Dickshooter, Idaho

Dickshooter is the name of a community and also of at least three geographical features in Owyhee County, Idaho: a ridge, a reservoir, and a creek. These are in close proximity to each other in the southwestern corner of the state, in a wilderness area approximately 24 miles (39 km) northwest of Riddle.[2]

The community is between Battle Creek and Deep Creek. The area is popular for its year-round recreational activities, which include hiking, camping, hunting, fishing,[3] swimming, bird watching, all-terrain vehicle riding, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. Surrounding areas are inhabited by bighorn sheep, elk, antelope, deer, bear, bobcat, mountain lion, grouse, and birds of prey.[2][4] The place is isolated, being a few hours drive from passable roads.[5]

Dickshooter Creek is listed in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. It flows south into Deep Creek and dries out in the summer months. The gorge cut by the creek is a popular site for hiking and backpacking.[2][6]

Dickshooter Ridge is a wilderness area that provides a habitat for sage grouse and bighorn sheep. It was once proposed to be used as an "enemy village" target for Air Force bombing exercises.[7] Dickshooter Ridge Road was once used to travel from Silver City, Idaho to Salt Lake City in Utah, and to Humboldt County, Nevada, and offered "spectacular views of vertical walled gorges and vistas of the surrounding desert plateaus."[8]

The United States Congress adopted the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, which is designated to protect wilderness states and includes the area around the Creek and the Ridge.[9]

Origin of the name

Dickshooter was named for Dick Shooter, a pioneer settler.[2][4] Dickshooter has frequently been noted on lists of unusual place names.[10]

References

1. "Dickshooter". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
2. Dickshooter, Owyhee County, ID. Internet Accuracy Project. 2011.
3. Parker, Q. (2010). Welcome to Horneytown, North Carolina, Population: 15: An insider's guide to 201 of the world's weirdest and wildest places. F+W Media. p. 58. ISBN 978-1-4405-0809-7.
4. Parker, Quentin (August 18, 2010). Welcome to Horneytown, North Carolina, Population: 15: An insider's guide to 201 of the world's weirdest and wildest places. Adams Media. p. 58. ISBN 978-1-4405-0454-9.
5. Oxley, Chuck (November 28, 2004). "Cowboys Blend Old, New". Los Angeles Times. p. 2.
6. "Dickshooter Creek". www.rivers.gov. 25 May 2010. Archived from the original on 23 December 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
7. Allen, Edwina (January 2007). "Owyhee Canyonlands Legislation Introduced" (PDF). Ridgelines. Northern Rockies Chapter of the Sierra Club (1): 1–2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2011-04-08.
8. "Wilderness Bills Pending in Congress". Sema Action Network. Archived from the original on 2011-07-23.
9. "H.R. 146" (PDF). United States Government. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-20.
10. "13 Town Names We Can't Stop Laughing Over". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 13 July 2014.