Pawnee National Grassland shooting area opens

The Baker Draw Designated Shooting Area on the Pawnee National Grassland opened to the public on Jan. 10. A grand opening event will be scheduled later in the spring. Since opening, the site is already seeing approximately 40 shooters on Saturdays.

The site is located near the intersection of County Roads 96 and 61. It has berms providing 25, 50, and 100-yard shooting opportunities. There is a parking area, information kiosk and 30 shooting lanes with 26 benches. There are no restrooms and users must “pack-in, pack-out” spent shells and targets. Detailed information is available online at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/arp/bakerdraw.

Other critical information about this site includes:
· Rifles and hand guns only.
· Alcohol is not permitted.
· Firearms shall only be discharged from designated shooting stations.
· No tracer rounds or incendiary rounds allowed.
· Shoot only at authorized targets – paper, cardboard or metallic. No clay pigeons at site. Do not shoot at wood.
· Eye and ear protection must be worn at all times while shooting or observing.
· Users must respect all signs and use the appropriate lane for the firearm they are shooting. Handguns only in the 25-yard lane; rifles and handguns (no closer than 25-yards) in the 50-yard lane; and rifles only in the 100-yard lane.

Shooting immediately adjacent to the designated area is prohibited for safety reason. See a map of this closure online at www.fs.usda.gov (PDF).

This site was made possible by grants from Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the National Rifle Association.

If this designated shooting area is full and visitors are looking for another location to shoot, remember to safely disperse and follow the important rules and regulations associated with recreational shooting:

· Only shoot at cardboard/paper targets, manufactured metallic targets, or manufactured thrown-type clay targets.
· Shoot further than 150 yards from a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation area or occupied area. (This includes the Pawnee Bird Tour pull outs.)
· Do not shoot on or across a National Forest System Road or adjacent body of water.
· Do not shoot in any manner or place where any person or property is exposed to injury or damage.
· Do not possess an open container of an alcoholic beverage while discharging a firearm.
· The area located in Township 8N, Range 63W, Section 7 is closed to recreational shooting for 1/4 mile south of Weld County Road 96 and ¼ mile west of County Road 63.

Remember, a safe backstop is one that can stop a bullet. Clean up your targets and shells. Be aware of livestock and other grassland visitors. Additional information is available online at www.fs.usda.gov.