Left Hand Shooting Area Closed...
I bet that spiked your blood pressure a few points, eh?
Left Hand is closed to shooting this Saturday May 8th 2010, for the annual clean up sponsored by the Trail Ridge Runners 4x4 club. There is always a good turnout from the club and a few of us regular shooters there to help out. The Forest Service usually has Ranger Rasmussen and a few of his posse there to make a showing. Might be a good chance to get the lowdown on the North Site closure. The club usually has hot dogs and stuff for chow at noon for those participating in the clean up. Kudos to the club for policing another activities mess... clean up starts at 8 am
Spoke with USFS Regarding LHC
As the shooting restrictions in Lefthand Canyon were a bit nebulous in my mind, I called the Boulder Ranger District yesterday to find out exactly what the situation is regarding target shooting in the area.
I was told the "Slot Canyon" -- aka the old Lefthand Canyon shooting area -- is and will remain closed as marked. The ranger I spoke with yesterday also told me the Forest outside the closure area is open to shooting, provided the standard USFS regulations and policies are followed.
It may sound like a "duh" statement, given the generally open status of NF lands to target shooting, but I felt it was worth the phone call to get clarification. I will be heading up there one of these days soon to scout out a new shooting location in the canyon (as I live fairly close and don't feel like driving out to the Grasslands). Hopefully we can find a safe, clean area to shoot in without venturing too far.
I never went shooting in the Slot Canyon area when it was open. Times we drove past it to 4-wheel into the area turned me off too much; "homeys" up practicing their sideways firearms proficiency, rednecks blasting appliances into the Maytag afterlife, and more trash than a reasonable shooter could ever hope to be OK with kept us out and going up to Allenspark.