NEW SHOOTING LANE ABOUT TO DROP INTO THE SANTIAM
Trash No Land, the Oregon Dept of Forestry, NRA Foundation, Oregon Dept of Fish & Wildlife and Oregon Dept of Transportation have partnered to improve to a decommissioned gravel quarry for recreational target shooting. The site is currently used for target shooting and is located in the Santiam State Forest, East of Scotts Mills and NE of the Crooked Finger area. It’s location, and physical characteristics are ideal for public safety and fire prevention. It’s a place with few (to no) conflicts with other types of recreation. It will offer a 100 yard range. The bowl shaped high sidewalls with dirt bases also offer excellent opportunities for tactical maneuvers exercise or competition training.
The benefits of this improvement are Public Safety, Fire Prevention, Easy to comply with target shooting regs, Attractive place to shoot, Features to accommodate various types of shooting but the primary firing line is 100 yards.
The final details been wrapped up and work begins in mid October, 2021. Work is to be completed by end of October.
Trash No Land is contributing with general funds from donations. The NRA Foundation awarded a grant that pays for the excavation contractor. ODF is providing all the 1 1/2″ gravel, security gate at the entrance and transporting the gravel material. ODF&W is providing the primary berm backstop gravel (1/4-#10 Washed) with delivery, and transportation of the jersey barriers firing line. ODOT is providing the jersey barriers firing line. Design and planning was a collaborative effort with Trash No Land and the Oregon Dept of Forestry.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Trash No Land is providing night security at the site during construction to keep an eye on the equipment. Besides having a gate with lock and chain, we have 2 people camping there each night for the duration of the project. It should be completed by Oct 30th.
We still need volunteers to join the security force commit to camping a night or two for the week of 10-24.
REVEAL DAY
We will have a Reveal Day on Saturday, October 30th, at 9 AM. There will be a brief meeting to discuss the features, benefits and reasons for this project and touch on the potential for more. We ask volunteers to join in planting some shrubs along a 120 ft long sidewall berm, (this will be a side berm that blocks the view and temptation to shoot out into the forest), and we’ll give a shout out to all who were involved.
TEMPORARY FOREST CLOSURE
This part of the Santiam State Forest is currently closed to the public while ODF treats it from the recent fires. Lots of logging and contractor activity out there! Therefore, target shooting is not an option at this time. We will be posting as soon as they open back up (not sure when that will be)!
RECREATIONAL TARGET SHOOTING
This improvement for recreational shooting is for all who wish to partake in free shooting on public lands. While it may be free to shoot 7 days a week, it is not a ‘free-for-all’ or ‘anything goes’ type of place! No place on pubic land is like that.
It is YOUR place to shoot and YOU own it. It is imperative that we all Share~N~Care for this place, (as well as any other dispersed shooting place in the forest), with routine volunteer stewardship. We must show ownership in our places to shoot by keeping them clean and shooting within the rules, or we may loose them.
Project contact: Bill Cogley Info@trashnoland.org
Thanks all. Enjoy!
Bill Cogley
Trash No Land
Update 10-18-21
We broke ground on the improvements to a dispersed shooting place in the Santiam State Forest, East of Scotts Mills, Oregon.
It’s an old decommissioned gravel quarry that shooters have been using for years, but now will receive attractive upgrades that will enhance public safety, lower the risk of wildfire, and provide a place where it’s easy to comply with state target shooting rules.
We installed a temporary gate for construction, got a good start on excavating a mound of dirt that’s in the way, picked up some wood chips for when we plant a few natives on the 30th, and enjoyed a peaceful camp out to help protect the equipment (We camp each night for the duration of the project. Let me know if you’d like to join the Security Detail Team to help!).
This part of the Santiam State Forest is closed to the public while ODF treats it from the recent fires. Lots of logging and contractor activity out there! We will be posting as soon as they open back up (not sure when that will be)!
Our contractor is George of G.V. Excavation.
UPDATE 10-24-21
It was a very wet and windy weekend at my Home on the Range! So, what do you do when it’s too wet to plow? You suck it up and plow anyway!
The primary goal for this weekend was to clean up the Jersey Barriers. The barriers are our firing line and the first thing you will see when driving in. I’d hate to see an ugly firing line! They will be put in place next week and this was the only chance to clean them. They could be cleaner but I ran out of solvent for the remaining paint spots.
Saturday afternoon, I used up 250 gallons of water and had to go hunt some down in Silverton. Thanks to the Silver Spur RV Park, I was able to fill up with another 200 gallons.
Our contractor, George of G.V. Excavation, will be finishing up the project next week.
Our final detail will be on next Saturday, Oct 30th, when we need some volunteers to help plant over 50 shrubs in that sidewall berm (pic below). We will also chat about why this improvement, why not more places like this and shout out some kudo’s to those involved in making this happen. Hope you can make it next Saturday!
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/5vwJjHmcKVAsFHPZ9
GPS: 44.928302886410776, -122.48931365743354
Tenative wed/thur mid week available.
Thank you, Rilene. I’ll send an email when we nail down the dates.
Is the shooting area at the top of crooked finger closed now? It is February 2022 is this new area open?
If you are referring to the BC 615 Pit, recently improved for target shooting, That upper part of the Santiam is not open yet. They’re still working on debris removal from the fires. ODF indicated a reopening around the end of spring. I’ll certainly be posting about the opening date as soon as I hear it.
I understand the lower part, down by Crooked Finger area, is open, however that part is primarily for Off Highway Vehicles and target shooting is discouraged there for public safety reasons. Best to ask the ODF Santiam office, now located in Stayton.
Hope that helps,
Bill
Hi Bill.
I can do the 16th and 17th possibly the next weekend.
Great, Ron! I’ll send you an email later to firm up the details. I’m planning on the 16th, but can’t do the 17. I’m sure we’ll get more volunteers to fill in the gaps.
Is this area open for shooting yet?
Not yet. ODF is still working on the public safety issues from the Beachy Creek fire. Lots of logging going on!
Any chance this is open yet?
Not yet. Still clearing hazards from the fires. Will post to the Blog as soon as we hear! Thanks for asking!
Any update on when it will be open?
I heard that part of the Santiam forest should be open around late spring or early summer 2022. Hoping for the sooner time!
Bill
Where else can I shoot outside for free near Salem?
You may need to do some exploration to find a place, Terry. Try some of the tips from our FAQ page and go have fun. https://www.trashnoland.org/faq/
Is this open for target practice?
ODF still has that North Block of the Santiam State Forest closed to the
public (Family Camp Rd area). They thought October would be the time to
open, but then came back and said it’s not ready for public access. Now they say Spring of ’23.
If you subscribe to the Trash No Land Blog, you’ll get emails of the blogs.
Is the range open for plinking?
Recent word is this Spring of 2023. Keeping fingers crossed! Will post about it when opened.
Is this open for public shooting?
It’s currently still closed and ODF is targeting this fall to open it. It’s been a long wait!
Is this place open yet?
The word is now the end of October or beginning of November. Will post as soon as we know.
Is this open yet? Last I saw, nov 2023 was the targeted opening date?
They moved the opening date, again, to Spring/Summer of 2024. Still lots of forest logging in that area.