BLM Eases Restrictions on Recreational Shooting, Campfires in Northwestern California

Lacks Creek Management Area at sunset

Lacks Creek Management Area at sunset. [Photo from BLM page]

Press release from the Bureau of Land Management:

The Bureau of Land Management Redding and Arcata Field Offices have eased some fire restrictions on northern California public lands, now allowing target shooting, campfires within designated campgrounds and recreation sites, and use of barbecues and portable stoves outside of campgrounds.

“Visitors should remember that some fire restrictions are still in place,” said Dereck Wilson, acting district manager for the BLM’s Northern California District. “Fire danger is high, and it is imperative that all public land visitors use extreme caution with any use of fire.”

Shooting will now be allowed from a half-hour before sunrise to noon daily on public lands managed by the Redding and Arcata field offices under BLM fire restrictions still in place. This includes popular shooting areas at Iron Mountain Road near Redding and at Spring Branch Road in the Sacramento River Bend area.

The fire restrictions remaining in place prohibit all campfires on BLM-managed public lands Northwest California, except in the Redding Field Office’s Forks of Butte, Junction City, Steel Bridge, and Douglas City campgrounds, and in the Shasta and Bohemotash campgrounds within the Chappie-Shasta Off-Highway Vehicle Area. On the North Coast, campfires are again allowed at the Mattole, Tolkan, Nadelos and Wailaki campgrounds in the King Range National Conservation Area, and at the Samoa Dunes Day Use Area near Eureka.

Portable stoves and lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed outside of these posted campgrounds and recreation sites, including the Lost Coast Trail, and in the Steiner Flat Campground, with a valid California campfire permit.

Visitors should be extremely careful with campfire use. Free campfire permits are available online at http://www.preventwildfireca.org/Campfire-Permit and at BLM, Forest Service and CAL FIRE offices.

Details about fire restrictions can be found in the fire orders for the Redding Field Office and Arcata Field Office.

The following fire restrictions remain in effect for all BLM-managed public lands in northern California:

· No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or at a designated, developed recreation site, or other designated area.

· No motor vehicles or internal combustion engines off established roads or trails. Chainsaws equipped with functioning spark arresters may be used for personal use firewood cutting until 1 p.m. daily.

· No possession or use of fireworks, including California Fire Marshal-approved “safe and sane” devices.

· Target shooters may not use incendiary, exploding, tracer, steel core or armor-piercing ammunition, or targets made of material that could explode or emit sparks. Target shooting will be allowed from a half-hour before sunrise until noon daily. Shooters must have shovels or fire extinguishers on hand.

Violations of fire restrictions are punishable by a fine up to $100,000 or up to 12 months in jail, or both. Restitution for total fire suppression and damage costs incurred may be borne by the trespasser.

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14 Comments
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Canyon oak
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Canyon oak
3 years ago

I am outraged because I’m paying attention!
BLM extremists are offering target shooting permits in white supremacist and native communities!
and even worse, they are easing fire restrictions for more social justice rioting!
Equity means looting and brawls at Chuck E Cheese, Right?
Bad move BLM!

Geist
Guest
Geist
3 years ago
Reply to  Canyon oak

Word salad.

Tym
Guest
Tym
3 years ago
Reply to  Canyon oak

Pretty sure that’s a joke but just in case you don’t realize it BLM here stands for Bureau of Land Management. I guess it’s fire season I best go pick up some fire tags and go shoot me some fires!

Erik
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Erik
3 years ago
Reply to  Tym

You’ll have fun, it’s a target rich environment.

thetallone
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thetallone
3 years ago

Is this wise while we are still in extreme fire season and resources are stretched thin?

Martin
Guest
Martin
3 years ago

It has been my understanding that you cannot use lead or jacketed lead bullets on BLM land. Just all copper bullets are allowed. Anyone have an update on this?

Mike
Guest
Mike
3 years ago
Reply to  Martin

For hunting copper only, target shooting lead is fine. At least unless they’ve changed it recently.

Martin
Guest
Martin
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

BLM and CDFW sites should be checked before using lead ammo for target shooting. They can for some reason close certain areas where lead bullets are not allowed. The law regarding lead bullets is just crazy, and another attempt to take away shooters rights in this state. Thanks for your update Mike, it is appreciated.

Geist
Guest
Geist
3 years ago
Reply to  Martin

Wildlife can be adversely affected by use of lead shot in sensitive areas, so I don’t know why you’d want that. Modern solid-copper bullets are superior to cast-lead bullets in every way. Most sharpshooters use lathe-turned copper bullets.

Martin
Guest
Martin
3 years ago
Reply to  Geist

I do not know of a company that produces lathe turned copper bullets. I have also never seen an animal looking around on the ground for lead bullets to eat. It is just government BS!

Geist
Guest
Geist
3 years ago
Reply to  Martin

You’ve never heard of scavangers? If you feel yourself getting irrationally angry, you msy have too much lead in your diet as well.

Big Bang
Guest
3 years ago

No lead in areas controlled by the state (dfg) so that means besides a shooting range, the whole of public land, oh yeah, private land as well. The numbers tweaked by the condor “research” people brought you this, and they couldn’t come up with 1 dead Turkey Vulture when they cooked the books on that research. Another bullshit law, and everyone bought their junk science, hook, line, and non lead sinker…

Fireradio
Guest
Fireradio
3 years ago

This is stupid…why allow campfires on the Lost Coast when there are no BLM engines covering Whitethorn – they’re off fighting federal land fires elsewhere in the state. They just think that the locals will fight whatever fires idiots start in the King Range so that their own homes won’t burn up. BLM invites people to come, but doesn’t take responsibility for monitoring them…do you have more than one ranger yet? Does this ranger have medical or fire training, or a satellite phone?

I remember some idiot who didn’t bother to hike out until the next morning after he’d started a wildfire with his camp stove…he had some type of hiking insurance where he didn’t have to pay anything for being stupid. Not one penny was donated to the fire companies who had to put out his wildfire.

Israel Rivera
Guest
2 years ago

Any one know where I can target shoot in BLM land near the Stockton area