September 30, 2026 9:30 a.m. 

As fall hunting season gets underway, officials with the Douglas Forest Protective Association are asking hunters to know the restrictions before they go.

DFPA Public Information Officer Rachael Pope said with dry fuels still present across the Douglas District, hunters and other forest users are reminded that fire season is still in effect and campfires are prohibited except at designated sites.

Pope said a day of target practice can quickly result in a wildfire if proper precautions are not taken. Tracer ammunition and exploding targets are prohibited during fire season. Metal jacketed ammunition, including ammunition with metal cores or jackets, as well as incendiary ammunition, can cause wildfires under the right conditions. Hunters are encouraged to carefully consider their shooting location and current fire conditions before practicing with firearms.

Pope said under the current restrictions, portable cooking stoves using liquified or bottled fuels are permitted in clear areas free of flammable vegetation. Where these appliances are allowed, users must have one shovel and one gallon of water of a 2.5 pound or larger ABC fire extinguisher. Motor vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, are restricted to improved roads that are free of flammable vegetation, except when being used for the cultivation or harvest of agricultural crops.

Pope said smoking is prohibited in wildland areas except within vehicles or at designated locations.

Pope said DFPA’s Public Use Restrictions may not be the only restrictions in effect where residents plan to hunt. Private landowners and public land management agencies may have additional restrictions or closures. Hunters should always check with the landowner or land management agency before entering the area they plan to visit.

For complete fire season information, go to www.dfpa.net