Santa Rosas - law enforcement?

[David W]

I was camped out and hiking around up there this weekend. Someone was camped somewhere around the camp ground where the cabin used to be and was shooting all weekend. One to 3 shots here and there every hour or few hours, and after dark. Didn't do much for the peaceful atmosphere. I was wishing I knew who to call, didn't want to call emergecy services...

I know hunting is legal, but target shooting is not, and I wasn't interested in going to talk to people who were shooting illegally.

Thanks

[neverwashasbeen]

Call 911, law enforcement and emergency services are one and the same.

[David W]

I agree somewhat, I just feel like 911 should be resreved for if they were shooting AT me...not that it would do much good way up there.

It would be nice to have some "rules" signs at the trailhead I think.

[halhiker]

Recreational shooting IS legal in the San Bernardino National Forest, which includes Santa Rosa Mountain. I don't know what specific areas are permitted—you'd have to speak to the Ranger about that—but shooting is permitted.

Also, a large portion of the mountain is part of the Santa Rosa Indian Reservation and Indians are not bound by normal laws that affect the rest of us. If they were Indians and they were on Indian land, they can pretty much do what they want.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/sbnf/re ... activities

[David W]

Santa Rosas are part of the San Jac Nat Monument, and they don't allow shooting, except in pursuit of game...I called 'em and asked a while back.

I don't think they were on the Indian section, but I'd have to double check a map. Pretty sure that is out at the end of 7S02 towards Toro peak.

http://www.r5.fs.fed.us/sanbernardino/r ... ndex.shtml

Target shooting is only allowed in designated sites - Areas with designated sites for target shooting

Forest Road 1N09 East of Highway 330 - Open

Forest Road 3N14 North of Highway 38 - Open

Forest Road 2N02 East of Baldwin Lake Road - Open

Forest Road 2N93 Lighting Gulch - Open

Forest Road 5S07 North of Highway 74 - Open

The San Jacinto Ranger District has general forest areas open to target shooting, call the Ranger Station for locations.

[halhiker]

You know, I totally forgot about the National Monument thing. Because there's no defined entrance like most Parks or Monuments I never think of it being anything other than a National Forest.

[David W]

Yeah, it makes it a little different. Sometimes I wish one could shoot up there to escape the heat, but it just doesn't seem appropriate up there where there's so much wildlife and peace and quiet, there's plenty of open desert for shooting...and so many shooters are irresponsible, it's terrible. Those of us who are can hardly keep up with the messes the irresponsible leave in order to keep the few places one still can shoot open. Rant off, sorry.

I did scrounge up an after hours number for the rangers from somewhere online.

[madmxe]

My son and I spent the night on Santa Rosa last summer and we found quite a few shell casings. There was not another soul on the mountain and it had kind of an eerie feeling to it. Then theres the gate to Toro. I'll stick to San Jacinto.