All areas › Arizona › Tonto National Forest
Is target shooting allowed in Tonto National Forest right now?
Open Generally yes, with rules
No forest-wide fire restrictions reported (USFS Southwestern Region fire restrictions layer, alerts page).
No forest-wide fire restrictions reported (USFS Southwestern Region fire restrictions layer, alerts page).
Last checked: Oct 19, 2026 6:34 PM MT
Official source: Tonto National Forest →
Verify before you go. Fire restrictions and closures can change daily. Confirm with the managing agency and follow posted signs. This page is not legal advice.
Status signals we checked
- USFS Southwestern Region fire restrictions layer: no fire restrictions
- alerts page: no fire restrictions
Mapped ranges, closures and restriction zones
| Name | Type | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camp Creek / St. Clair / Bartlett / Verde River (Tonto NF) - closed to recreational shooting | Shooting closure | Closed | Tonto NF Forest Order 12-182: recreational shooting is prohibited in the Camp Creek, St. Clair, Bartlett Lake and Verde River areas (Cave Creek District). (Pin is approximate. Entry verified 2026-10-19.) source |
| Lower Salt River Recreation Area (Tonto NF) - closed to recreational shooting | Shooting closure | Closed | Tonto NF Forest Order 12-5: recreational shooting is prohibited in the Lower Salt River Recreation Area. (Pin is approximate. Entry verified 2026-10-19.) source |
| Needle Rock (Tonto NF) - closed to recreational shooting | Shooting closure | Closed | Tonto NF Forest Order 12-137: recreational shooting is prohibited in the Needle Rock area on the Verde River. (Pin is approximate. Entry verified 2026-10-19.) source |
| Superstition Wilderness (Tonto NF) - closed to recreational shooting | Shooting closure | Closed | Tonto NF Forest Order 12-59: recreational shooting is prohibited in the Superstition Wilderness. (Pin is approximate. Entry verified 2026-10-19.) source |
| Usery Mountains / Bulldog Canyon / Goldfield / First Water-Lost Dutchman (Tonto NF) - closed to recreational shooting | Shooting closure | Closed | Tonto NF Forest Order 12-146: recreational shooting is prohibited in the Usery Mountains, Bulldog Canyon, Goldfield and First Water-Lost Dutchman areas (Mesa District). (Pin is approximate. Entry verified 2026-10-19.) source |
| Tonto National Forest (forest-wide fire restriction status) | Fire restriction zone | Open | No forest-wide fire restrictions reported (USFS Southwestern Region fire restrictions layer, alerts page). source |
Shooting-related orders and alerts
- Lower Sycamore Temporary Target Shooting Prohibition Order For Public Health and Safety: A temporary target shooting closure order for Lower Sycamore on Saturday, Oct. 17, to protect the safety of participants in a volunteer cleanup event within the area.
- Target Type Restrictions Order: Recreational target shooting targets specifically manufactured for the purpose of target shooting are the only approved target types. (i.e. paper / cardboard silhouette, clay pigeons, steel targets, self-healing targets, etc.)All other materials not manufactured for the purpose to recreational…
General rules
- Target shooting is allowed on national forests unless an area is closed or restricted by order.
- No shooting within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation area or occupied area.
- No shooting across or on a forest road or body of water, or into caves.
- No tracer or incendiary ammunition. Exploding targets are restricted or prohibited on many forests.
- Use a safe backstop, don't attach targets to trees or structures, and pack out all targets, cans, bottles and brass.
Gear for your next trip Affiliate placeholder
- onX Hunt: public/private land boundaries offline (placeholder link, no affiliate ID)
- LuckyGunner: bulk plinking ammo (placeholder link, no affiliate ID)
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