Free: Contests & Raffles.
If we do it, we should do it because we think it is the right thing to do. If we do it to call attention to ourselves, then we are the same as the special interest group that is driving the article.
Get Capitol Forest shooting under controlTHE OLYMPIAN | • Published July 21, 2009 Comments (31) Recommend (2)Officials at the Department of Natural Resources have a choice to make. They either have to enforce shooting regulations in Capitol State Forest or ban target shooting. The situation today, with target shooters dispersed throughout the forest and not following basic safety guidelines, simply is not working. It endangers the lives of residents and other recreation users.With more private forest land owners installing gates to keep people out, there are few places left for gun owners to sight-in their rifle or practice their shotgun skills by shooting clay pigeons. Many shooters reject the idea of joining a sportsman’s club and paying dues to target shoot.But the Capitol State Forest of today is a far different place than it was 50 years ago. Today the forest draws an estimated 100,000 visitors a year and those visitors — people on horseback, mountain bikers, four-wheel enthusiasts, hunters, hikers, campers and motorcyclists — say that regularly they have to dodge bullets from target shooters.Like any other activity, a few people abusing the rules can ruin things for everyone else.There are shooters who follow the rules. They shoot at manufactured targets making sure that earthen backstops will contain their bullets. They know not to go closer than 500 feet from a campground, structure or residence and don’t shoot on, down, next to or across roads and trails. The responsible shooters pick up their shell casings, ammunition and other debris. Many leave the area cleaner than what they found.Then there are the irresponsible shooters. They pull off a road, throw an old television set or living room coach into a clearing and start cranking off rounds. They could care less about the safety of others and leave a terrible mess behind.Their reckless and destructive discharge of firearms threatens the legitimate use by others.We’re not talking about hunters, here, although like any other sport there are those who follow the rules by focusing on safety and those who don’t.Firearm enthusiasts are just two of the user groups that take advantage of the publicly owned forest. The question for Department of Natural Resource officials is how to accommodate forest users engaged in a variety of recreational activities and keep everyone safe.“Sometimes you hear gunshots from 50 feet away,” said John Kramer, a Capitol Forest mountain biker and member of the volunteer group Friends of Capitol Forest. He said multiple riders have been pinned down by fire from rifles and handguns.“I don’t have an issue with hunting,” said Capitol State Forest neighbor Marshall Oatman. “But it’s like a free-for-all up here with the random shooting. Nothing short of an outright ban is going to work. What are we waiting for? A stray bullet to hit a biker?”That’s a frightening thought, but well within the realm of possibilities given the situation in the forest today.It’s not that much different than the debate over fireworks, which sparked anew with loud Fourth of July celebrations. It’s illegal to buy firecrackers, bottle rockets and other explosives from tribal stands and transport them off the reservation. It’s also illegal to ignite fireworks within the city limits of Lacey.But violations are the rule, not the exception. Law enforcement officers have all but thrown their hands in the air and given up. As a result, the Fourth of July sounds like a war zone with illegal fireworks exploding everywhere. It’s similar to what’s happening with people discharging firearms in Capitol State Forest. Violations are everywhere and law enforcement officers who already are spread far too thin are not likely to spend a couple of hours driving the roads or searching the 180 miles of trails in the forest to track down lawbreakers.What’s the solution to the vandalism and reckless shooting that continue unabated?“This is a big emerging issue statewide; it’s high on our radar screen,” DNR spokeswoman Jane Chavey said. “With increased public-access closures on private forestlands, we’ve become the last spot in the lowlands.”There’s not a lot of options. Either step up enforcement and hold the lawbreakers accountable, or ban shooting — not legitimate hunting — in the forest boundaries.
Good idea, Ice. My only suggestion would be to try and contact the Capitol Forest Manager and see if they might be willing to supply a dump trailer, or bring one and park it at the Rock Candy parking lot there, and everyone could just bring the trash they collect there. Plus, they might be able to offer suggestions on the areas they feel need the most attention. Just a thought...
