http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/local/target-shooting-under-scrutiny-at-tahuya-state-forest-32aa5fba-8e57-7aac-e053-0100007fa9b0-379257501.html



If you want your voice heard, please go to the North Mason High School, 150 North Mason School Road in Belfair, Tuesday 6:30pm.  I think this is an excellent opportunity to be heard and let the DNR know we can shoot safely in the forest.  I hope that the DNR would allow Mason County or another group (such as a gun club) build and run a rifle range in the forest for the benefit of shooters throughout Mason County and other areas.

I prefer to shoot at an established shooting area instead of out in the woods.

Randy

I used to shoot in Tahuya a lot when I lived in Bremerton. Even when shooting in legal areas, I had run-ins with brush pickers who walked out of the woods near my target, and one guy who claimed to live near by (there were no houses for miles) who would stop in his little truck loaded with radio equipment, and act like he was reporting my vehicle - nothing ever came of it.

A lot of us said that this would happen after the closure of KRRC. Surely the county knew it would as well.

Additionally, most of the ranges in Kitsap are not friendly to tactical/rapid fire type shooting. KRRC was pretty much the only one. Without it, people will go into the woods when they want to practice that type of shooting.

It is unfortunate that although shooters pay at least as much in tax money as other people who use the woods and forests, shooters are usually at the bottom of the list when asking for help to find a reasonably safe place to shoot.  My experience is that when asking where I could safely shoot, I was told where and how I couldn't shoot.

At the last Kitsap County Commissioner meeting I attended a few people complained about how the county had shutdown the only range that allowed drawing from a holster (as well as other activities) so they had to go into the woods to do this simple/safe exercise.  As the people were taking their seats after speaking, one of the Commissioners (Wolfe) said, "then go to Poulsbos Sportsman Club".  The woman who spoke turned around and tersely told him that it was against the rules at Poulsbo.  The County thinks they can run a range but hasn't the slightest idea how the ones currently in operation are run.

The Kitsap County Commissioners are clueless when it comes to recreational shooting, but Kitsap County is still miles ahead of Mason County where it comes to promoting shooting sports.  Kitsap County has three established outdoor shooting ranges open to the public, Mason County has zero.

Randy

i've had riders harass me a few times when ive hiked in and they see a rifle strapped to my back. ill plan on being there.

How exactly did they harass you?

I had a couple of guys try to lure me into a robbery I believe. I was shooting in one of the big gravel pits,  they rolled up and told me about a "better place to shoot"  which I knew to be on private property,  then started talking quietly to each other so I couldn't hear. I packed up my stuff and left.

I grew up out in Seabeck. I watched slowly as they kept closing down shootings spots 1 by 1. First it was the gravel pit off of Holly and then it was some of the target spots further down the road.

Last time I attempted to shoot out in the woods I just ended up driving around for about an hour before giving up. Every road is gated up at this point.

Like other posters I've dealt with the illegal brush pickers as well as the angry old guys in their trucks who claim they're making calls and recording you. I honestly have no idea what's in it for them or why they do it. . . again I assume they're either undercover or work for Pope Lumber (although I do understand the catalyst for many of these things is asshole illegal dumping)

Biggest problem now is we have folks who are starting to shoot really close to my parents property out near Symington. .. this is of course due to less areas to shoot near Tahuya and the closing of KRRC.

It really is a cluster fuck out there these days.

As a dirt bike rider I have to say this - If you are shooting at Tahuya or Capitol Forest near any dirtbike trail or ATV trail or 4x4 trail you're an assfucked idiot.
I have seen shooters set up in parking areas and areas where there are berms at both places and I have said something to them.

Some people that used to post here that bitched about "the damn dirt bikers" who would come riding out from a trail into their shooting range.
Well no fucking shit, it's part of the state forest trail system.
Didn't you fucking see the trucks with trailers and ramps and dirt bikes?

So which one are you, dirt biker or gun guy?



 

I just got back from the Mason County meeting.  There were about 75 people present.  After an initial presentation by a DNR representative who stated that they were most likely going to set aside some part of Tahuya Forest for shooting (not a 1000 yard range, most likely 200-300 yards only) we broke up into three groups to discuss questions they had written on an easel.  

