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User Panel

Posted: 2/21/2017 11:27:21 PM EDT
DNR Recreation - Harry Osborne State Forest Target Shooting Meeting
June 1, 2016

Community Feedback

1. What experiences have you had, negative or positive, with target shooting on DNR-managed
lands?

Negative
Too many users at Medford Pit because there aren’t enough spots to go
Horse trail behind pit is too close for safety
Not enough signs to inform horse and pit users
Too much litter/garbage – DNR should pay for it to be hauled away
Need more areas
No lanes or control – lack of organization,
Noise
Too much rock in the Medford Pit backstop
Discover Pass is prohibitive
Reckless shooting – lawlessness
Territorial feelings between recreation groups
Unawareness of non-shooters entering the pit
Not enough advance information about pit and forest closures 2x
Feeling like there is no source of information

Positive
A local group helps clean up and organize the pit
Family recreation shooting
Convenience
Mostly contained
Enjoy opportunity to exercise their 2nd Amendment rights
The variety of shooting allowed is good
Opportunity to practice with guns increases safety

2. How do you think target shooting should be managed in this state forest?
More areas to shoot (away from trailheads)
DNR doesn’t have the authority to manage authority on its lands
Have DNR and other agencies designate areas
Land ownership better identified
Allow for spread out use
Collaboration with clubs and groups
Close the gate to the pit at night
Add more enforcement
Establish areas with reliable access
Move/close existing trail above pit
Still have dispersed in some areas
Use cameras for enforcement
Limit signs for less visual clutter
Include shooters in advisory groups and encourage self-management
More signs – including horse trails
“Recommended” shooting areas
Better kiosk information
Not like Reiter Pit
Access to gate with keys – a check-out system

Feedback noted that the growing number of users needs more areas to recreate to avoid
conflicts.

3. How does target shooting should be managed in this state forest complement or compete
with other nearby recreation opportunities or businesses?
Horse riding is in conflict with the shooting
Expand horse camping opportunities because it’s the only regional opportunity
Shooting does not compete with other shooting areas because DNR offers fewer restrictions
and is less expensive
Old Skagit, Plantation Rifle Range, Skagit Shooting Range
ORVs and shooting would not be compatible
Tactical shooting (move and shoot) is only available on DNR-land
Some guns can’t be used at other shooting range areas
Supports local economy/gun stores
Recycled shells provide revenue for people willing to go out and recycle
Increases fire danger when high
Noise is a detriment to Cowboy Camp and nearby home residents
Provides opportunity to complement other family education
Organize pit cleanups and provide more info
Ask users to help police their own areas

4. Do you have a specific location where you enjoy target shooting?
Old pits
Medford Pit
Diablo, Cumberland Mountain, South Fork of the Cascade all safer than Medford Pit
North Fork, Darrington, Phinney
Survey the rest of the forest – not just pits
Van Dyke area is not good for shooting
Remove gates
Add more areas

5. What type of shooting are you hoping to do?
All
Safe
Long-range – 1000 yards
Tactical shooting Shoot-n-Move
Skeet
Targets other than paper steel
Rapid-fire
Competition shooting
Archery
Designated lanes with beginner areas - 25 yards
Rifle area – 100 yards

6. What sort of amenities should a shooting area have?
Dumpsters
Trash cans - not dumpsters
Volunteer clean-ups
Use juvenile offenders/inmates for cleanups
Use funding allocated fairly in balance with other recreation interests to provide amenities
Increase enforcement
Toilets
Located other than in a “pit” or “bowl”
Firing lines and 10 designated shooting stations
Method to cease shooting
Facilities for shells
Covered tables
Use Discover Pass funding to provide amenities
Parking
Signs
Kiosk information board as you access the pit
Cover shooting area
Benches
Clearly marked boundaries
No trails
Berms-see Custer Sporting Club for example
Target stands
Access resources provided by NRA
Create a rustic shooting area-See Okanogan and Tonasket for examples
Keep it Simple

