"Respect Access is Open Access" Pledge

[rossislider]

I'm sure many of us received this email from AZGFD today about "Respect Access is Open Access". My understanding is that this campaign is aimed at keeping public land opened for recreational shooting. I was pleased to see this campaig,n as just this past weekend I took my wife out to a shooting location in the desert I have been going to for a little over a year now. I was shocked and saddened to see the change in this location over the span of just a year. It was littered with trash, shot up appliance, boxes, empty cartridges, etc. I commented to my wife that it wouldn't be long before this location was closed to us, like many others previously. I don't believe the coueswhitetail.com community is part of the problem, but tends to be a part of the solution. Nonetheless, I wanted to encourage everyone to join in, take this pledge, and do what you can to help out.

 

Thanks

Sean

 

www.openaccessarizona.org

[Hoss50]

There is at least 1 clean up effort out there every year. Typically the offroaders and a few other groups come together to clean up shooters trash and illegal dumping. Every year they fill multiple 40 yard construction dumpsters with trash and that is just cleaning up the tip of the iceberg.

 

Shooter trash at TM has been a problem for over 15 years. Offroaders and other groups have been trying to make cleanup efforts to keep the area and trail system open.

[lancetkenyon]

There is at least 1 clean up effort out there every year. Typically the offroaders and a few other groups come together to clean up shooters trash and illegal dumping. Every year they fill multiple 40 yard construction dumpsters with trash and that is just cleaning up the tip of the iceberg.

 

Shooter trash at TM has been a problem for over 15 years. Offroaders and other groups have been trying to make cleanup efforts to keep the area and trail system open.

^This. I can attest to the OHV community really stepping up every year to do the annual Table Mesa/BLM cleanup. For about 7 years, I went every time. We hauled out burnt cars, usually 4-6 per cleanup, and a minimum of four 40 yards roll-off dumpsters. The efforts consisted of numerous off-road clubs, ATV clubs, the BLM supplying the dumpsters and pizza, and hundreds of volunteers.

 

On the note about a simple effort of picking up your empties/trash....I almost got into a fist fight on Wednesday just outside of Wickenburg. I was out doing some testing for work, and granted, the site is fairly close to an area that is frequently used by recreational shooters. Wouldn't you think common sense dictates that if someone is downrange, you ensure a safe field of fire???

 

Two separate shooters came to the area while I was performing my work. 180° difference between the two.

 

1. Guy (maybe 45 years old?) shows up and parks his vehicle off the side of the road. Gets out his needed items and sees me about 100 yards up the hill. Walks up to inform me he is going to do a little bit of shooting to check on his pistol. We talk, and he tells me he will be shooting in the opposite direction from where I am working, and just wanted to let me know so I did not get freaked out when the shooting started. After he was finished, he removed his target, and all of his brass. Yelled goodbye to me and departed. Totally honorable and respectful guy. Much respect to him.

 

2. Guy (maybe early 20s?) shows up with his girlfriend. Parks in the middle of the road, with my truck and myself very visible down range. Proceeds to get out, with his stereo blasting, and pulls out a shotgun. Loads it up, and commences blasting away within approximately 20° of my location. I yell down to him that I am up the hill (and throw in the fact that I am there on behalf of the MCSO). Girl shoots about 10 rounds, he shoots about 10 rounds. Last few had a few pellets rattling around. I yell again, in not so nice of a tome or verbiage. They very quickly pack up as I start down the hill with a vengeance, leaving all of the empty hulls on the ground. Halfway down, they are tearing out of the desert. I yell a last time they forgot the empties, and get a one-finger salute as they beat cheeks down the road. What an asshole. I finished up my work, and was looking for them in Wickenburg as I drove through. Probably a good thing I did not see the newer model red Jeep JK 2 door with no doors and a young guy in khaki shorts and striped tank top, with his girlfriend in jeans and a black t-shirt. If you know these people, let the guy know he is a douchebag, and taught his girlfriend the absolute wrong etiquette and ethics in recreational shooting.

