The 128,000-acre Ironwood Forest National Monument is under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management and is generally opened to dispersed recreational shooting. A management plan just released for public review and comment is likely to change that if BLM's preferred management alternative (Alternative C) is adopted. Alternative C would close the Monument to recreational shooting. Hunting would continue to be allowed.

The plan contains 4 alternatives: A is the no-action alternative that would keep current management as is; B is the most restrictive management alternative and along with C, would close the Monument to recreational shooting; and D is the most access-oriented and would allow shooting to continue.

To review the document go to http://www.blm.gov/az/env_docs/library/rmps/rmps.htm. Public meetings will be announced at http://www.blm.gov/az/news.htm. Written comments are due by the end of May and can be mailed to the Tucson Field Office, 12661 East Broadway Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85748 or by email to AZ_IFNM_RMP@blm.gov.