Seems that a good portion of Eastern Colorado Forests are now closed to shooting

[duck911]

Sorry if someone else already posted this - I haven't seen mention of it.

But it appears that the NFS has shut down shooting in much of Colorado's public lands east of the divide:

Order No. 10-00-2012-03

ORDER

Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
and Pawnee National Grassland

RESTRICTIONS ON DISCHARGING FIREARMS
Due to extreme fire conditions, pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 CFR § 261.50(a), the following act is prohibited on lands administered by the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland. This prohibition applies to the areas depicted on the attached map, hereby incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A.

PROHIBITIONS:
1.Discharging a firearm. 261.58(m)
EXEMPTIONS:
Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this order:
1. Persons with a US Forest Service permit specifically authorizing the prohibited act or omission.
2. Any Federal, State, or local officer in the performance of an official duty.
3. Any person possessing a valid Colorado hunting license lawfully involved in hunting and harvesting game.
4. Persons discharging an air rifle or gas gun.
This order is in effect starting at 12:01 a.m. on June 25, 2012 and will remain in effect until rescinded.
Done at Fort Collins, Colorado this 24th day of June, 2012.

/s/ Glenn P. Casamassa
GLENN P. CASAMASSA
Forest Supervisor
Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
Pawnee National Grassland

Violation of these regulations is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor, by a fine of not more than $5000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or both. (16 USC § 551 and 18 USC §§ 3559 and 3571).

 

[hso]

Considering the fires in CO I don't think anyone wants to take any chances of another blaze starting.

We're so bad here in E. Tn. that a lawnmower blade hitting a rock sparked a fire that burned several acres where the 4th of July fireworks were normally held. Grass is sage colored and crunch instead of the normal bright green and lush. I'd be afraid of a spark setting anything off around our place so we won't be shooting until the first rain arrives.

 

[Robert]

The fire that started near Lake George is rumored, I know, to have been started by someone shooting a propane tank or bottle. We are in a record drought with the forests having never before seen low levels of moisture content. So I can understand why the FS would make this new rule, at least for the time being. The whole state is literally a tinder box.

 

[whichfinger]

A few months ago a couple of idiots were shooting tracers at Pawnee National Grasslands. Guess what the result was. Go ahead, guess. Fortunately there were several other groups of shooters there who put it out.

I don't care a whole lot for rumors, but sometimes one pops up that, unfounded or not, the antis will use as ammunition. One such rumor says that suspected use of exploding targets started one of the fires here in Colorado. I know exploding targets are verboten at Pawnee, and since the Forest Service oversees activities there, I suspect Tannerite, et.al., are also forbidden in the National Forests. Sometimes I think 2A should be amended to say only those citizens with an I.Q. of Average or above can bear arms.

 

[hso]

We probably have more of a problem with ignorance from lack of information and mentoring than true stupidity. Many a dad/uncle/grandfather isn't involved in many of our first experience shooters who's only experience with firearms and shooting come through an entertainment video feed where sage advice isn't the norm. "Too dry" isn't heard on games/TV/movies.

 

[X-Rap]

I think now is a time for some self restraint and prudent use of our shooting rights. If you have a clear gravel pit or range that has little to no danger of setting fire then go ahead but do so with full knowledge that at least in my area the fuels are as dry as they have ever been and will flash out of control before you get a chance to react with any counter measures. I was told the Pine Ridge fire was the fastest growing fire in CO state history. Went from 1200 acres to around 15,000 overnight.
Those using incendiary, steel core, or those exploding targets and setting fires under these type 2 restrictions should be held accountable and charged with arson and any other applicable as a result of such fire. That may sound harsh and almost anti gun to some but this is serious business and I feel the same for those who are smokers, grillers, or think they need to burn their trash or roast their marshmellows.

 

[steveno]

since I don't have anything that shoots the steel jacketed or steel core ammo has anybody seen sparks when shooting in a rocky area with this ammo? while I'm pretty sure it could happen with tracers but maybe I'm a little skeptical of the "steel" ammo sustaining a spark along enought to start a fire unless there was a lot of rounds fired. just curious

 

[Coyote3855]

My son is a wildland fire fighter and incident manager. I asked him about steel jacketed ammo. He thought it was possible but more likely tracers or exploding targets. He did say his team has traced several roadside fires to trailer safety chains, undone and sparking on the pavement.

