LAS CRUCES, NM–To protect visitors to the Prehistoric Trackways National Monument (National Monument), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is implementing a temporary restriction on recreational target shooting on 290 acres of public land. The National Monument is located 10 miles northwest of Las Cruces, New Mexico. The recreational target shooting restriction includes public land along the Permian Tracks Road, which is the primary entrance to the National Monument. The restriction is effective on October 24, 2014 and shall remain in effect until a final decision is issued in the TriCounty Resource Management Plan.
Since designation of the National Monument in 2009, the area has seen a significant increase in visitation from school children and the general public for guided hikes and museum field trips that focus on the paleontological resources. Documented near-misses between the National Monument visitors and bullets from recreational target shooting along the Permian Tracks Road is increasing.
“This restriction is necessary to prevent personal injury or even loss of life,” said Bill Childress, BLM’s Las Cruces District Manager. “We have a responsibility to ensure this public hazard is mitigated, Childress added.
Over 5 million acres of public land in six southwestern counties are open for dispersed recreational target shooting. The City of Las Cruces maintains the Butterfield Shooting Range about 12 miles west of this area that is open to the public 24 hours per day, 6½-days per week. The closure does not affect regulated hunting in the area.
Information from BLM