Rampart Shooting Range Cleanup - 25 April 09

[Chief_of_Scouts]

There will be a range cleanup at the Rampart Range shooting area on the 25th of April 2009 (Saturday). This is a multi-organizational event and should have a large turnout.

This cleanup is not hosted by the government, but should have some support from members of Fort Carson and the U.S. Forest Service.

If you live or shoot in the Colorado Springs area, please mark this day on your calendar and come out and help preserve our local public shooting ranges.

[EOD3Holcomb]

that happens to be the ONLY Saturday I can't do this! That is the Saturday of the Regional Science Fair for my 5th grade daughter who happened to do her Science Project on ".22lr Ballistics" and was asked to attend the Regional Science Fair at Palmer High School on that Saturday from 0830-1600.....I have to support my daughter who longs to carry-on the tradition of safe gun ownership that this country is trying to take away from us......I'm there with ALL of you in spirit!

[SkylarScaling]

Is this going to be an all day thing, or are there specific hours set up?

[Chief_of_Scouts]

It appears to be a cleanup then shoot. So cleanup should be in the morning. I will post more details as they develop.

[theGinsue]

Just got word that the CO DOW and the USFS will be working/coordinating this event.

I expect to be there as part of the Rocky Mtn Elk Foundation volunteer group for the DOW.

Looks like great possibilities for getting this place really cleaned up.

[gnihcraes]

This cleanup was just posted in the NRA ILA alert email received today.

http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?ID=4736

[Chief_of_Scouts]

We are expecting a large turnout for this one. Please car pool if you can, as parking may be an issue. If you do drive up, trucks will be nice in case we need the extra hauling capacity for trash collected.

The USFS will hopefully have a dumpster coordinated or at least the stake-side truck present to haul trash.

[roman gnome]

The last time we helped out they had a skid-dump and a front-end loader there,made it nice.

[shilly]

COLORADO: Shooting Area Clean-Up Day Scheduled on Two National Forests (http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?ID=4736)
The Front Range Shooting Sports Partners (FRSSP) has scheduled Saturday, April 25 to clean-up two popular shooting sites. One is an informal area on the Pawnee National Grassland in Weld County, and the other is the South Rampart Shooting Range on the Pike National Forest west of Colorado Springs. The FRSSP is a coalition that was formed several years ago to address the needs of recreational shooters along the Front Range. Partners in the coalition are the Colorado Division of Wildlife, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Firearms Coalition of Colorado, Safari Club International, Colorado Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and 11 other state and private organizations. The clean up project is the first of its kind scheduled by the FRSSP. For further information on the Pawnee clean-up, please contact tjwilliams@fs.fed.us or call 970-295-6693. For the Rampart Range clean-up, please contact Richard Gandolf at dicknjudy@q.com or call 719-597-2722. For more details you may also go to http://wildlife.state.co.us/hunting/shootingsports/shootingsportspartners. If you shoot on federal lands in the state and are within reasonable driving distance of these sites, you would be making a tremendous contribution to the future of recreational shooting on federal lands if you could volunteer your time on April 25th at either site. If you can volunteer, we would appreciate you wearing a ball cap, jacket or other item that identifies you as a NRA member.

[Chief_of_Scouts]

Just a reminder...

We will be meeting at the Rampart Range shooting area Saturday morning. Weather is supposed to be nice and looks like a good chance to meet some fellow forum members. Also, might be a good opportunity to make some sales/buys/trades of items.

It doesn't matter what your organization or affiliation is, just come out to support your community.

See you there.

[Marlin]

I'd like to be there but, at this point I need to go to the one that pays....

Doing some work for a friend,, and since She is paying a little more than volunteer work does at the moment... I'd better go do that...

If it means anything,, Thanks to all who do show up...

[Aloha_Shooter]

I headed out that way this morning but the temperatures and light rain after breakfast made it seem improbable that the cleanup was a go. By the time things seemed to clear up a little, I was already engaged in a number of errands. Can anyone tell me if it DID take place or has been rescheduled?

[xjtwo]

I know there is a dumpster up there, at least there was yesterday..............

[Ridge]

I headed out that way this morning but the temperatures and light rain after breakfast made it seem improbable that the cleanup was a go. By the time things seemed to clear up a little, I was already engaged in a number of errands. Can anyone tell me if it DID take place or has been rescheduled?

