Letter to the Forest Service re: Hunter Canyon

To: Ms Kathleen Nelson

Acting District Ranger

Coronado National Forest

5990 S. Highway 92

Hereford, AZ  85615

Cc: Mr. Jim Upchurch, Forest Supervisor, Coronado National Forest, 300 W Congress, Tucson AZ 85701

Ms Nelson:

I am writing to you as a Hereford AZ resident with deep concerns about the target shooting that takes place in Hunter and Ash Canyons in the Huachuca Mountains.

As you know, de facto shooting ranges have been established in the canyons; in Hunter Canyon this is approximately ¼ mile up the road.  These areas have become gathering places for many recreational shooters in the Sierra Vista/Hereford/Palominas area.

When my husband and I first moved here in late 2001, we never heard any gunfire.  In the last several years it has been increasing to the point that it now occurs on a daily basis, and is more lengthy and intense on the weekends.  For example, this past Saturday and Sunday both, the shooting began before 7:00 AM, and went on throughout the day until after 6:00 PM.  Some of the shooting was very rapid, sounding to my ear like semi-automatic or automatic weapons.

According to Forest Service regulations, shooting is allowed on National Forest System Land providing:

• It does not create a public hazard or serve as a direct threat to public safety.
• It does not damage or destroy natural features such as plants, historic features or property.
• It does not create litter; refuse accumulation and abandoned personal property.
• It does not violate an existing restriction or closure.

I believe the shooting in the canyons violates the first three bullets:

• The noise from the gunfire is a public nuisance and hazard; and given the number of residences in the area on both sides of Hwy 92, poses a direct threat to public safety.
• The shooting is demonstrably damaging and destroying native plants, most notably emory and Arizona white oaks (and given the tree losses from the Monument Fire in June 2011, I believe the Forest Service should be protecting the trees that are left!); see photo below.
• Litter and refuse is accumulating at these sites, not to mention the ever-increasing amount of lead from the ammunition, potentially endangering wildlife and water sources.

An article appeared in the Sierra Vista Herald newspaper several weeks ago, detailing the litter and lead problems and the damage being done to the trees.  The Forest Service has posted signs requesting persons pick up their trash, but has done little else to mitigate the damage to the trees, the accumulating lead, or the noise situation.

While I am approaching this issue as a concerned area resident, I’d also like to point out that the Huachucas are visited by many tourists each year for the outstanding birding, hiking, and mountain biking.   It doesn’t seem reasonable to me that a subset of persons could ruin the recreational opportunities for the larger base of residents and visitors.  Driving away the visitors has potential economic impact to the greater Sierra Vista area.  Everyone has a different idea of "recreation" but the bottom line is that the gun enthusiasts can go somewhere else (a range), while that can't be said for the birders/hikers/bikers who want to enjoy these mountains and canyons.

In closing, I strongly believe that this situation is intolerable.  Given the shooting in these areas is in violation of the Forest Service’s own guidelines, I believe that immediate measures need to be taken to eliminate this activity from the canyons, and that it is incumbent upon you as the Acting District Ranger to manage the effort. 

My neighbors and friends in the area look forward to hearing of planned actions.