With wildfires a major cause of concern in the parched West, NSSF is asking its members to share with target shooters and hunters a flyer that reminds them that their use of certain types of ammunition and targets in dry environments could accidently ignite a wildfire. The flyer is available in two sizes for printing, displaying and distribution — the standard 8.5 x 11 inches and a larger 11 x 17 size. NSSF also encourages posting the flyer on websites and emailing it to your customers and members. As we know, wildfires have many possible causes; let’s make sure that shooters and hunters are not among them.
Thanks NSSF, for encouraging shooters to exercise personal responsibility to protect public lands, private property, and our opportunities to shoot.
Most of the National Forests in Colorado have banned target shooting, even though they have lifted many of the campfire restrictions due to recent rains/flooding in the forests. But the shooting restrictions remain in effect.
Correction: Only the Roosevelt & Arapahoe NFs & Pawnee Grasslands have completely banned recreational shooting. Hunting is still allowed.
Many gun owners have been denying that shooting can start fires — not citing any scientific evidence, but simply becoming defensive and refusing to consider facts. Let’s hope these words from their own kind cut through their ignorance and childish attitude.
Actual gun fire as a cause for starting fires is exaggerated, providing a convenient scapegoat. This does not apply to when tracers and steel pojectiles are used, tracers for instance are nealy 100 percent effective in starting fires in dry brush. Steel projectiles are known to create sparks but conditions to start a fire would have to be just right with many factors which must be in alignment
However other human activity done in conjunction with target shooting or hunting is a source of concern as explained by the NSSFand is often the real causes of most fires started by those who recreational shoot or hunt. This biggest problems caused recreational shooters on public lands is the trash they leave behind. I speak from 30 years as a wildland firefighter, recreational shooter and hunter who worked in the most wildfire prone area of the country
How about we follow the courts on this one: Let’s see the scientific evidence of recreational shooting causing fires before we find it guilty.
Thank you for putting this out. Approximately 90% of all wildfires are caused by humans.
Mike Adams
Resource Protection Specialist
Texas Forest Service
Strip Mining Prevents Forest Fires…….