WTA Introduces Form to Report Problem Shooting

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