Fisherman's Pit shooting area closed to vehicle traffic after home struck by bullets

A popular shooting area in the Tillamook State Forest is closing to vehicles after someone fired into a home, illegal explosives were detonated, and bullets flew in the direction of the Wilson River Highway.

According to the Oregon Department of Forestry, the Fisherman’s Pit area—a popular shooting area about 12 miles east of Tillamook— will soon be a walk-in site only, with recently installed gates blocking vehicle access to the area, located in Tillamook County on state forestland.

The forestry agency said that the situation has grown unsafe recently, prompting the vehicle closure.

“When ODF learned live rounds fired off of state forestland were creating an imminent safety risk for neighbors, as a public land manager we had little choice but to take this action,” ODF Tillamook District Forester Kate Skinner said in a press release. “Under the circumstances, continuing to allow walk-in access while restricting vehicles was the most effective way to address this vital public safety risk.”

The area where the shots flew into a home was on the north side of Highway 6 near mile marker 12, ODF spokesperson Jason Cox told the Salmonberry Magazine.

“No vehicles struck that we are aware of, but the home of a private citizen was, as were some logs they had cut on their property,” Cox said.

In addition to the firearm issue, the explosive tannerite, which is illegal on state forestland, was also used.