Bureau of Land Management to temporarily prohibit recreational target shooting at Anderson Butte
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Medford, Oregon — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has approved a plan to increase safety at the Anderson Butte area by temporarily prohibiting recreational target shooting in certain areas. The temporary closures will last up to two years, covering 11 sites totaling roughly 50 acres of public lands.
The Anderson Butte area, located just south of Medford, is a popular recreation destination for hiking, horseback riding, hunting, riding off-highway vehicles, and recreational target shooting. Increasing recreational use of these public lands, driven by population density and urban development in the area, has resulted in increased user conflicts and public safety concerns.
Many of the popular recreational target shooting sites in this area are not safe for target shooting. Irresponsible target shooting practices are creating safety hazards for other public land visitors and nearby residents. These roadside pull offs and other open areas are located on exposed ridges without adequate backstops, and look out over homes and other public areas. Residents have found bullets in gutters of nearby private homes and in fields where livestock graze. Hikers have also reported hearing bullets pass overhead.
Over the past several years, BLM and local law enforcement officers have tried a variety of methods to educate visitors about safe target shooting practices and discourage visitors from setting up targets in unsafe areas. These efforts have increased in the last few months, with BLM law enforcement officers providing individual education about how to choose safe target shooting locations. However, the public safety concerns and user conflicts have continued.
“To ensure public safety, we are closing the most dangerous target shooting sites on Anderson Butte,” said Lauren Brown, BLM’s Ashland Field Manager. “We will begin enforcement actions for those who violate the closure and encourage people to use safer places on our public lands for target shooting.”
The vast majority of BLM-managed lands in Oregon are open to recreational target shooting. BLM officials encourage recreational shooters to ensure they have a safe backdrop and remind them to never shoot from or over any road or highway.
During the temporary closure, BLM officials will monitor recreation uses and site conditions to determine if target shooting closures resolve safety issues. The findings will help guide safe, long-term solutions to these land management challenges.
Learn more about the Anderson Butte Safety Project by visiting the project website at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/123432/510.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.