My group had twenty people, only three of which were completely opposed to any shooting in the forest.  They all lived on Hurd Road.  I ride my ATV in Tahuya 2-3 times a month and have never encountered a shooter although I've seen broken clays and shot shell hulls at times, but I'm usually riding between the Sand Pit and Elfendahl areas.

Some of the shooters just want an uncontrolled pit or berm into which they can shoot pistols while others (like myself) want a longer range with covered shooting positions.  I'll be very happy to just have a tall berm to shoot into 200 yards away from a place I can lay down a shooting mat.

The DNR is open to bringing in a club to run a range on DNR land as there will need to be some sort of maintenance and cleanup that is beyond the capability of the DNR to provide.  It would be nice to have a volunteer on duty to ensure that someone who has never used a range before does not become a hazard to other shooters.  I think at first any range established will be uncontrolled.   Access to the range would require the usual $30/year pass.

I did not hear any indication that the DNR was looking to prohibit shooting in the entire Tahuya Forest.  I think there will be some more "No Shooting" signs going up in some places though.  They also said it would take about 2 years to establish a dedicated shooting area.

There are more meetings in the future.  Each begins at 6:30 pm.

Tuesday, May 31 at the Water Resources Education Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, WA 98661
Wednesday, June 1 at the Burlington-Edison High School Cafeteria, 301 N. Burlington Blvd., Burlington, WA 98233
Thursday, June 2 at The Evergreen State College Longhouse Education and Cultural Center, 2800 Dogtooth Lane NW, Olympia, WA 98505

Randy

That sounds great,  but my suspicion is that if it were built,  the white trash locals will turn the 200 yard range into a drag strip for their buggies.

Dirt biker and gun guy.

Unfortunately many shooting spots have been shut down since I was a kid. I can't blame the land owners as I see more disrespect for the land than I ever have. Dumping trash at the gates, pulling down fencing and using it to make a camp fire, bullet holes in anything that looks like it can be used for a target. Hell on opening day of deer season they can't even sit still for 30 min before the ADHD kicks in and they start blasting shit until all the ammo is gone.

These ass tards are ruining it for the rest of us.

IMO the shooting area needs to be as close to a road as possible. If its to far out, it WILL turn into a shit hole.

If its right off a road, it MAY cut down the chance of turning into a dump.

It would really be nice to see a extended range...500yds or more.

As far as the people who showed up that are more anti-gun...Im sure they are anti-everything, including dirtbikes.

Its sad that the bikers think its all THERE land. I remember in the early 80's, you would have a hard time even finding a gate.

Thanks for the update.

Back when I used to wheel in Tahuya, this was my experience as well. The staging areas were often fairly clean and no shenanigans going on. OTOH if you made it into the center of the trails out to the mud pit area, you stood the chance of some locals fucking with you if they didn't like something about you.  I remember going out there once and finding some locals had even blocked off the entrance to the pit with their trucks, to prevent anyone else from getting in, and were having their own private bonfire and party there.

There are some shady individuals out in that area, and they hang out in groups.

It's always been that way.

I bring extra garbage bags when I used to go shooting but some assholes old fridge and 60 inch tube TV aren't going to fit in a garbage bag

The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be holding public meetings next week to discuss target shooting in state forests.  It is imperative that shooters attend these meetings and weigh in.  If non-shooters and anti-gun advocates are the loudest voices next week, these meetings will become the first step in prohibiting shooting on state lands.

We urge you to attend the following meetings beginning at 6:30 p.m.:

• Tuesday, May 31, located at the Water Resources Education Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, to discuss Yacolt Burn State Forest;


• Wednesday, June 1, located at the Burlington-Edison High School cafeteria, 301 N. Burlington Blvd., Burlington, to discuss Harry Osborne State Forest;


• Thursday, June 2, located at The Evergreen State College Longhouse Education and Cultural Center, 2800 Dogtooth Lane NW, Olympia, to discuss Capitol State Forest.