Target shooting banned for season on west side because of wildfire-prevention rules

Target shooting is banned for the season in the hills of western Fresno County because of fire danger, the Bureau of Land Management announced.

The BLM seasonal fire restrictions began Friday for public lands primarily located in western Fresno County as well as rural Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties.

According to the BLM, recreational target shooting has sparked more than half the wildland fires within its Central Coast Field Office boundary in the last decade. Hot bullet fragments, exploding targets and metal from recreational shooting can spark a wildfire.

The BLM says hunting with a gun is still allowed.

The BLM says www.wheretoshoot.org lists alternative recreational target shooting locations.

Other seasonal restrictions on the west side:

▪ No campfires, barbecues or open fires, except in a developed campground. Portable stoves with gas, jelled petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed with a California campfire permit available free at all BLM, U.S. Forest Service and Cal Fire offices, or at www.preventwildfireca.org/permits.

▪ No motorized vehicles off BLM-designated roads or trails.

▪ No tools powered by internal combustion engines (chainsaws, for instance) off BLM-designated roads or trails.

▪ No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or at a developed recreation site, or other designated areas.

For more information, go to www.readyforwildfire.org or call the Central Coast Field Office at 831-582-2200.