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WTA Introduces Form to Report Problem Shooting

Posted by Jonathan Guzzo at Jun 26, 2009 01:25 PM |

Trailhead shooting gallery
Shot-up computer monitors litter a trailhead. Irresponsible shooting causes resource damage and can threaten other Forest visitors.

You've probably heard gunfire in the woods plenty of times, but WTA has increasingly been getting reports from hikers of encounters with target shooters that were uncomfortable or downright threatening.  If you've had such an experience, we want to know.

To make it easy for you, WTA has created a target shooting reporting form.  You can view and download the form here.  We're asking people to report incidents of dangerous target shooting they encounter.  Please don't go looking for target shooting and don't confront anyone you see shooting in an irresponsible fashion. Leave the area.

Target shooting has been growing on National Forest lands for the past several years, leading to some dangerous incidents and growing awareness by Forest staff that unmanaged shooting endangers forest visitors and staff and causes resource damage.  Target shooters who use a safe backstop, such as an earthen berm, who do not shoot across roads or trails, and who do not fire at glass bottles are not violating any laws and are not endangering others.

When target shooters do not follow these rules, they endanger other forest users.  We need to know where and when that's happening so that we can work with the Forest Service to prevent it and keep it from growing worse.
For more information about target shooting and WTA's Safer Trails Campaign, contact Jonathan Guzzo at jonathan@wta.org

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Dangerous Shooting Form

Posted by IBUSeeker at Jun 29, 2009 12:59 PM
Thank you for doing this. I hope it will help. There is a lot of dangerous shooting in Yakima County. Maybe something like this will help reduce it. Thanks again!

Ungrounded Fear

Posted by HunterConservationist at Jul 23, 2009 10:12 AM
There seems to be a great deal of disingenuity regarding the real motives behind WTA's stance against target shooters and hunters. The WTA form lists the following "problems" to report:

1. Encountered someone firing across trail

--This isn't illegal nor is it necessarily even unsafe. It might be perfectly reasonable and safe to hike up some trail to a place that has excellent visibility and a great backstop.

2. Came across someone shooting along a road or trail

--ditto above regarding shooting along a trail. Regarding the road, it depends on the road. Some "roads" do not fall under the law regarding distance from road.

3. Witnessed a target shooter not using an appropriate backstop

--Sounds judgemental and arbitrary.

4. Found resource damage caused by target shooting

--Vague.

5. Discovered trash remains from target shooting

--Also vague. Depending on the beholder this could be anything from a spent case or shell to an appliance. A few spent cases or shells, some target boards, etc. are not reasonable grounds for complaint.

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