Recreational target shooting ban extended for 12 months

Release Date: Feb 1, 2019

Contact(s): Andrew Madsen (805) 961-5759

Los Padres National Forest officials announced that the Forest Order prohibiting recreational target shooting that went into effect July 7, 2018, has been extended until January 13, 2020.

In October 2018, Los Padres National Forest requested to reinitiate consultation with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to address new or updated critical habitats and listed species, and to provide for incidental take anticipated with implementation of ongoing activities such as recreational target shooting in the Los Padres Land and Resource Management Plan. 

This restriction ensures protection of federally listed wildlife species by preventing impacts caused by recreational target shooting during formal consultation with the USFWS that was initiated in October 2018.

Although allowing recreational target shooting during the consultation period is not anticipated to violate the ESA, out of an abundance of caution the Forest has decided to implement this Forest Order. Until the USFWS issues a revised biological opinion after the consultation period, this Forest Order will remain in place.

Under this Forest Order, discharging a firearm is prohibited except in the designated target ranges at the Winchester Canyon Gun Club and the Ojai Valley Gun Club. Persons hunting during the open hunting season as specified in the laws of the State of California and having a valid California hunting license are exempt from this Forest Order.

A violation of this prohibition is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.