The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is squeezing the trigger on stricter summer target shooting rules in the Wenas Wildlife Area – and it starts tomorrow. From May 15 until the end of September, you'll need to pack your guns and head out by 10 a.m., as the folks at WDFW are cracking down to prevent wildfires. And with the sun still barely up, starting June 1, shooters will have to say goodbye to steel targets, with exploding targets and any fancy tracer or incendiary ammo already getting the boot on WDFW land.
Following a series of wildfires that have choked the life out of the local shrubsteppe, the WDFW has played the role of the cautious parent every summer since 2012. According to the department's news release, by putting a curfew on shooting activities, the stretched-too-thin steel targets will not be allowed from June to the rest of the hot months. They hope to snuff out any risks before fires can fan the flames of destruction even further, keeping adjacent landowners and local critters out of harm's way.
This isn't just about dodging rogue sparks, though. The Wenas Wildlife Area stretches across 105,000 acres and offers more than a target range. It's a hotspot for hunters, hikers, and bird watchers, with its shrubsteppe habitat being particularly parched – down to a mere 20% of its once lush expanse in Washington. The area has been hit hard by fires before, hence WDFW's urge to keep a lid on the shooting fun.
Given the Wenas's propensity to go up in flames, WDFW staff kindly ask visitors to waltz with caution into any wildlife area and check local fire danger levels. Reducing the usual bang of recreational shooting, they, in their infinite wisdom, seek to avoid the cascade of consequences that a stray spark could trigger.
