Forest Service floats recreational shooting limits

The U.S. Forest Service is floating a plan to restrict recreational shooting to designated areas in 625 square miles near developed areas in Colorado’s Front Range foothills and along the Interstate 70 corridor.

The plan also includes opening more approved shooting ranges.

The Forest Service says 50 to 75 percent of the land is close enough to homes, roads and campgrounds that shooting is already illegal there.

The Canyon Courier newspaper reports the plan strikes some as overly broad.

Clear Creek County Commissioner Tim Mauck says the the amount of land being discussed is staggering.

Kathy Hinkle of the Clear Creek County Sportsmen Club says she supports the idea of more designated ranges but wants more details on the plan.

It could be opened to public comment within weeks.