Ending dispersed shooting within Pike-San Isabel National Forest

[kidicarus13]

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) has finalized a?sweeping ban on dispersed recreational shooting...

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/psicc/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1222066

[.455_Hunter]

These massive closures and the earlier ones up north would probably be a good thing to bring-up with the new USDA leadership.

I have no issue with banning shooting in specific problematic spots, but these blanket regional defacto bans are ridiculous. The supposed compensation by making developed ranges has been a cluster, and completely inadequate.

[BPTactical]

Well that sucks entirely but I hate to say we are our own worst enemies.
Who didn’t see this coming when the proposals/studies were introduced a few years ago?
How many times have you gone up into the hills only to find someplace where some asshole blew apart an old microwave/tv/stove/propane tanks whatever and left the shit there?
Piles of shotgun hulls?
Target trash?
I’ve seen it every time I have gone up into the Pike to my old haunts.
Add the fact of population density in what were remote areas 20 years ago.
And look how crowded the forests are- it used to be you could find a nice, quiet campsite along FS550. Now you have to go to Buena Vista it seems.

[eddiememphis]

They have been doing the same thing across the country with motorized trails.

Close them down due to lack of funding for maintenance. Then, when everyone is riding in the same area, they shut that down due to user density.

I have ridden motorcycles in the woods for decades and always told my friends to enjoy it while we can because I could foresee that within our lifetimes, public access will be shut down to everyone except hikers and horses.

That raises another issue of land closures being elitist and ablest. Only well off, healthy people can afford to take a week to wander through a wilderness area. For those that are less than able, they can only access recreation by motorized devices such as jeeps and ATVs.

[flogger]

^^ This ^^

[Martinjmpr]

Well that sucks entirely but I hate to say we are our own worst enemies.
Who didn’t see this coming when the proposals/studies were introduced a few years ago?
How many times have you gone up into the hills only to find someplace where some asshole blew apart an old microwave/tv/stove/propane tanks whatever and left the shit there?
Piles of shotgun hulls?
Target trash?
I’ve seen it every time I have gone up into the Pike to my old haunts.
Add the fact of population density in what were remote areas 20 years ago.
And look how crowded the forests are- it used to be you could find a nice, quiet campsite along FS550. Now you have to go to Buena Vista it seems.

I really wish I could find one thing to disagree with in this post, but I can't. [Beer]

As a shooter it embarrasses me when I'm with a non-shooter and we drive by a place that has been trashed by shooters.

[eddiememphis]

https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57807

At the bottom of the linked page are the proposed shooting ranges.

They look very nice. Long range, some up to 800 yards. Separate pistols ranges. Covered shooting lanes and new access roads.

Too bad they will never get built.

[Great-Kazoo]

https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57807

At the bottom of the linked page are the proposed shooting ranges.

They look very nice. Long range, some up to 800 yards. Separate pistols ranges. Covered shooting lanes and new access roads.

Too bad they will never get built.


Always be careful when the state services run outdoor ranges. Here in AZ, they funded an outdoor range, was run by volunteers had good foot traffic, especially during fire bans. Then the sheriffs dept decided they wanted the range, even with their "state of the art" training facility in the same area. The forest service agrees with them, sends notices out they were closing it down to public access. That one is still in litigation due to some technicality the state /forest service stepped in that doesn't allow it to be used for anything but a public range.

TL:DR version. Once up and running don't be surprised if someone with more political sway decides they want it.

[eddiememphis]

Once up and running don't be surprised if someone with more political sway decides they want it.

IF they get built at all, which I doubt.

Even if there are funds made available, there will be years or decades of delays due to environmental impact statements, public input sessions, contractor bids at all the usual gobbledygook that goes along with government attempting to create anything.

The funds will likely get diverted to research on gay barn owls or some such.

Remember, Elon Musk was only elected for four years. After that, it'll be back to the same old shit.

[BushMasterBoy]

May be a drought forecast this summer. A projectile bouncing off a rock can cause a fire. Having a fire extinguisher handy, could be a life saver. Even an old milk jug with water could put it out.