Firearm users in woods being careless: director

Careless use of firearms — including weapons being discharged near people working in the woods — is an ongoing issue in the Jordan River area, says Juan de Fuca Electoral Area director Mike Hicks.

He has heard of loggers essentially being pinned down by people firing rifles across logging slash, unaware there were workers in the area.

“People were shooting across the slash at what they thought were just trees but there were people in there logging,” he said.

Hicks was responding to a photo posted on social media showing empty shotgun shells strewn on the ground in the hills near Port Renfrew, about 41 kilometres northwest of Jordan River.

He said, in that case, it seems evident someone was skeet shooting and didn’t clean up after themselves. Vandalism with people shooting up logging machinery also occurs, he said.

“I guess the message from the residents out there is: Know where you’re shooting so you’re not going to kill somebody and clean up after yourself. Don’t be a jerk,” he said.

Hicks said in Juan de Fuca Electoral area, shooting is prohibited before 7 a.m. and after 9 p.m. It is not allowed at any time in municipalities or regional parks.

Sooke RCMP Staff Sgt. Jeff McArthur said reports of shots in the area are made to police occasionally, but nothing specific has come up recently.