[Ski]

Friday August 21, 2020 17:05 PDT WDFW NEWS RELEASE Target shooting ban in effect for all WDFW lands statewide OLYMPIA – To help prevent wildfires, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is alerting the public of a temporary target shooting ban on all department-managed lands statewide. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) also announced target shooting restrictions on Aug. 15 for all DNR-managed lands. "We implemented several fire risk prevention measures for WDFW lands in Eastern Washington earlier this summer," said Cynthia Wilkerson, Lands Division Manager for WDFW. "With increasing fire danger and several recent incidents of human-caused fires in southwest Washington, we want to emphasize that the target shooting ban includes Western Washington." This ban applies to the approximately one million acres of land managed by WDFW, including wildlife areas and water access areas throughout the state. The temporary rule does not restrict lawful hunting. All temporary restrictions will remain in effect until the risk of wildfire decreases, Wilkerson said. Any changes to these restrictions will be posted on the department's website at wdfw.wa.gov. Discharging firearms poses a greater risk in dry conditions as bullets pass through decayed wood, cause sparks off rocks, or break into fragments in dry grass. Fires can ignite even after a shooter has left an area. Fire danger on most of the east side is rated as "high" or "extremely high". Many counties in Western Washington are also at a "high" fire danger level. Residents should check for burn bans in their areas on DNR's website. WDFW actively manages approximately 1 million acres of land and over 500 water access areas across the state to preserve natural and cultural heritage, provide access for hunting, fishing, and wildlife-related recreation, and to foster experiences and exploration for thousands of Washingtonians and visitors each year. WDFW is the state agency tasked with preserving, protecting and perpetuating fish, wildlife and ecosystems, while providing sustainable fishing, hunting, and other recreation opportunities. -WDFW-

[Brian R]

Not sure I've ever heard of "sparks from a bullet" starting a fire. Maybe idiots who buy those exploding targets are a concern? In any event, so-called target shooting on state and federal land has become a big problem. Cayada Creek is now completely shut down to shooting. For good. And for good reason. Shot up televisions in creek beds, bullet-riddled car hulks, 55-grain bullets whizzing past my head on at least two occasions during the past ten years. I'm as pro 2A as they come. But it's time for a little self-restraint in shared places. With this announcement, I'd look for the pit on FS70 to resemble Verdun soon.

[Nancyann]

This is good news, but actually enforcing the ban will be pretty challenging. We have talked to enforcement officers on the Sultan Basin Road several times and as soon as they run one group off and drive down the road, other shooters take their place. Kind of like a rat infestation.

[Ski]

[treeswarper]

This is nothing new. When the fire danger goes up, they ban target shooting along with campfires and firewood cutting. Gates get closed on private land. Exploding targets were what was rumored to have started a fire in the suburbs of Randle a few years ago. I had never heard of those things until that happened.

[Brian R]

Yes, that one Ski. I think it's sanctioned with the hope it will concentrate the trash--and the lead. And it has a reasonable backstop. A good thing. There is also a smaller shooting pit up off of 7030 on the way to Sawmill Ridge/Green Pass that is less sanctioned. Mostly good people, I'm sure, who just need to clean up after themselves and shoot at actual targets--not stuff. Still, I prefer to avoid crowds with guns outside the club I belong to. Truth is, the whole 70 valley is becoming kind of scary from Greenwater all the way to Naches and Easton and the old Lester townsite. Lots of sketchy goings-on. Ironically, perhaps, I would never go up there alone and unarmed.

[Cyclopath]