Billings Field Office
| Contacts: | Ann Boucher | |||
| (406) 896-5255 |
17-Mile Area Reopens
Billings, MT – The 17-Mile area north of Billings will reopen to target shooting on Wed., August 15.
Remember that tracer rounds and exploding targets are always illegal on public lands. Use targets made of paper or cardboard, steel plate reactive targets, or clay pigeons, and clean up all your garbage before you leave.
Excessive vandalism at the site recently has prompted frequent law enforcement patrols. Informational signs and fences have been destroyed, costing taxpayers thousands of dollars in ongoing repairs and replacement. The BLM can’t protect your public land facilities alone; we need your assistance. To report vandalism, call 406-698-9854. Continued abuse of the area may prompt another closure.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
Billings Field Office 5001 Southgate Dr. Billings, MT 59101