 

[Shadow 7D]

My son is a wildland fire fighter and incident manager. I asked him about steel jacketed ammo. He thought it was possible but more likely tracers or exploding targets. He did say his team has traced several roadside fires to trailer safety chains, undone and sparking on the pavement.

Is that what they are using these days, back when I was a kid in Cali and the contracts were up for renegotiation, it seemed those road side fires popped up a lot more, something about firemen, er, smokers tossing butts....

ON a serious note, a forest fire ain't a joke, and a good burn is a damn scare thing to come face to face with. The military managed their lands with controlled burns every 2-3 years, for the reason that they would burn, it wasn't a question of if, solely when.

 

[Silas]

In the Sam Houston National Forest here in east Texas, target shooting is permanently prohibited. They started by making designated target shooting areas, then they closed them and prohibited target shooting altogether. It seems if they can't take our guns, they're just going to make it cost us more to practice with them. I understand the deal in Colorado with the drought, but here, where I am anyway, we're not that dry any more.

 

[foghornl]

Haven't heard about closing the outdoor ranges here in N.E. Ohio, but right now we are drier than ahhhhh 'Salted Popcorn Flatulence'

More than 6" short of average rainfall in June, and July looks to be the same. Yards are mostly a shade of "dormant grass brown'

 

[X-Rap]

I hear you Silas and that's why I would rather people just quit on their own while there is such a high fire danger. My hope would be that the Gov. would not jump into more regulation if there is no shooting incidents related to fire. I know there are a number of them already blamed on shooters so that ship has kind of sailed already but in Western CO. there are no shooting bans yet that I'm aware of.

 

[mljdeckard]

I very much agree with x-rap. Utah has had dozens of fires started by shooters this year. I'm betting most of them were shooting Russian ammo.

A few weeks ago I was in a Sportsman's Warehouse and they were selling ammo marked 'tracer'. I asked the clerk if he was aware that it was illegal. He said; "Would we sell it if it was illegal?" I bit it off and walked away.

Our governor just announced that he would not seek a special legislative session to seek a ban on target shooting. I think that we need to cool it voluntarily. If someone just HAS to shoot, I can refer them to a couple of rock quarries where they won't start anything they can't finish.

 

[X-Rap]

You make a good point on the retailers as well, so far as I know Cabelas and SW are both still selling the tannerite (spelling?) targets and I'm sure it is still being peddled at the gun shows. Penetrator steel core should be on that voluntary list as well.

 

[KnekBeard]

I forget what the name of the fire was, but some people i know started a fire on storm mountain earlier this year. This is just south of the high park fire in colorado.They were shooting tracers at tannerite or equivent. I don't belive they were charged, but should have been. I think restraint is mandatory this year.

 

[mljdeckard]

I just posted a request on facebook for all shooters to curtail all shooting activities. Keep it indoors and at rock quarries, and no Wolf ammo out in the brush. This one is bad guys, we need to cool it.

 

[X-Rap]

It sounds like we may be transitioning into the Monsoons soon so maybe things will improve before hunting season.
If nothing else I hope this at least raises the awareness of shooters.

 

[MErl]

There is a fire ban in these areas every year. If shooting is now in the same category as campfires as far as the CO rangers are concerned, there will no longer be any shooting along the front range during summer.

Adjacent areas in WY, forests that abut, same fire ban but no shooting ban. I fear there is something beyond a fire ban going on.

 

[X-Rap]

Here is a story of another fire started by negligence, 18,000 acres burned by a shotgun shell with a warning attached. I bet this will be a life changer for him.


http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/arizona-forest-fire-879543

As for the front range bans, you are probably right. Probably more to it than just public safety.

 

[popper]

The older I get, the lower the IQ of the general public.

 

[Baba Louie]

Pretty soon they'll have to outlaw lightening strikes, eh?

Colorado, Utah and Wyoming are tinder dry with plenty of dead tree fuel just standing there awaiting anything to release the suns energy stored up within.

