DENVER – The U.S. Forest Service announced a ban on exploding targets Monday, citing them as a major cause of wildfires.
Target shooters who use exploding targets have ignited 16 wildfires since 2012, including seven in the Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain region of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota.
The ban extends to all national forests and grasslands in those five states.
The public should understand that exploding targets can cause fires, said John Walsh, the U.S. Attorney for Colorado.
“You don’t want to have on your conscience starting a huge forest fire,” Walsh said.
Violation of the ban can bring a $5,000 fine and up to six months in prison. But Walsh said he hopes the word gets out and he doesn’t have to prosecute anyone.
Regular target shooting remains acceptable under Monday’s order.
Regional Forester Dan Jiron said he wants people to enjoy their public lands.
“Hunting and target shooting are welcome recreational experience on national forest system lands. We just want visitors to have a safe and enjoyable experience,” Jiron said in a prepared statement.
The Bureau of Land Management is working on a similar ban on exploding targets.
Foresters blamed exploding targets for starting 16 fires that cost more than $33 million to fight in the last two fire seasons. The largest in Colorado was the 1,045-acre Springer Gulch Fire in Pike National Forest, which cost $2.7 million to fight.
The order will remain in effect for one year, but Jiron expects it to be replaced by a national policy on exploding targets before his ban expires.
The Rocky Mountain region is the first in the national forest system to place a ban on exploding targets, but Jiron expects others in the Western United States to impose similar bans.
He added that fireworks remain illegal in the national forests.
joeh@cortezournal.com