06-23-2018, 08:57 AM
StoneHendge Wrote:Oh I know - I'm sure you heard what happened up here last weekend. First, one of your neighbors decided to shoot Tannerite at the Minturn Range on NFS land last Saturday. Started a fire and luckily the fire department got there in time (it's a bit remote) and stopped it from spreading. He got charged with reckless endangerment and 4th degree arson.
Then, that afternoon, a group of guys started the Wolcott fire that was over 400 acres at its peak. Rumour is they were shooting Tannerite too, but they are still on the lam and let's just say the local paper keeps things quiet if they are told to. That shooting area is downright scary. Open beers "hidden" in the back of trucks and heck, one might as well take a hit off the pipe while they're at it. I think I was the only person not drinking or getting high the one (and only) time I went there.
When I lived in Denver, I'd drive to the range out by Hot Sulphur Springs and usually be the only one there. Great way to spend a day. Later ended up living 12 minutes from the range between BV and Salida. Used to stop by on my home from work pretty regularly. Also made it to the range by the GJ airport a few times while visiting a buddy who lived in Fruita. I thankfully never once encountered anything like what you're describing. I couldn't believe how good the public, free(!) ranges in CO were.
Back in Indiana now, where the public ranges don't compare and where it pretty much means a 2 hour drive to the homestead if I want to shoot anything longer than 200 yards.
And I grew up in the county bordering to the east of Columbus. Doubt I'll ever step foot anywhere near this range, but it would be pretty cool to check out. Even as a spectator...