Legalities of shooting at night?

[Fairweather8588]

Does anyone know the restrictions of shooting/training at night for AZ? I've been trying to find some answers but haven't found anything definitive after reading the A.R.S. and searching the web, just wanted to know before I headed out and did anything (with proper safety precautions of course)

[tominphx]

I've done it at night out in the desert. As far as I can tell, it is legal. Does BLM land close at sundown? No. Is there a law specifically against it? No.

It may attract some attention from the sheriff's department, they may think something is going on, you know, what with the sound of gunfire at night, but I've never had it happen to me.


That reminds me, we should schedule a local night shoot sometime soon! :ph34r:

[Iraqgunz]

We have shot at night with no issues. Obviously it's important to still know what is around you and where your rounds are going.

[warpigM-4]

i live in the county and the sheriff said even though it is not against the rules they would like if you stop at sunset ,just because of the dumbasses who freak when hearing gun fire at night the sheriff told me he did not care and if i was on private property there was nothing they can do other than follow up with a noise complaint

[AO520]

I've wondered this myself... Good to know.

[kelly neal]

There are no provision in Title 13 (the criminal code) which prohibit nighttime shooting. The provisions that get shooters in trouble are 13-2904 (Disordely Conduct) and "Shannon's Law" 13-3107 which prohibits gunfire within the limits of a municipality.

[Exodus11]

From my understanding, 10pm is the latest. I was always under the "shoot til sundown" thought process, but an instructor at a recent class told us we could only shoot legally until 10pm.

[Iraqgunz]

If it's not in writing and there is no clearly defined statute against it, it doesn't exist.

I think the last time we went out we shot past 10 PM. But, I try not to overthink things too much.


From my understanding, 10pm is the latest. I was always under the "shoot til sundown" thought process, but an instructor at a recent class told us we could only shoot legally until 10pm.

[Exodus11]

makes sense...this class was unfortunately located at the Ben Avery Nazi facility. Although we were on the DPS range, maybe its a Ben Avery thing?

[tominphx]

From my understanding, 10pm is the latest. I was always under the "shoot til sundown" thought process, but an instructor at a recent class told us we could only shoot legally until 10pm.

Likely it was a general noise ordnance thing.

I've shot until like 1am or so out in the desert several times, never had an issue.

[foxtrotx1]

I just went out to my usual spot in Tonto (north of cave creek) a few nights ago. Shot past dark, no problems. It's cooler, good practice, less crowded and I enjoy looking for the tarantulas.