Twenty two responsible target shooting enthusiasts teamed up to help enhance public safety by modifying an unsafe dispersed shooting site in the Tillamook State Forest, last Sunday, April 18th, 2021.

The site had the look of a place to shoot.  It had a six foot high dirt berm and flat ground in front.  Several public safety concerns about target shooting here were noted.

• The backstop is too short (should be at least 8 feet high), and if targets are placed on top of the berm, bullets will leave the range with no known final destination.

• The line of fire is in the direction of a popular improved dispersed shooting site about 300 yards beyond.

• Shotgun shooting happens off the edge of the flat area in the direction of a forest roadway below.

This raises concern for responsible shooters, so, with support from the Oregon Department of Forestry, they implemented corrective measures.  Their goal; Remove the temptation to shoot here.  Make it look like it’s not a place to shoot.

Funds were raised, logistics were organized and plants were purchased.  The entire project was done by volunteer effort.  The Oregon Dept of Forestry provided a list of approved native plants within the McGregor Basin area and also donated over 150 Douglas Fir bare root seedlings.  The remaining plants were purchased from Sauvie Island Natives and Echo Valley Natives in Oregon City, for a total of over 200 plants.

Spring planting of trees and shrubs, in an area where regular watering is not feasible and full exposure to the upcoming summer sun, is not a good idea.  But due to the urgency of providing public safety ASAP, something needed to happen right away. Therefore, this project was split into two phases.

Phase I is to plant hearty plants that stand a good chance of surviving the dry summer heat.  Phase II will be to replace ones that didn’t make it and add other native species that will grow well in the wet fall and winter.

The first day of Phase I was the tilling, shaping, ground prep and staging of plants and materials.  Day two was volunteer planting day.

Planting guidance and professional assistance was provided by a native plant expert and landscape contractor, George Gross of Washougal, Washington.  We were in good hands!

And then it was time for a good BBQ lunch and a little recreation!

Phase I mission accomplished!

Well done volunteers of the recreational shooting sports on public lands!

Tractor Down!  Tractor Down!

An unfortunate mechanical problem happened to the tractor, which was donated and operated by one of our volunteers.  Both shafts of the hydraulic tilt mechanism bent out of shape and the right one broke! The front end was out of commission. Luckily, we were done with the front bucket work, and only had the tilling work left to do.

Can we chip in to help him buy a new pair?

He didn’t have to volunteer his tractor or his time, but he did and I’m sure we all appreciate what he did for us and for the good of responsible shooting.

[Edit 5-4-2021] Volunteers helped him to repair the tractor by donating $900!!!

Thank you to all who helped!  Great show of community appreciation for someone who did a good deed!

Well done, everyone!

Thank you to all the volunteers and donations that made this Safety Project happen!

This project is now complete.

The first planting happened on April 18th, 2021.  Phase II planting is done Nov, 2021!

Hosted by Trash No Land.  Volunteers from Trash No Land, and Northwest Firearms and supported by the Oregon Department of Forestry.