**Housekeeping for this post**:
I will post  Google Earth KMZ files at the end of this post.

Update to the Range Fees- 01/31/18 - This range is temporarily closed. The county has requested additional permitting requirements and are in process of completion.

So I posted a review and my thoughts on BLM land previously with an overwhelming response. After that review and postings in various groups on Facebook, I received a private message from Kythe, (Ky), from the Quail Valley Gun Range and Ranch, just outside Holister, Ca. He explained that it was a private ranch set up by the ranch owner Jeff for his personal range.  Jeff has since decided to open it up to more long range shooters but only if he had qualified people to help, RSO's. Jeff does have a working ranch to run.
That is where Ky and Mike come in. I met Ky and Jeff the day I went out and I might be wrong on Mikes name, so I am sure someone will correct me if that is wrong.
All distances ranged with a Kilo 2000 and are within 1-2 yds. accurate.

Image below is the meat of the range.


1000 & 1100 yd. For the camera nuts, this was shot at 600mm from the bench.

600 , 800 and steel pig


100, 200, 200 circles, 400 and 600 yd.

So to get access, you need to call a number to set a date and time for availability. Info at the bottom of this post.
Once that is set up you just come out that day and meet at the ranch gate. The road deadends into a big green gate. Someone will meet you to open the gate and you just follow them in to the range.

Price: $50.00 Half Day / $80.00 Full Day
Rifle and Pistol available.


The Range: Steel at 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000 and 1100 yds. At 200 next to the stand are steel circles 4-6 inches. At 800 to the right of the stand, about 25 yds., is a metallic silhouette pig also.
The steel at 100 is about an 8" circle. 200 - 400 is 12x12 "and  600 - 1100 is 24x24.



The Bench: The bench is 1 long bench with 4 cut outs for 4 shooters. If prone is your thing, you can set up in front of the benches. Obviously prone is if no one is on the bench. The bench area is covered.
The bench is framed in steel and the top is a composite rubber just like what they use on school running tracks.


There are not many amenities as this is still a work in progress.
There is a Porta Potty, 2 picnic tables, running water and electricity was just about complete.


They are also in process of building a cabin, house, next to the range. It is intended to be a rental for overnight stays and also double as a classroom.
As you can see by the image below, it is close to being finished but I have no timeline for completion.


They have a small pistol area set up to the right of the bench with steel and have target stands for paper.


This is a range I plan to come to at least once a month, if not more.
Advantage:
It is better than BLM or other public lands because they have things set up and a bench.
If you want to come out for long range and bring pistols and AR type weapons, you can easily make a day of it.
They have no plans to make this a membership range at this time and is not even in Jeff's plans.
Jeff does have a lot of thoughts of what to add or not add but at this time it is just a place to shoot for practice or load development.

Quail Valley Gun Range & Ranch

Google Earth KMZ file - HERE  Download if you have Google Earth.
This is a zip file and save to a directory you will remember.
Extract the zip and double click the KMZ file. It may move to a sub directory file named doc.html.
Double click that and it will open Google Earth.
This will load to your temporary places. To keep this location in my places, go to file, Save as, Save to My Places>
That's all there is to it.

The KMZ files at the end of part 1 and part 2 is a zip file. Both links on part 1 and 2 are the same file. No need to download it twice.
The program to use with these KMZ files is Google Earth or Google Earth Pro.
Download the zip file.
Extract the zip file to someplace you will remember.
Go to that directory where you unzipped the files and click on each file and it will install to Google Earth.
They will show in the left pane at the very bottom as temporary places.
Right click each temporary place and use Save to My Places.
If you do not do this, the temporary places will delete when the program is closed.
If that happens, just go to your download directory and reinstall the kmz files.

This is part 2 of my review of Tumey Hills Gate #2.
Please see part 1 for Tumey Hills Gate 1 and Panoche Hills.
Complete KMZ file link, for all locations and range distances is at the end of the article on part 1 and 2.
Directions, the back way, from Panoche Hills to Gate 2 are posted in part 1.

From gate 1 at Tumey Hills, continue on down the dirt road for about 4.5 miles. Gate #2 is 6.5 miles in from I5.
both sides of the road are shooting areas. one side has the gate. and the other is a widened out area, like a parking lot, with a fence to the shooting area.
Access to this is by a V gate, probably to keep livestock in.

