Cleanups… A Love/Hate Relationship!

Who Loves a Cleanup?    Who Hates it?

The Hate part:

No one should have to do cleanups on pubic land outside of cleaning up just what you took in.  I find it infuriating that some people show no respect for the value of our public land, no respect for others who wish to recreate there and no respect for the sport of recreational shooting.

Having to cleanup someone else’s trash at shooting sites is not part of my recreational plan!  I hate that part!

The Love part:

Cleanups are much more than simply removing trash.  It’s the people part I like best.  It’s the comradery, the teamwork and the spirit of the volunteers.  It’s the statement we make when we join together as a unified voice to say; “We value the privilege”, “We are committed to responsible recreation” and “We respect all who visit public land”.

If you think about it, there are many positive things you can attribute to volunteering.  Things like; the self-satisfaction you get from knowing you did the right thing, the good you do for the environment, the stand against irresponsible recreation and a whole lot more.  Whether we like it or not, we still do it with great anticipation of making a better outdoor adventure for everyone.  I love that part!

The Challenging part:

I see the forest without any trash.  Healthy trees free from bullet holes.  No broken glass to step on.  People recreating and abiding by the rules.  A dream you say?  A goal I say!

It’s a goal prefaced with a challenge… “Find a solution to the problem”!  I had hoped for a simple solution…  “Just clean it and they will keep it clean”.  Not so!  “Tell them about the rules and they will abide by them”.  Some do, many don’t.  “Raise more awareness”.  Not easy for one person to do, but, one can do a lot!  “Make better places to shoot where they are easy to clean, safer to use and more user friendly than stumbling through the thick brush or boulders of jagged rock”.  That’s not easy thing to convince forest officials and it takes an upfront investment.  It is, however, a viable and good option.

Achieving the goal is going to take a variety of efforts.  There is no one singular solution to this problem.  Our goal is a big challenge.  One I feel is worthy of my efforts.

Reach the Goal part:

The ‘common sense’ side of me says “It’s too big for one person to do.  I need help”.  Many people feel the same way as I and many have supported the efforts towards the goal.  Being encouraged by their support, Trash No Land was formed.

Its purpose is to represent the recreational target shooting community on public land.  It is to be an organization where gun owners ban together and meet the challenge head on.  Its multiple people doing multiple things, all focused on the common goal.  Its innovative thinking, discussion, planning, communicating, partnering, boots on the ground.  Its people and their unique talents working together to make a better recreational experience.  And that's the best part of all!

Join Trash No Land and let’s get to work!  Together!

http://trashnoland.org/volunteer.html

Thank you all!

Bill Cogley

Overdue Bryan's Weekly...

Hey all,

I have been getting my butt kicked at work lately and I apologize I have not posted much as of lately.

Lots of stuff has happened since my last post.

It is official. TNL is good to go for Washington State. Now we are waiting on our status with the Feds on the 501-3c status. I want to give a big "THANKS" to Bill the founder and President of TNL for getting all of this completed. Without Bill this movement wouldn't exist.

I had a meeting with Randy Peterson with Oregon Department of Forestry, Forest Grove Office, two Mondays ago. We sat together for 3 hours going over many things that have been needing attention, as well as the future of our partnership. I am excited to announce that ODF wants to continue the progress we have made in the Tillamook State Forest with the fire safe shooting lane improvements. There is lots of work to be done and I hope to be a beacon to assist and contribute. Much of the work is to continue providing support through volunteers to keep the sites clean. Much like hikers assist ODF with cleaning and maintaining trails, recreational shooters are needed to assist with keeping these sites looking good and usable.

With that said, ODF plans on continuing to improve the 4 fire safe sites that were improved upon last year. Such plans include adding better backstops and creating a longer lasting berm for the shorter lanes to assist with weather and use degrading the existing berms. Other future plans include adding further sites within the North Wolf Creek area so as to pull recreational shooting away from other recreational areas that see heavier OHV and Hiking uses. I look forward to seeing a 5th site added to the Wolf Creek area!

As you can see in this picture the weather and use over the winter have caused a good amount of degradation to the berms and such. Improving the berms is something that will be required to keep them from becoming a muddy pile of dirt. So plans are in the works to improve them. Possibly adding a fixed lean and or adding better materials similar to what is used at actual shooting ranges.


In other news, we have our first clean up on the books. I know it is last minute, but there seemed to be a need for one. To get the ball rolling type thing. So TNL will be organizing a "BYOL" clean up. No BBQ or prizes, just a short, simple clean up and shoot out. The Wolf Creek sites are not the largest, and they are relatively easy to clean, which was part of the design element, so it should be quick and easy.

