North Fork gravel pit closed to shooting

The Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District is closing a gravel pit at Glacier Rim to shooting due to safety and health issues.

The pit is about nine miles north of Columbia Falls off the North Fork Road.

“It is very unfortunate that irresponsible and disrespectful actions of some users have created an unsafe situation leading to this closure,” District Ranger Jimmy DeHerrera said.

The Forest Service has worked with the public over the last few years to encourage safe shooting, but unsafe activity has continued at the pit.

“I welcome any ideas from responsible users on how to reach the disrespectful and irresponsible users and make a positive change,” DeHerrera said.

Specific actions that prompted the closure include dumping debris at the pit, including items such as appliances that were brought in as targets; disposing of wildlife and pet carcasses; using a closed area as a shooting lane; shooting toward the North Fork Road; vandalism of signs and bulletin boards; shooting when the area is occupied by other people.

The Flathead National Forest has specific shooting rules: No shooting within 150 yards of buildings, campgrounds and areas occupied by people; no shooting across or toward roads or trails; a requirement to clean up shells and targets; and a prohibition on using household items as targets.