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Supervisors ask staff to draft revision allowing rifles from elevated stands, discuss 8- vs. 10-foot rule
Summary
Board members debated raising the allowable shooting elevation for rifles and directed the county attorney and administrator to draft ordinance language consistent with neighboring guidance, with preference expressed for 10 feet but some members favoring 8 feet.
Board members discussed whether to amend county hunting rules to allow the use of rifles from elevated stands, including tree stands or similar structures. One supervisor argued that modern muzzleloaders are comparable to rifles and that the county should allow rifles over .23 caliber to be used from stands up to 8 feet off the ground.
County staff and the county attorney advised the board that state wildlife agency (DWR) guidance suggests a 10-foot elevation for tree-stand shooting; a staff member recommended reflecting the DWR suggestion in local language. Several supervisors said consistency with adjacent counties was an important factor; one supervisor favored 10 feet to match Department of Wildlife Resources guidelines, while another said 8 feet would be less restrictive and could be advertised for public comment and later tightened if desired.
The board directed the county attorney and the county administrator to draft ordinance language reflecting the discussion (the staff noted DWR’s 10-foot guideline) and return the draft at the next meeting for public hearing and possible action. No ordinance was adopted at this meeting; the direction was to prepare draft language for the board’s review.
