Target shooting temporarily restricted on WMAs in 16 Utah counties, including Wasatch and Summit

Photo: Utah DWR

Sparks from metal targets, a bullet or other projectiles glancing off a rock is all it takes to cause a spark and a fire, according to DWR Habitat Section Chief Eric Edgley

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is temporarily restricting recreational target shooting with firearms on wildlife management areas in 16 counties, including Wasatch and Summit counties, due to continuing drought conditions and severe wildfire concerns.

The restriction, issued in coordination with applicable county sheriff’s offices as required by law, took effect immediately.

Wildlife management areas help minimize wildlife depredation on private property and provide winter range and feeding grounds for wildlife, including big game animals. The lands also provide access to hunting, fishing and other wildlife-related recreation and are purchased and managed using funds generated by fishing and hunting license sales.

“Because wildfires can destroy essential wildlife habitat, this temporary restriction will help protect Utah’s wildlife management areas during the extreme fire danger conditions Utah is currently experiencing,” DWR Director Riley Peck said.

“Significant resources go toward improving the habitat in these wildlife management areas to make them more beneficial for a variety of wildlife species, which is why these proactive, preventative measures are so important. We support responsible target shooting on these properties when it’s safe to do so, but protecting these resources from wildfire is crucial for wildlife and is a huge benefit for the anglers, hunters and other wildlife enthusiasts who use these properties.”

Target shooting with firearms, along with possession of explosives, incendiary or chemical devices, or exploding targets, is not allowed on wildlife management areas in the following counties: Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Iron, Juab, Millard, Morgan, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Uintah and Wasatch.

The DWR said coordination on the restrictions is ongoing and the list of affected counties may be updated. A full list of wildlife management areas in each county is available on the DWR website.

The restriction applies only to target shooting with firearms on wildlife management areas. Legal possession of a firearm and hunting are not affected. Fireworks and explosives are never allowed on any wildlife management area in Utah.

The restrictions are part of an effort to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires and will be re-evaluated every two weeks throughout the summer.

“With the extreme dry conditions, any spark can start a fire,” DWR Habitat Section Chief Eric Edgley said. “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. In 2020, two large wildfires on wildlife management areas burned several hundred acres of wildlife habitat and were started by target shooting with firearms. The recent wildfire on our Middle Fork Wildlife Management Area was also started by target shooting.”

Utah Department of Natural Resources law enforcement officers will educate the public and enforce the restrictions at the wildlife management areas. Visitors are encouraged to report fireworks or firearm target shooting by calling the UTIP hotline at 1-800-662-3337 or by texting 847411. Violations could result in fines of up to $1,000.

Utahns still have several target shooting options during the restrictions. The DWR operates two public shooting ranges, Lee Kay and Cache Valley, and a variety of public and private indoor and outdoor ranges are available throughout the state. A list of shooting ranges is available on the DWR website.

Statewide fire restriction information and wildfire prevention tips are available at Utahfireinfo.gov.