Shooting signs is nothing new, but it’s gotten so bad for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department that the agency is asking the public to be on the lookout for people blasting signs at public access points.
“Vandalism commonly occurs on informational signs on Game and Fish property and public access areas. Signs are shot up and often rendered completely illegible,” according to a statement from Game and Fish.
“It happens throughout that state,” Game and Fish Spokeswoman Amanda Fry told Cowboy State Daily. “It’s difficult to catch people after the fact.”
Sign-blasting and other vandalism at Game and Fish access sites costs the agency $60,000 to $70,000 each year, she said.
‘Because They Can’
Campbell County resident Frank Groth, a firearms instructor and retired law enforcement officer, told Cowboy State Daily that he never could understand why some people shoot signs.
“Sadly, people think they can do it, because they can,” he said.
“It’s just irresponsible and childish. And that’s me being charitable. I can think of other words for it,” he added.
Sign-blasting and other irresponsible shooting gives gun owners a bad name and can ruin things for everybody, he added.
The public used to enjoy target shooting on a section of state land about 15 miles north of Gillette on Highway 59 near the Burnt Hollow recreation area, Groth said.
But shooting was recently banned there, and reckless shooters were to blame, he said.
“The signs at all four places where there was access to it were just shot full of holes,” he said.
A rancher has a grazing lease there and there were reports of cattle being hit with stray bullets. Some heavy equipment at a nearby gravel mine was also hit, he said.
Who Can Afford To Do That?
Retired firearms industry professional and former Cheyenne resident Michael Egan also told Cowboy State Daily that he’s seen public recreation areas ruined by stupid gunplay.
“Why would you want to shoot a sign?” said Egan, who now lives in Central Iowa.
Not only is it destructive, it seems like a waste of ammunition, which isn’t nearly as cheap as it used to be, he said.
Prices listed Monday on the Lucky Gunner bulk ammunition sales company website bore testament to that.
Prices were running roughly 20 to 24 cents per round for basic target and practice ammunition 9 mm, a popular pistol cartridge. Meaning, shooters could be spending nearly a quarter for every pull of the trigger.
Prices for .223, a popular rifle cartridge, were running in the 40 to 45 cents-per-round range.
Call It In
Fry said it’s tough to say whether sign-shooting is on the uptick, but “zero would be optimal” for the number of incidents.
Because game wardens can’t be everywhere, all the time, it helps to have the public be Game and Fish’s eyes and ears, she said.
Reports of sign shooting or other vandalism can be reported by calling 1-877-WGFD-TIP.
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