Gate 2.


Right behind me is the other shooting area.
Not my car. Other people were there hunting rabbits.

If you use the KMZ files supplied at the end of this article, you can zoom right in on this location.
Tumey Hills Gate 2 is the layer for this area. Use all of the KMZ files to get the entire overview.
Lets start with the main gated area.
This area is HUGE and flat. I could range distances out to 1286 yards..
This area is extremely flat and trying to figure out safe angles probably is possible, but I didn't drive in and look around. As you can see by the pictures above, the sun was hiding behind the hills and getting dark fast.
Lets start with Target and Range Line 5 KMZ layer.
Shooting just off the road to a hill ranges 392 yards. I know people shoot to that hill because there is a flat rock or target in the middle of it with all kinds of marks on it.

This spot I am not sure of. You would be shooting to a road on top of that hill, but couldn't tell if the road was hidden behind the hill.
I didn't drive out because, 1. It was the end of the day and 2. there were hunters walking the flats for rabbits. I didn't want to screw with their hunt.
Zoomed in from the gate.

Long view from the gate area.


Target 6 / Range Line 6 is 1109 yds. This has problems too. There is a road right under the targets.
I ranged it and low and behold there are target stands on the side of the hill.


Zoomed in view of the targets.

Target 7 / Range Line 7 KMZ file

The final long range shot is 1286 yds. Problem here too. The same road as above is right under the hill.
I didn't take pictures of that hill, but as I was driving out, that hill had targets on it too.
This side of the road has possibilities for long range if you can get out there and look around and work out the angles without shooting at or over a road.

Across the street is the other shooting area. As I stated above, it is a parking lot with a fence for lifestock. The access is to the left of the roof with a rail.
It is a V opening so livestock can't get out.
This is KMZ files - Target and Range line 1 - 4.
Target 1 is 255 yards and can be stretched a little up the hill.
Target 2 is 231 yards can be stretched up the hill.
Target 3 is 243 yards and can be stretched up the hill.
Target 4 is 280 yards and can be stretched up the hill for a good bit. Just remember you have to walk up the hill to check targets.
Over all, this spot would be great for 200 yrds and a little more for sighting in or just plain practice.
 

Tumey Panoche KMZ ZIp File For Google Earth

The KMZ files at the end of part 1 and part 2 is a zip file. Both links on part 1 and 2 are the same file. No need to download it twice.
The program to use with these KMZ files is Google Earth or Google Earth Pro.
Download the zip file.
Extract the zip file to someplace you will remember.
Go to that directory where you unzipped the files and click on each file and it will install to Google Earth.
They will show in the left pane at the very bottom as temporary places.
Right click each temporary place and use Save to My Places.
If you do not do this, the temporary places will delete when the program is closed.
If that happens, just go to your download directory and reinstall the kmz files.

From Antioch Ca. (Hwy. 4 and Hwy 160) to Tumey Hills Gate 1 - 122 Miles south.
Left @ 10:00 AM. Arrived at Tumey Hills gate 1 at 12:30 PM. Ya, OK,, I made a stop and got breakfast.
The purpose of this trip is to locate anywhere safe in Tumey Hills or Panoche Hills to go beyond 300 yds. Preferably between 500-600 yds, to 1000+ yds.
Now the impossible. I am looking for a spot that can be done safely with a road to drive to setup and retrieve targets, with out walking the yardage each way.
I can shoot at Sacramento Valley Shooting Center to 300 yds. and is open to the public. They have a 1000 yd. range but you need to be a voting member or be invited by a voting member. I'm not that social for that.
At the end of this post will be the KZM files, layers, for Google Earth Pro. I included interesting spots with ranged distances. I did not do every shooting spot but only spots that could be possible for longer range. Some spots are only 200 yds, but were interesting enough for sighting in.

I will start with Tumey Hills.
From I5, take the W. Panoche Rd exit and go west. Nice to have gas stations and food available in case right off the exit! Take the  W. Panoche Rd. 2 miles to the first gate. The pavement will end and it is a just a dirt road in great condition. From where the pavement ends, it is 1 mile to the gate. You can't miss the sign!

