Accident – Death – Obituary News :
Recreational Shooting Areas in Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests to Close for Safety
In an effort to enhance public safety and direct sport shooters to designated ranges, certain areas within the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests will be closed to recreational shooting activities. This decision comes as part of a larger initiative that began in 2019 to restrict shooting on over 226,000 acres of the vast 1.4-million-acre national forests.
Forest Supervisor Monte Williams expressed the importance of these closures as nearby shooting ranges near completion, stating, “The construction of these ranges marks a significant milestone for the Northern Front Range Recreational Sport Shooting Management Partnership. The collaboration involved in this process aims to improve public safety while providing new, developed shooting opportunities for enthusiasts.”
The planned closures primarily affect areas in Gilpin and Boulder Counties, with limited closures in Larimer County, specifically in the Poudre and Big Thompson Canyons. Reid Armstrong, a public affairs officer for the Forest Service, clarified that these closures do not impact legal hunting activities.
According to the Forest Service, closures will be implemented once new shooting ranges open in the region. Devil’s Nose Target Range, expected to be completed by summer 2024, will lead to closures on 94,900 acres in Grand County and northern Larimer County, where dispersed shooting opportunities are currently deemed unsafe.
The Northern Front Range Recreational Sport Shooting Management Partnership highlighted the population growth in Colorado, particularly along the Front Range, as a driving factor behind the need for these closures. As more people reside near and utilise the National Forests, safety concerns arise from the proximity of shooting activities to residential and high-use public areas.
Another shooting range, Clear Creek Shooting Sports Park, is set to open in 2025, prompting additional closures on 46,195 acres in northern Clear Creek and Gilpin counties. Specific details regarding the closed areas will be made available as the ranges near completion.
.