News release from CFPA. Bow season starts this Saturday, August 29th and while fire danger is still high to extreme the news isn’t all bad. “There was some serious talk about putting on a Permit Entry Closure.” Said John Flannigan, Prevention Specialist with Coos Forest Protective Association (CFPA). “A permit entry closure doesn’t end hunting season but limits public access to all but United States Forest Service (USFS) Lands or lands the person owns. “Thankfully the weather forecast is improving so the permit entry closure is on hold for now,” according to Flannigan. Hunters and all forest users will find private lands such as Timber Company lands closed even to walk in access. “If you aren’t on public land or don’t have specific landowner permission to be on a piece of ground you probably don’t belong there,’ said CFPA District Manager Mike Robison. Landowners that do allow hunting will re-open their lands after the threat of fire has reduced. Information on industrial land closures can be found at the Oregon Department of Forestry web site. There are a lot of public lands in the area and they all have good hunting opportunities. The Elliot State Forest, the Coos County Forest, the Siuslaw and Rouge Siskiyou National Forest and scattered Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands are all in easy driving distance. Public lands that are open will have some restrictions though. For State, County, private and BLM lands the restrictions Include: no campfires, no smoking outside of a vehicle, no vehicles off of improved roads and vehicles need to carry fire tools and an extinguisher or a gallon of water. Complete closure information for these lands can be found at on CFPA’s web page at www.coosfpa.net. For restrictions on USFS land you can contact the appropriate Ranger District. Fire officials are hopeful conditions will improve soon and restrictions can be eased but point out it has taken a long time to get fuels this dry and the fire danger to get this high and it will take a long time and a lot of rain to significantly reduce the fire danger.