TNL looks to host a clean up in Washington as well, as well as possibly partnering here and there on a few others within Tillamook and possibly Mt Hood. Keep your eyes open and glued to are Facebook and or website for more information on those as they become available.

Sorry it has been so long. Hoping to get more typed up soon!

Bryan

Feb 25, 2017,  9 AM

Tillamook State Forest at North Fork Wolf Creek Rd. developed shooting lanes

Google Map Link:  https://goo.gl/maps/WUhTAwgzHrt

36 miles West of Beaverton, Oregon off Hwy 26.

BYOL and BYOGH! (Bring Your Own Lunch and Bring Your Own Good Heart!)  We'll provide the trash bags and disposal.  Plan on a bit of target shooting fun when we're done!

Starts at 9 AM.  Bring gloves, jeans, outdoor boots and dress for the weather.

No special awards or prizes.  A bare bones cleanup.  Our reward is the self sense of doing good for our privelage to shoot on public land.  Gun owners unite!  We're going to make a difference!

This cleanup is inspired by the devoted members of NorthwestFirearms.com.  They are dedicated to "Supporting gun owners of the Pacific Northwest"!

Be sure to sign up at our Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/255419358217608/ 

And read more on our website Events page:  http://trashnoland.org/events.html

See you then!

Spring Shooting Fever!

Finally some nice weekend weather in the Portland Metro area!  Sure felt like shooting weather to me!  Did you get out for a little target fun?

I had an itchy trigger finger all weekend and a bummed attitude because I knew I couldn't go.  Too many items on the 'Honey Do' list to do around the house.  Piddly little things like patch the hole in the roof, clean out the gutters, rake up all the limbs that blew down, wash the car, wash the dog, wash myself... you know, the kind of stuff that could have waited till NEXT WEEKEND!

On the other hand, the Sportsman's show would have been a good choice.  I saw a few pics of it and read a few comments about it.  Sure wanted to go.  Next year we should be able to do a booth at the show and spread the message of Trash No Land.  Will be fun!

I am anxious, however, to get up in the forest to see the condition of the shooting sites.  I need a full day to visit the shooting lanes in Tillamook and Mt Hood Wild Cat area.  At least a half day up on the Yacolt Burn.  I really want to go tour Tahuya State Forest, outside of Olympia.

Wanting to get the ball rolling on some cleanups and meet-n-greet shooting fun.  For now, it's a bit of organizational stuff like planning and admin work.  Should be able to create an event or two this spring.

Hope it was a good weekend all!  Be safe, Have fun!

Bill

Bryan's Weekly W/E 1/27/17

TNL followers,

I know there are not a whole lot of you following our movement now. I believe this will change soon, in time.

We have had a successful meeting, yes, TNL's first board meeting is on the books. That is a start. In combination with getting our filing underway, we are on our way to becoming incorporated as a Non-Profit.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Today, however, I would like to talk about the lanes developed at  North Fork Wolf Creek.

Being that I was involved with planning and development of the 4 lanes, I figured I would highlight the GOOD things that come from putting yourself out there. Something that Trash No Land plans on doing a lot of, and we ask that our followers do as well.

It all started with a day out on Louisgnot Road, a day out with a friend, recreationally shooting. Jason Rautenkranz, a former ODF Forest Grove employee, pulled up to see what my friend I are were up to. He had been tasked with educating and enforcement of Tillamook Forest Recreational Shooting laws. Him and I talked for a really long time that afternoon. I took Jason's card and promised I would touch bases with him later.

A month or so passed and I found Jason's card. I called.

Next thing I knew I was going on ride alongs with Jason in and around Tillamook State Forest. We were collecting information on shooting locations and coming up with plans to perform some sort of shooting lane development within Tillamook State Forest. The forest Grove department led by Recreational Manager Randy Peterson, saw the need for something, anything, after having a fairly significant fire cause unforeseen costs to the department. A fire, unfortunately, caused by uneducated recreational shooters.

Many ride alongs took place. Followed by many meetings with other like minded people that wanted to contribute to the cause. Shortly there after, we had a mock up of our blueprint for what design elements were to be implemented into a recreational shooting lane.

After that was said and done, there was a little radio silence.

Then it was approve!!! I was honestly, super surprised, but insanely happy!

Just so you get an idea of the work that went into these spots. Here is a picture of Lane 3 prior to development.




And after:



A cool visual from Google, before:



After (lane 3 and 4):



Some progress pictures:




Some completion pictures:

Moving forward, I am continuing to work with the Oregon Department of Forestry and Randy Peterson. We have stayed in contact and are looking to continue our partnership (which strengthened due to incorporating Trash No Land as a non-profit). With some more work we look to continue developing more sites like these.


Thanks!