So right off, when you come in the gate to your right is a shooting area. As I drove up, there was a family just packing up but were shooting into the hill in the left of the frame. This whole area is basically for small arms, (short distance) with distances out to 100 yds. Disappointing for a long range shooter. The road goes back into gullys and box canyons. Farther back on that road ,straight back from the gate, is an open pit bathroom and a picnic table, 1 table.

If you go to the right after the gate, you can get to 300 yds. but as you can see from the image below, there is a road there. Actually 2 roads. I don't know if they are real roads  but they are not marked with signage. I did see a couple of vehicles come down the hill while I was there.



After looking at google earth, I knew there is a road at a fork, left takes you to the picnic table and bathroom & that takes you back deep into the hills. I thought about taking it but decided since I was alone I wouldn't take a chance on something happening. So here is where I decided it might be best to head to Panoche Hills. I was really disappointed with the distances, but it would be a great place to play with small arms. ( Small arms = close range pistols, AR's and shotguns to me)
NOTE **
I thought I would come back another time to check out gate 2 but that changed after I got done with Panoche Hills. There is a back way into Tumey Hills from Panoche Hills. NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CARS!!!!!! No one ever mentioned you have to forge a river. WTF!!!!!!!!!
Depending on time of year, a normal 4x4 height vehicle will make it and my stock Tacoma 4x4 made it with ease. I will note that the water came to the bottom of my door.

So back on the freeway, I5, and head north. Exit on Exit #379/ W. Shields Ave. and go west. Travel down the road for 12.5 miles and you will come to the entrance to Panoche Hills on the left.  Mercy Hot Springs is just up the road on your right and if you are in front of the resort, you went to far.



 

Image from the road for the first entrance.



Public land, BLM, is 3 miles in on the dirt road. The property on the left and right is private property for the next 3 miles.



From this sign, it is just up the road to the top and there will be a station, no the other word for it. There are maps and a bathroom here. It is a great overlook also.
This is what I call Panoche Hills proper. This is the start of the shooting area.

For those that don't have or want to use Google Earth, here is an image below.
It is much better to use Google Earth to zoom in and use ground view.




Below is the first promising spot I found. The image below will show distance and concerns.
This position is Target 8 and Range Line 8 for the Google Earth KMZ file



I did however find that the road on the ridge is a great place for long range. I didn't drive up there or down that road because I wasn't sure how safe I would be.
Come to find out, I could have drove up the back of that hill in the left frame and was covered by the hill by 20 ft. Farther down the road would have been a different story. I drove every road that was open, except that road on top of the hill.

The big PAY DIRT spot was shooting from the top of that hill, in the depression, on the other side and shooting left down the gully.
The KMZ file for this spot is Target 9 & 10 and Range Line 9 & 10. All KMZ file are at the end.
Target 9 & Range Line 9 KMZ file ranges to 967 yds. The road is on the left parallel to the shooting angle but slightly shooting to the right. From where the road dead ends, you walk 143 yds. to set, check or retrieve your target. Target 10 and Range Line 10 ranges to 1431 yds. The only difference is you have 4-500 yds. to walk to set, check or retrieve your target. So since that road has no outlet and no one is down there when you setup, you are good to go. If someone wants to go down there, they have to drive by you and you can let them know you are shooting that direction.

All in all, I think I found a very promising spot but now it is back to Tumey Hills the back way. Make a left when leaving the Panoche and follow the road past Mercy Hot Spring and continue until the road dead ends at Panoche Rd. Turn left and eventually the pavement ends. Remember, This route involves forging a river so cars are out of the question.

Ok, I am tired so I will post about Tumey Hills Gate 2 tomorrow but in the mean time I have zipped up all the KMZ files below. Install them all, Sorry!!! There are all separate layers. Target and Range line files 1 - 7 are ranges only really. Most of the long range targets are shooting across a road. Not good. Now what is funny is that there are targets on the side of the hills where I ranged to and you can see they cross a road. Also included are Hwy exits, gate entrances, the river crossing, and protected shooting areas.
 

Tumey Panoche KMZ ZIp File For Google Earth