FILLMORE : Target Shooting Ban Imposed in Forest
Federal officials imposed a ban Friday on target shooting in a section of the Los Padres National Forest near Fillmore because of several near-misses involving oil workers, wildlife officers and a protected California condor.
“The indiscriminate shooting has become a public safety problem,” said Al Hess, a U.S. Forest Service spokesman in Ojai.
The target shooting ban was imposed on a section of the Los Padres National Forest north of Fillmore between the Oak Flat guard station and the Dough Flat condor observation area. This section of the forest, where private oil production takes place, is bounded on the west, north and east by the Sespe Condor Sanctuary.
Hess said federal officials took the action after the near-misses and several acts of vandalism involving oil field equipment.
On July 17, someone fired at one of two endangered California condors released into the rugged hills of Los Padres National Forest. The bird was not injured, but the incident remains under investigation.
Although the shooting occurred in the nearby Angeles National Forest in Los Angeles County, authorities are concerned that target shooters in the Sespe oil field area on the Ventura County side might injure or kill the protected birds.
Anyone who violates the target shooting ban could be fined up to $5,000 and be jailed for up to six months, Hess said.
The shooting ban does not apply to those who possess a hunting license and are using firearms to hunt for legal game in season.
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