June 20, 2017
6:30 to 8:30 P.M.

North Mason High School Cafeteria
150 E. North Mason School Road
Belfair, WA 98528

DNR continues conversations for Tahuya State Forest target shooting range
June 20 meeting set in Belfair for input on proposed site locations  

DNR is inviting target shooters, recreationists, forest workers, nearby homeowners and other members of the public to join in discussions this summer around proposed shooting range locations in Tahuya State Forest, the agency announced today.

This follows a series of public meetings DNR held in June 2016 that provided opportunities for residents, forest visitors and others to weigh in with their views on how DNR can best offer opportunities for target shooting in popular state forests, including Tahuya State Forest, while enhancing public safety, providing diverse recreation opportunities and supporting the agency’s revenue-generating activities.

“From our meetings last summer, we heard a wide range of ideas for Tahuya State Forest,” said Glenn Glover, DNR’s acting statewide recreation manager. “One of the clearest was the support of a developed range. With a range, we see opportunities for enhanced stewardship of the state’s natural resources and safety for forest visitors and nearby homeowners.”

The upcoming public forum is intended to provide a chance to comment on a number of proposed shooting ranges and other considerations DNR staff used to identify these locations.

“Now, being thoughtful in our approach, we want to connect again with all interested stakeholders to help inform our local knowledge for these proposed sites and enhance our understanding of each site’s opportunities and concerns,” Glover said.

The meeting begins with a 6:30 p.m. presentation followed by an open house and opportunities to provide comments. Join agency staff 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 20 at the North Mason High School Cafeteria, 150 E. North Mason School Road, Belfair, WA 98528.

At the Belfair meeting, DNR representatives presented two possible locations for a target shooting area and invited comment on additional sites to be considered.

The options are a site near Tahuya Blacksmith Road and a site at the junction of Belfair Tahuya Road and Hurd Road, called the Mission-Hurd option.

A few people expressed doubts that all shooters would use a designated shooting area. Many requested more enforcement in the meantime, since it will take the state up to five years to finish the public process, conduct an environmental review and secure funding for a site.

Quoted:
It's going to be a long time before we have a decent place to shoot n Tahuya though.