Staff Report
Los Padres National Forest officials have extended a ban on recreational target shooting, except for at the Winchester Canyon Gun Club and the Ojai Valley Gun Club, until Jan. 13, 2020.
The ban, which took effect in July 2018, is intended to ensure protection of federally listed wildlife species by preventing impacts caused by recreational target shooting during formal consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that was initiated in October 2018.
Forest officials said that until the USFWS issues a revised biological opinion after the consultation period, the ban will continue.
People hunting during the open hunting season as specified in state laws and having a valid California hunting license are exempt from the ban.
A violation is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both, forest officials said.
