U.S. Forest Service / Wikimedia Commons
Why It Matters
Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources has temporarily banned firearm target shooting across wildlife management areas in 16 counties, citing extreme fire danger conditions that threaten both public safety and critical wildlife habitat. The move reflects escalating wildfire risks during peak summer months and follows a pattern of shooting-related fires that have destroyed hundreds of acres of protected land.
What Happened
The state wildlife agency announced the restrictions on Wednesday, effective immediately. Target shooting is now prohibited in wildlife management areas spanning 16 Utah counties, though legal firearm possession and hunting remain allowed. The ban also extends to explosives, incendiary devices, chemical weapons, and exploding targets on all wildlife management areas.
The tinder-dry conditions gripping the state created the urgency for the temporary closure. Habitat section chief Eric Edgley explained that under extreme drought conditions, even minimal spark generation poses an unacceptable risk. “With the extreme dry conditions, any spark can start a fire. With firearm target shooting, sparks from metal targets, a bullet or other projectiles glancing off a rock is all it takes to cause a spark and a fire,” Edgley said.
State wildlife officials will re-evaluate the restrictions every two weeks throughout the hot summer months, allowing for a return to normal access if conditions improve. The agency emphasized that two well-maintained public shooting ranges—Lee Kay and Cache Valley—remain open for target practice.
Recent Wildfire History
The restrictions follow a troubling pattern of shooting-related fires on protected lands. Two significant wildfires ignited by target shooting in 2020 burned several hundred acres across wildlife management areas. More recently, a fire at Middle Fork Wildlife Management Area was sparked by target shooting activity, underscoring the persistent danger.
Division director Riley Peck framed the action as habitat protection. “Because wildfires can destroy essential wildlife habitat, this temporary restriction will help protect Utah’s wildlife management areas during the extreme fire danger conditions,” Peck said.
Enforcement and Penalties
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources law enforcement will educate the public on the new restrictions and enforce compliance. Violations carry fines of up to $1,000. Residents can report violations by calling 1-800-662-3337 or texting 847411.
The agency noted that explosives and fireworks have never been permitted on any wildlife management area in Utah, a longstanding safety rule now reinforced by the broader shooting restrictions.
Funding and Context
Utah’s wildlife management areas are funded through hunting and fishing license sales, making them valuable public resources dependent on both conservation and responsible public use. The current restrictions represent a temporary trade-off between access and habitat protection during peak fire season.
Rocky Mountain Power has also implemented rolling power shutoffs across parts of Utah as wildfire threat conditions intensify, reflecting the broader emergency response to extreme fire danger. State officials warn that the Cottonwood Fire may already rank among Utah’s most destructive wildfires in recorded history, illustrating the severity of current conditions across the region.
The restrictions apply statewide across the affected 16-county region and are expected to remain in effect through the height of summer fire season.
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