Additional BLM Management Plan for Public Lands in Colorado Will Also Affect Target Shooting

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released another resource management plan (RMP) and this one on approximately 378,000 acres managed by the agency’s Field Office in Kremmling.  The public lands are within Grand, Jackson, Summit and parts of Larimer and Eagle Counties.  The planning area extends east to the Continental Divide, west to Steamboat Springs and Vail, south to Interstate 70, and north to the Wyoming border.  The RMP can be viewed by clicking here. 

The RMP describes four management alternatives.  Alternative A is the “no action” alternative.  It explains current management and is used to compare the three new management alternatives.  As noted in the list below, current management allows target shooting anywhere except in developed recreation sites such as campgrounds.  However, BLM is proposing to close numerous areas to target shooting in the RMP.  The three new alternatives will restrict target shooting in the same manner as shown below.    

The public comment period is open until December 16 and BLM will announce in advance public hearings on the RMP.  Comments may be emailed to [email protected].  For further information, you may contact Dennis Gale, RMP Project Manager, at (970) 724-3003 or by e-mail at [email protected].  Ask to be added to a mailing list to receive notices of upcoming meetings.

If you enjoy target shooting on these public lands, it is extremely important that you review the plan to determine how it will affect your future access for target shooting.  The new plan will set the course for public use of these lands for years to come. 

Please attend at least one of the public meetings and take the time to e-mail your comments to the BLM.

Alternative A:
Prohibit the discharge of firearms for recreational target shooting in developed recreation sites.

Alternatives B, C and D:
Prohibit the discharge of firearms for recreational target shooting in the following areas:
·         developed recreation sites (existing and future);
·         south of County Road 224, and south and west of Wolford Reservoir, east of County Road 22 and west of County Road 2;
·         adjacent to the Confluence Recreation Site;
·         adjacent to the Pumphouse Recreation Site;
·         adjacent to the Radium Recreation Site;
·         0.25 mile on either side of the Colorado River from Parshall to State Bridge;
·         adjacent to the Reeder Creek Fishing Access;
·         adjacent to the Sunset Fishing Access;
·         between Jacquez Road and Sherriff Creek, north of Highway 40;
·         between County Road 219 and Highway 125, north of Highway 40;
·         in the southern portion of the Strawberry and Hurd Peak areas;
·         North Sand Hills SRMA;
·         Hebron Sough Waterfowl Area;
·         and Junction Butte Wetlands