RecShootingROG.pdf



None of those references make any mention of Queen Valley being off limits. Having said that, I don't doubt that there are now signs there. Anybody want to call one of the forestry offices listed in the PDF guide and see if they have an answer?
 

TwoTwo3

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About 3 months ago, I was out plinking at the overflow area, northeast of the dam. A Pinal County Deputy (nice guy) came driving up and said that I wouldn't be allowed to shoot here any more. He said it wasn't the Forest service, but the Army Corp of Engineers that had asked the County to stop people from shooting in the area.

It seems the Corp still "takes care of" the dam and the surrounding area. The Deputy said that people were making a dump out of it, and that shooters were making targets out of the concrete pumphouse structure, signs, gate, fencing"....etc. So, if that's the case, the Corp probably won't be lifting that restriction anytime soon......':('

He did tell me though, that I could shoot on BLM land. The closest area from Queen Valley is to go South on 79 toward Florence. About 5 or 6 miles down is Cottonwood Canyon Rd ?? Turn left and drive East across tha National Guard Range...(make sure they aren't blowin' stuff up that day)...Before you get to the foothills ahead, you will cross into BLM property. There is a fence that runs North and South and even a sign (was a while back, anyway) that states the rules for shooting in the area.

I guess I can reveal my "secret" place to go. (until we get run off there too...) From Phoenix, take the El Camino Veijo exit off 60, it will be on your left side. I guess this was an old highway years ago. After turning onto El Camino, take the first right down a gravel road (smooth, well traveled) till you get to the Microwave tower that will be on your right. Turn left onto a not so smooth road. You stay on this dirt road for 10 or 15 minutes till it dead ends into a canyon like area. There was a mine here back in the fifties and sixties I'm told. This is a great place to shoot....canyon on both sides and no ATV's or hikers in front of you...:)
 

mzbk2l

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Thanks for the good info, TwoTwo3. I've been out to the overflow during some cleanups, and you're right; people really would trash that place. Televisions, cars, you name it. Hopefully anyone reading here will have enough concern not to do the same to the places you've listed.

I live waaaaay on the east side of Mesa, so any spots on the east side work well for me. I appreciate the heads-up.
 
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