[rossislider]

FYI, This years Table Mesa Cleanup is scheduled for March 1st. I'll paste the details below:

 

http://azgfd.net/artman/publish/NewsMedia/Volunteers-invited-to-join-March-1-cleanup-event-at-the-Table-Mesa-Recreation-Area.shtml

 

From AZGFD website:

 

Volunteers invited to join March 1 cleanup event at the Table Mesa Recreation Area

Posted in: News Media
Feb 19, 2015

Lend your hands to our public lands! Volunteers are encouraged to come out for the Table Mesa Recreation Area cleanup on Sunday, March 1. The area is located off I-17 and Table Mesa Road, about 35 miles north of Phoenix.

 

 

The Table Mesa area is very popular with recreational target shooters, off-highway vehicle riders, equestrians, mountain bikers, hikers, and others because of its close proximity to the metropolitan Phoenix area. Unfortunately, this area is also prone to illegal dumping, littering, and vandalism. While these unacceptable activities are perpetrated by a small portion of people who use the area, their unacceptable actions can affect the majority of responsible recreationists.

 

As public agencies deal with tight budgets, it is important for responsible target shooters, OHV enthusiasts, and other outdoor recreationists to engage in volunteerism, such as cleanup events, and become ambassadors for promoting good stewardship practices.

The Table Mesa cleanup runs from 9 a.m. (check-in starts at 8 a.m.) until 2 p.m. Lunch will be provided to volunteers. Please RSVP in advance by e-mailing evan@treadlightly.org or online at http://bit.ly/1FBdBF7
to help us plan for the number of attendees who will be at the event.

Volunteers should bring water, work gloves, hat, sunscreen, trash pinchers, buckets and wear long pants and sturdy shoes. 4WD and OHV vehicles are useful.

Thank you to these partners in education and stewardship for supporting this cleanup effort: Tread Lightly!, Bureau of Land Management, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Wildlife for Tomorrow, Discount Tire, Arizona Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition, AZ Firearms, Barlow Adventures, Boone and Crockett, Congressional Sportsman's Foundation, National Rifle Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Safari Club International.

The cleanup is part of the “Respected Access is Open Access in Arizona” campaign. A January cleanup at Hewitt Station in the Tonto National Forest drew more than 400 volunteers.

Table Mesa cleanup event details at a glance:

When: Sunday, March 1, 2015
Time: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. (check-in starts at 8 a.m.) Lunch will be provided to volunteers!
Where: Table Mesa Recreation Area (off I-17 and Table Mesa Road)
RSVP: evan@treadlightly.org or sign up online http://bit.ly/1FBdBF7
Directions: The Table Mesa Recreation Area is located off I-17 and Table Mesa Road. Head west on Table Mesa Road, then north on the frontage road. Follow signs posted at the end of the pavement. Volunteers will also be on site providing more information and directions.
Location Map: http://goo.gl/maps/XyVhl

[5guyshunting]

I may be wrong, but I thought the table mesa area was state trust land.

[CouesPursuit]

I may be wrong, but I thought the table mesa area was state trust land.

Blue is State Trust

Yellow is BLM

 

 

Looks like it depends where you're at.

[5guyshunting]

I have never shot there because I see the state trust land signs. I just head further north where people dont leave trash.

[Red Sparky]

That is why when my girls and I go hunting we take time out in the middle of the day and pick up trash in the forest. We filled 3 trash bags las time we went. This sounds like a great program and wish idiots would not leave their trash anywhere they want.

[208muley]

I recently went out to a spot off of new river road between i17 and the lake. Never been there before. Spot I found was completely trashed out!!! Disgusting!!! I wonder if they would take info on this location and send some people that way along with myself to go clean this place up??

[Havasuhunter]

Such a shame there has to be "campaigns" to keep the outdoors clean. Amazing how worthless a lot of people are. Glad there are groups stepping it up cleaning up the messes.

[My Rights As An American]

Such a shame there has to be "campaigns" to keep the outdoors clean. Amazing how worthless a lot of people are. Glad there are groups stepping it up cleaning up the messes.

Not sure I could have said it any better.

[CouesWhitetail]

Thanks to everyone who takes the time to pick up trash on our public lands. We do it all the time too.