MORRISON... The U.S. Forest Service has issued an order prohibiting the shooting of firearms in the Slaughterhouse Gulch area of the Pike National Forest, between Bailey and Harris Park, Colo. The closure order is effective for five years and was initiated as a result of an increasing numbers of complaints of unsafe shooting practices that posed a risk to life and property.
The closure order was signed on Dec. 3 by Robert Leaverton, forest supervisor of the Pike & San Isabel National Forests, Cimarron & Comanche National Grasslands. The closure was requested by South Platte District Ranger Randy Hickenbottom following the receipt of numerous individual citizen complaints; U.S. Forest Service and Park County law enforcement officers' observations of unsafe shooting practices; and discussions between U.S. Forest Service officials, area residents and Park County elected and appointed officials during a Nov. 17 Park County Commission work session. The Park County Commission lent its full support to the U.S. Forest Service immediately enacting the shooting closure.
Slaughterhouse Gulch Road and Forest Service Road 101, that help define the 6,900-acre closure area, are roughly north-south running roads that are generally within one-half mile of private land. The impacted area boasts several miles of all-terrain-vehicle, motorcycle and four-wheel drive accessible roads; horseback riding and hiking activities; and numerous residences that surround this area.
In his justification statement for enacting the shooting closure, South Platte District Ranger Randy Hickenbottom stated, "Shooting (in the Slaughterhouse Gulch area) commonly occurs in the direction of or near residential communities. It also involves unsafe practices such as shooting without a backstop, shooting into or across canyons or drainages, from or across roads and trails, and shooting toward occupied areas. Law enforcement personnel have found people shooting under the influence of alcohol or narcotics, shooting between the hours of midnight and 6:00 a.m., shooting from public property onto private property and shooting from motor vehicles."
Hickenbottom emphasizes that "the purpose of this Order is simply to reduce safety hazards to the public and employees in this highly used area, and not to unreasonably reduce recreational shooting. Much of the remainder of the South Platte Ranger District remains open to recreational shooting.
The closure order makes it unlawful to discharge a firearm, air rifle or gas gun in the closure area. Exceptions include any person possessing a current and valid Colorado State hunting license and who is actively involved in hunting during an open season, and any person discharging a gas-operated paint ball gun. Also exempt are Federal, State, or local law enforcement officers in the performance of an official duty.
Violations of the closure order prohibitions are punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. (16 U.S.C. 551 and 18 U.S.C.3559 and 3571).
