Rifle range closed temporarily

AWENDAW -- A popular outdoor public shooting range in the Francis Marion National Forest is being closed until further notice because of vandals who don't shoot straight.

Twin Ponds Rifle Range, deep in the forest off Highway 17, always has had vandalism problems. But this time around some of the shots are going off-range, potentially endangering hikers and visitors in other parts of the forest.

"In good conscience, we can't keep the range open if there are other members of the public that are being exposed to unsafe conditions," said Michelle Burnett, public affairs officer with the Francis Marion and Sumter national forests.

The forest has two recreational ranges. Twin Ponds is off Willow Hall Road. Boggy Head Rifle Range is off S.C. Highway 41. Both ranges feature shooting tables and a 100-yard backstop. Pistols, shotguns or rifles may be used, but skeet and trap shooting is prohibited.

Previous problems at the Twin Ponds range have included shooters dragging old television sets or washers and dryers to the site, shooting them up or using trash cans as targets, then leaving the hulks behind. The most visible damage now is a recently erected bulletin board that has been shot up.

"We expected some vandalism, but nothing like that," said volunteer James McNeely of Goose Creek, who worked on previous range improvements and paid for some of them out of pocket. "It was just totally senseless."

McNeely said the range is popular with shooters of all ages because it is run by the U.S. Forest Service and therefore is free and outdoors. Shooters come from as far away as Myrtle Beach to use it, he said.

The goal now is to call on volunteers to fix up the area, McNeely said, including patching up the sign board.

Burnett said officials don't know who the offenders are, but the danger of stray fire is real considering the number of government employees and others who are in the forest weekly using the trails.

"It's irresponsible behavior by a few," she said.

Officials are looking for volunteers to help fix up the site. Anyone interested can call Jannah Dupre at 887-3257.

Reach Schuyler Kropf at 937-5551, or skropf@postandcourier.com.