Yup, we were there....visibility was at around 15-20ft most of the day...cleaned up a metric shit-ton of shotgun shells and various items that might have been targets at one time...saw a water heater and a microwave, though all that remained of either was just sheet metal...

About 3-3:30pm, the clouds moved out and we could actually see again!

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b100/89Sunbird/rampart/Photo0002.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b100/89Sunbird/rampart/Photo0003.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b100/89Sunbird/rampart/Photo0004.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b100/89Sunbird/rampart/Photo0005.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b100/89Sunbird/rampart/Photo0006.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b100/89Sunbird/rampart/Photo0007.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b100/89Sunbird/rampart/Photo0008.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b100/89Sunbird/rampart/Photo0009.jpg

[kidicarus13]

I never shoot there but GOOD JOB GUYS!

[Chief_of_Scouts]

Too bad the weather scared off a few ninnys [Shake]

Although it was a little chilly and wet, we still had approximately 60 people show up. As you can see, we filled the dumpster and than some.

There will likely be a few more cleanups this Summer. There is plenty left to cleanup, so please spread the word and let's keep this range off the endangered species list.

[68Charger]

On behalf of those of us that couldn't make it...
I'd just like to take a moment to thank everyone that pitched in...

THANK YOU!

I could not make it due to a previous commitment (I was out of town),
but a sincere thanks to anyone that participated...

[CrufflerSteve]

Thank you for your good work. I used to shoot there when I lived in the Springs. I always took out way more than I brought but some people cannot clean up after themselves.

I guess there was one good thing that came out of it. After going once on a warm Saturday afternoon I was so horrified by the unsafe behavior that joined a gun club. First Izak Walton, then BLGC.

Steve

[Pancho Villa]

Thanks guy!

I didn't know about this or I would have allotted time for it...I was actually there when ya'all showed up. I was the guy with a big gash on his forehead from rushing a shot [Bang]

[Chief_of_Scouts]

Went to Rampart to do a little pistol shooting today. Just 2 weeks after the big cleanup, it was trashed. Tape from VHS tapes all over the place. TVs, computer monitors and all sorts of other trash on all the ranges.

I would have taken a picture to post here, but it is just too disturbing how inconsiderate some people are. They just don't get it.

Additionally, had to be extra careful because of some people up there trying to scoop up spent brass before it even hits the ground after being ejected.

I think I can write Rampart Range off of my places to visit anymore. :(

[Ridge]

God, that pisses me off. I'm glad I dont live near there, because I'd be likely to buttstroke them with my AR a few times...

Hell, when we cleaned the place up, when we stayed and shot, people were at the pistol range putting up targets and then leaving them there after they were done...they just dont fucking get it.

The nature fairy doesnt show up and clean up all your shit when you leave, people!

If you dont take care of the place, then they might just close the place down, and rightly so. You people dont deserve it! Have fun paying to get into a range where you cant shoot your favorite CRT or lead-lined refrigerator...

[kidicarus13]

Sounds like a hopeless situation. That's why when people find a good place to shoot they are hesitant to tell anyone else about it.

[theGinsue]

You're right; they don't get it and never will.

I quit going to Rampart years ago when (a) I became disgusted by the constant growing mounds of garbage up there, (b) I realized that most of the folks going there had no idea about Range etiquette/safety, and (c) when I had too many people eying me and my guns in what looked like they were weighing their chances of robbing me successfully.

With all that said, I had intended to go to the clean-up to do my part for the shooting sport. Now, I'm inclined to believe that closing the place down might be best - except that the displaced shooters might start coming to where I go.

[Pancho Villa]

Does anyone know the park's stance on firearms being carried around?

I'd like to give my suspension a rest and hike my way up to the range.

[Ridge]

Well based on the trip we took to get there, that is an awful lot of hiking...you'd probably be looking at an hour or more each way...I'd hate to lug guns and ammo for that long...

But if you want to, I'd imagine as long as mags are removed and its slung over your shoulder in a non-menacing fashion, the park service wouldnt see any problem...

[Pancho Villa]

Its about 6 miles. I've driven it a few times.

It'd be for the exercise as much as anything. Hike up, shoot, eat, hike back down.