7. What other information do we need?
Work with the NRA – don’t reinvent the wheel
See Custer Club for a good example
Attend gun show to seek feedback
Users don’t want to go to designated areas
We need to reopen closed areas 2 and remove gates to provide greater access
Look at other landscapes for alternate areas to spread out the use
Deeper pits that should be
Look at options for horse trails
Sandy material
Hay bales
Maps with designated shooting areas and other recreation trails
Approach local high schools for volunteers
DNR liability – make sure DNR is covered

8. How would you like to receive information about the next step of this process?
Website - and keep it up-to-date
Local papers - media
Develop App for notification and wildfires
Facebook
Emails
On-site signs
Fliers at shops like Lymann
Share with other organized groups
Social media
Message boards
Contact Discover Pass holders
Unique comments not covered above that came from written submissions:
Build a hosted campground next to the pit
No changes
There are no problems
Have certain days closed to target shooting
Link Posted: 2/21/2017 11:32:04 PM EDT
[#1]
Harry Osborne recreational target shooting update

On the path to a vision for recreational target shooting

Last spring, DNR held four outreach meetings to discuss target shooting for the Capitol, Tahuya, Harry Osborne and Yacolt Burn state forests.
We wanted to hear from those who live in, around or recreate in some of DNR’s most-loved landscapes.  
We asked for ideas on how we could better manage target shooting in these specific landscapes to enhance the experience of target shooters and public safety for all who enjoy DNR landscapes.
Thank you for the time you spent with us sharing your input.
You can view a summary of the Harry Osborne meeting here. (First Post in this thread)
                                                                   
During the summer and fall, DNR staff continued to work on increasing our understanding of how other land managers have approached target shooting.
Based on our conversations with the public and our understanding of the unique landscapes popular for target shooting, we plan to tailor our next steps to meet the needs of each individual forest – and its visitors.

Moving forward
We heard a wide range of comments, thoughts and ideas for recreational target shooting in Harry Osborne, though we didn't hear a clear path to guide next steps.

With that in mind, we may spend more time analyzing possible solutions in this landscape to better understand the next steps best suited to the variety of perspectives we heard at our public meetings last spring and ongoing.
Of the comments, there was concern for garbage, noise and safety as well as strong support for recommending areas best suited to recreational target shooting in Harry Osborne.
This, too, needs a broader look, internally and with your input.

We always strive to make lasting decisions.
That’s why we will sequence changes to target shooting where the ideas and path is the clearest, in our Tahuya State Forest, for example.
These steps help inform the best decisions later on in Harry Osborne.

Enhanced target shooting information online
You may have noticed that we’ve improved our target shooting information online.
We’ve created a target shooting web page for information regarding these efforts.
You can view it here: www.dnr.wa.gov/targetshooting.
Please check back periodically for more information, though we’ll continue to keep you informed on this process through this e-newsletter.

Thank you for your continued interest as we navigate how to best manage target shooting in Harry Osborne that all can enjoy for years to come.

Contact us
Brock Milliern
Conservation, Recreation and Transactions Division Manager
360-902-1047
[email protected]

Glenn Glover
Acting Statewide Recreation Manager
360-902-1604
[email protected]

Project web page
www.dnr.wa.gov/targetshooting
Link Posted: 2/22/2017 12:34:53 AM EDT
[#2]
Thanks for the update!
Link Posted: 2/22/2017 4:08:20 AM EDT
[#3]
Thanks OP. I had been wondering what was going on with this.
Link Posted: 2/22/2017 2:36:47 PM EDT
[#4]
"Thanks for your input! Based on your suggestions we have decided to close off all remaining target shooting areas and install gates. Thanks for your continued support of DNR!"

Link Posted: 2/22/2017 8:42:14 PM EDT
[#5]
Link Posted: 2/22/2017 8:59:34 PM EDT
[#6]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
"Thanks for your input! Based on your suggestions we have decided to close off all remaining target shooting areas and install gates. Thanks for your continued support of DNR!"

View Quote


DNR = Do Not Recreate
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