Tom Thoresz

AZ I See It

Arizonans are able to recreationally shoot on public lands

When mounds of trash are left behind%2C land managers will shut off access

A new campaign urges shooters to pick up trash to ensure access continues

Recreational shooting on public lands is one of the many blessings to be thankful for this holiday season.

I've been enjoying public lands in Arizona for years, as have the many members of The Dusty Bunch, a cowboy-action shooting club that has been going strong for more than 15 years in Arizona.

As responsible shooters who treasure access to our public lands, we know that as long as we continue to care for our public lands, they will remain open to the recreational activities we all enjoy.

That message is at the heart of an outdoor ethics campaign to promote responsible recreational shooting on public lands around Phoenix and across Arizona.

The campaign is called Respected Access is Open Access in Arizona and is being supported by a coalition of partners including the Bureau of Land Management, Arizona Game and Fish Department, the U.S. Forest Service and Tread Lightly!, a national non-profit organization that promotes responsible outdoor recreation through education and stewardship programs. Outdoor retailers, community organizations and local shooting clubs like The Dusty Bunch are also involved.

The campaign took shape because of ongoing problems with irresponsible shooting practices. Trigger trash -- the remains of inappropriate targets such as water jugs, propane cylinders, glass bottles and aluminum cans -- and litter such as shot-shell and cartridge cases are part of the problem.

This trigger trash, along with illegal dumping and vandalism, such as shooting saguaro cactus, have led to the closure of some public lands locations around Phoenix to recreational shooting. The success of the Respected Access is Open Access in Arizona campaign could ensure the availability of Arizona's public lands for recreational shooting in years to come.

December is a good month to be talking about this issue because it marks one of the biggest months for new gun sales and also marks the heaviest use for public lands around Phoenix, especially for recreational shooting.

The Respected Access is Open Access effort also includes a series of recreational shooting site volunteer clean-up projects.

On Dec. 13, the Dusty Bunch, with the assistance of about 60 volunteers, took the lead on a cleanup event at a box canyon on BLM land adjacent to Maricopa.

The canyon has been a popular and safe location used by recreational shooters for decades, but in recent years, due in part to a large population increase in the area, it has seen a tremendous increase in the level of usage by recreational shooters. We picked up bag after bag of trigger trash and assorted debris, and left it better than we found it.

We call on all recreational shooters to do the same and encourage you to find out more at openaccessarizona.org. Take the pledge to be a responsible recreational shooter and remember that Respected Access is Open Access in Arizona.

Tom Thoresz of Pinal County is a founding member of The Dusty Bunch, a cowboy action and practical shooting organization that sponsors competitive shooting events throughout the year. The Dusty Bunch also organizes periodic clean-ups on public lands near Maricopa. Find out more at www.dustybunch.org.