Bryan

RANDOM ACTS OF CLEANUPS

You arrive at your favorite place to shoot and find it trashed.  Some ‘Jack-Wagon’ left his used up targets, milk jugs, beer cans and littered the ground with shotgun hulls (yet, they picked up their spent brass!).  Your blood boils and you’re down right discussed.  We don’t blame you at all.  We are all discussed at the mess we often see.

So what do we do first?  Break out the tools and start recreating?  Or clean it up?  Neither!  Grab the camera first!  Camera?  Yes!  Take photos to show the before and after.  Later, we ask that you email those photos to us, with a location, so we can forward them to the appropriate land management and/or law enforcement agency.  (It’s important for our management partners to know that we, responsible shooters, are contributing to the effort of quality recreation for all).  The more they hear of our 'Random Acts of Cleanups', the more they are inclined to keep recreational shooting areas open.

Now you may grab the trash bags and clean it up.  It’s no fun but it’s got to be done.  If you leave it, and the next guy does as well, soon you may not have a place to shoot!

What else could happen if you leave the trash and just start your shooting?  Law Enforcement could drive by at anytime.  Good luck trying to explain that "Those are NOT my holes in the beer cans and milk jugs.  And that propane tank isn’t mine.  Hey, the TV was already there!"  We’d hate to see anyone get fined for ‘illegal’ shooting of trash, so your best bet is to pick it up first.

It’s called Stewardship… 'The careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care'.  Our right to shoot on public land is in jeopardy because of a few who don’t own up to the basic principle of Stewardship.  The more ‘Good Stewards’ we have on public land, the more others will be less likely to do their dirty deeds.  Teach by example!

We are always searching for ways to reach the new shooters and the bad ‘Jack-Wagons’ with our message of stewardship.  Be part of our team effort and become a partner with Trash No Land.  Subscribe to our blog for news, event happenings and good bedtime reading material.  Help us out if you have ideas!

Be Safe… Have Fun!

www.trashnoland.org

 Copyright © 2017 Trash No Land, All rights reserved.

Dog Saves Prowlers life!

Quiet, dark and in a deep peaceful sleep, describes the middle of a recent Thursday night.  But sure enough, as 'Murphy's Law' would have it, the dog starts to bark.  As with many nights before, my grumpy side got the best of me... "Someone must have left the cat outside" and now, as it so happens, it chooses this blissful 2 AM moment to want back in.  I roll over wishing that darn cat would just go jump in the river.

More barks...  a growl...  another ba... wait… a GROWL?  The only time I've heard her growl is when there's a stranger at the door.  She never growls at the cats!

RED FLAG!  RED FLAG!  I sat up suddenly wide awake.  Fast fingers on the key pad quickly open the small safe next to my bed.  In an instant Walther and I were ‘On Alert’.

Hallway clear.  Bathroom clear. Living room clear. A brief thought crossed my mind… "Hey, what if I shoot this guy and the police come?  Will I have time to get some pants on?  Shouldn’t I get dressed first?"  Kitchen clear.  Silly thoughts came to mind as I try to calm my nerves with tomorrows headline; "NAKED MAN WITH GUN, ON A MISSION"  (Nervous chuckles to myself).

There’s the front door...  Don’t hear anything.  Don’t see anyone through the windows.  Large blind spot behind the door… watch out…

I crouch to the height of the counter top as I reach for the door knob.  Open… Nothing.  No cat.  No person.  Nothing.

Close the door.  Chew the dog out.  Back to bed.  Tried for 2 more hours to get back to sleep.  No luck so I got up to get ready for work.  Yeah, thanks dog!  Not a good way to start a new day.

Two days later I heard from a neighbor who said Thursday night there was an intruder inside his front porch.  He called 911 and the police came to search but he wasn't found.  Then it dawned on me… "My dog had heard someone at our front door that night and she tried to warn me".  I’m sure it was the same guy.

I went straight home and proceeded to feed that dog treats all night long!  "What a good dog you are!  Such a sweetheart!  Best security system I ever had!  Yes, such a good girl!"

Since then, I’ve given this situation a bit of deep thought.  My dog is my first line of defense.  A first alert system.  She is a member of my family and is dedicated to our well being.  I can trust her.  Listen to the tone of her voice.  Observe her body posture.  She is communicating clues as to what she suspects and wants you to know.  You will soon know the difference between ‘it’s just a cat’ and ‘HEY!!! SOMEONE'S AT THE DOOR!!!'

I have no desire, nor intention, of ever shooting anyone under any circumstance.  But entering my home, uninvited in the middle of the night, is a threat to me and my family.  And I will protect my family first.  And that includes my dog!

Yes indeed, my dog saved that prowlers life that night.  And in the process, saved me from a lot of hardship and grief.  She protected my family.  She’s a hero in my eyes.

Thank you “Miss Penny”!