This past weekend I went on anual camping trip with a group of guys where we hang out, shoot some guns, and play some cards. My first time on this trip was 6 years ago when an old friend invited me along saying it was all a bunch of guys that have been friends since high school. The guys had began the tradition 20 years earlier as an escape, and found a location on forestry land where there was nobody to bother. On friday part of the group went fishing while a few of us stayed behind and set up a target area and did some shooting. We strung some plastic gatorade bottles between two trees at about 50 yards with a hill that rose about 75 feet directly behind as a backstop. We shot for a couple hours off and on when three law enforcement vehicles came up the road (opposite of our shooting direction) into our camp. They asked if we had been shooting, which we openly answered yes and continued to show them our shooting area. After a few more questions they let us know that a camp down the road had called in about gunfire and they would advise them that there was no reason for concern and we appeared to be safe shooters. We visited with the three LEO's from Deschtes Co. and Black Butte a little longer and even showed off our guns a bit. They left saying that Forestry would likely stop by to check us out as well. About an hour later the Black Butte officer returned with two forestry vehicles behind explaining that they wanted him to show them to our camp. After isolating several of our group with questions like "who is your camp leader" and "which one of you is charge" they conferenced with the Black Butte officers before addressing the group. They then announced that they had "pre-loaded citations" for $700 each that they would issue if they heard any reports of gunfire. They stated that the fines were for shooting over a water way (a 10'-15' wide creek that ran adjacent to our camp) and shooting within 250' of an established camping area. I looked at Division 25 of the DOF regulations and find either of these rules. It was extremely obvious that one, if not both, of the forestry agents were very much against our right to shoot. If anyone has any input on the regs on shooting on public land it would be greatly appreciated.
It has been pointed out to me that I was mistaken in my identification of ODF, they were apparently US Forest Service.
It has been pointed out to me that I was mistaken in my identification of ODF, they were apparently US Forest Service.
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