​UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE (UXO) HAZARD
Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Hazard: Military training involving live ammunition and explosives has occurred throughout Fort McCoy since 1909. Deliberate and comprehensive efforts have been conducted to clear the unexploded ordnance (UXO) hazard; however these items may occasionally still be encountered while on Fort McCoy.
Hunters and recreationists on Fort McCoy who encounter or see UXO on the installation should call the Fort McCoy Police Department at 608-388-2266 and report what they saw, where they saw it and if they were able to mark the area. Anyone who encounters a marked or guarded location with UXO at Fort McCoy should avoid the site.
Cick the Link below for directions on placing a point on a map where you can report a UXO that has been found.
Ultimately, hunters on a military installation are responsible for knowing where they are at all times and for staying within either their assigned hunting area or the hunt boundaries. If you are uncertain whether an area is closed, do not enter it, potentially putting yourself in danger, but carefully leave the area.
(1) UXOs are often referred to as duds, bombs, munitions, ordnance, ammo, dummy rounds, or by other terms. Regardless of what they are called, they should be considered extremely dangerous. They were designed to explode and still have the capability to do so. Never touch, move, or disturb munitions. Even Civil War cannon balls and souvenir munitions that may have been handled for years can potentially detonate at any time.
(2) UXOs come in many shapes and sizes and may be visible on the surface or be buried. It can be exposed by erosion or fires, and may look new or old. UXOs may also be found alone or in groups; and can be whole or in parts.
(3) Anyone encountering or believing they may have encountered UXOs should consider it extremely dangerous. The proper response to avoid injury to themselves and others is to follow the 3Rs of explosives safety:
(a) Recognize - Recognizing when you may have encountered UXO is key to reducing the risk of injury or death. If you encounter or suspect you may have encountered UXO, consider it extremely dangerous. Remember, UXO is sometimes hard to identify. Munitions you might encounter may be heavily corroded, whole or in parts, buried or covered with leaves, making them difficult to recognize. Even old munitions can kill. As such, never approach, touch, move, disturb or shoot at anything encountered that may be a munition or part of one, but carefully leave the area.
(b) Retreat - If you encounter or suspect you may have encountered UXO, do not touch, move or disturb it, but immediately and carefully leave the area following the same path on which you entered. If you can, mark the general area, not the UXO, in some manner (e.g., with a hat, piece of cloth, or by tying something to a tree branch).
(c) Report - Notify Fort McCoy Police Department at (608) 388-2266 of what you saw, where you saw it, and the type of marking, if you were able to mark the area. These actions will protect you and others who may encounter the same area.
(4) Additional UXO safety information and a photo gallery of various types of UXO are available from the Department of Defense internet site at https://www.denix.osd.mil/uxo/.