Summer is here, and more people are heading outdoors to enjoy natural surroundings. Forest service officials at the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada are asking people to be extra-cautious when engaging in activities that could cause a wildfire. A list of precautions was suggested for target shooters on public lands.

The region has been seeing more drought-like conditions, raising the threat level for wildfires. Officials from the forest report that a number of wildfires have started by target shooting in many Western states, including Nevada, Utah, Idaho, New Mexico, Arizona and Washington. And many of those fires could have been prevented, according to Russ Bird, forest fire management officer.

"We all have a role to play in preventing human-caused wildfires, which annually threaten life, private property and public land resources," Bird says.

Here are some tips for target shooters to consider when practicing on public lands:

• Know weather conditions and fire restrictions before heading to public land to target-shoot, and avoid shooting during hot, dry and windy conditions, especially on Red Flag Warning days.

• While shooting, have a 5-gallon bucket of water or a 2.5-pound, fully charged fire extinguisher readily available to put out a fire if one starts.

• Bring a shovel to dig a trench around targets before shooting, to ensure that any fire caused by sparks can easily be contained.

• Place targets on dirt or gravel areas clear of vegetation. A target on dry grass increases the risk of fire. Signs, kiosks, buildings and plants are never targets.

• Only shoot into a solid backstop.

• Don't shoot trash and remove spent cartridges. Old couches and televisions are often found illegally dumped on public lands, but they can become fire hazards if shot.

• Be aware that ammunition can start fires under the right conditions. To avoid the chance of sparking, do not use solid copper, steel-core or steel-jacketed ammunition, and avoid shooting in dry fuels or rocky areas.

• Fireworks, exploding targets and incendiary or tracer ammo are prohibited on public lands.

• Park your vehicle away from dry grass. The hot undercarriage of a car or truck can create enough heat to ignite the grass.

• Shoot responsibly, clean up after shooing to leave no trace, and tread lightly on public land. Check out lnt.org and treadlightly.org for more information.

Source: Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest/U.S. Forest Service