I don't think it prudent to go out ashootin' in such conditions myself, which is sad. Wise... but sad.

Time to stock up on some more ammo, clean and fondle a few, make a trade or two, maybe break out the archery and/or fishing tackle or just go hiking (while picking up other peoples trash )

I've never seen the Colorado, Crystal or Roaring Fork rivers running so low this time of year. While fly fishing ought to be great, River rafting, not so good.

You guys stay safe out there. Specially tomorrow. Idiots abound.

Have a safe 4th.

 

[Owen Sparks]

In my part of the country we are under a burn ban because of the extremly dry conditions. The authorities are also urging extreme caution when using fireworks during the 4th of July celibrations. I have not heard anything about shooting though. That might be because we don't have rocks so steel jackets are not a problem here. Tracers are rare enough that probably no one in the legislature has thought about them as being a fire hazard. I worry that someone might drive by and flick a lit cigarette butt out the window and set fire to my wooded property. We need some rain!

 

[coloradokevin]

I JUST POSTED THE FOLLOWING IN ANOTHER THREAD, NOT KNOWING THAT THIS ONE EXISTED. HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS ON THE SUBJECT:

So, for those of you who weren't aware of this fact, Colorado has been having a horrendous wildfire season this year, with some of the deadliest, costliest, and most destructive fires in this state's history. As such, very restrictive fire bans have been in effect for many of our mountain communities, which outlaw activities such as smoking outside unless you're in an area that is cleared of vegetation for three feet in any direction, campfire bans, fireworks bans, restrictions on use of charcoal grills, etc.

Today I saw a news article that says Park County, Colorado, has now banned the use of firearms anywhere in the county. Park County is a rural mountain area, and I've often gone hunting or shooting there myself.

Personally, while I very much respect the fire threat at the moment, I don't see normal gun use as a legitimate cause of wildfires (despite this article's claim that two fires were started by target shooting). In my estimation, which is based on 25+ years of shooting experience, the only way a fire would be started by target shooting is if the shooter was using some type of incendiary/tracer ammunition, or if they were shooting at an incendiary/exploding type of target. I feel like this type of restriction is needlessly targeting those of us in the gun-using community, when I don't really believe that our activities are causing any fires. After all, the range I belong to is on a very dry grassland area, and it probably absorbs better than 100,000 rounds of ammo per week -- no fires yet.

I'd love to hear some thoughts from any of you on this subject. What do you say?

HERE'S A LINK TO THE ARTICLE:
http://www.9news.com/news/article/27...And-we-mean-it



EDITED TO ADD:

While I know the fire danger is extreme, and I appreciate the concerns that such danger causes, I still don't believe that shooting regular ammo is a legitimate concern for starting wildfires. If you're stupid enough to shoot propane cans or other incendiary targets in the mountains of CO right now, then you're obviously asking for trouble. Same goes for tracers and incendiary ammo. Otherwise, I think this is an overblown concern.

Incidentally, the two largest and most destructive fires of this season (both set records for number of homes destroyed, and one now holds second place in state history for the number of acres burned) were started by lightning.

 

[X-Rap]

Kevin, I tend to agree in general and think that what UT has done with certain types of ammo and targets makes more sense than an outright ban. I do have some concerns about Black Powder as well as the burning of residual powder and gases that while not so apparent in daylight are very pronounced in many guns using smokeless powder.
The later really doesn't seem like a problem unless one is firing prone in grass that would offer a ready source of fuel.
I think there will be and are knee jerk reactions to any crisis, IMO the DOW, County SO's and any other agency involved in firearms or shooting sports should be at the front of this matter speaking factually about what the actual hazards are before blanket bans are enacted.

 

[788Ham]

The gun club I belong to, private membership, doesn't allow incendiary rounds, nor Tannerite on the property! LEO's have access to our range, have their own range to qualify and shoot on, they have permission to eject anyone found shooting incend. rounds, and if fires are started, to arrest them on the spot.

With CO only getting 2% of normal snowfall in most areas, there dry conditions make it pretty plain as to what should and shouldn't be done, but as has already been said, the IQ of some folks in the population is barely above slugs. Hopefully, the Gov. won't shutdown all ranges!