Want your national forest roads reopened?

[bluealtered]

If your someone who hunts in the national forests of the west you should know that Congressman Greg Walden, (R-OR-2nd district) has written H.R. 4272 which will require the forest service to reopen all closed roads in the national forest of the west. If the bill passes the forest service will have to submit to the counties that the national forest is set in any roads they want to close. It will then be up to the counties to decide if the road should be closed or not.

If you would like to see this happen you need to contact your senator or congress person and have them sign on to the bill. There is no reason the bill can't be amended to include blm land as well.

 

[jotrot]

that is awesome and i will do that.
thanks for the heads up

 

[ND shooter]

Thanks for the heads up!!! Will do.

 

[GlennGTR1]

First off let me state that I am a truly dedicated outdoorsman, hunter, shooter and flyfisherman. The abuse I have witnessed here in western Washington of our national and state forests in recent years has been appauling. Trash dumping, carelessness resulting in wildfires, and poaching have taken their toll on our forests and land. I hunt road closure areas, yes... I walk into areas for hours sometimes to get to a decent hunt. The difference between road closure areas and open road areas is huge. I see no garbage, no signs of land abuse, quieter time in the woods, less over crowding, no signs of illegal activity such as forest product theft and the remains of deer and elk from poachers. The last two I find frequently on open roads. It is a sad thing to see the lack of respect for our wild places and it is the minority that has ruined it for the masses. The truth is.... we have to protect these areas from the minority so those of us that are responsible can still have places to hunt and fish or just enjoy the outdoors. I would rather spend time in an area that is clean and unspoiled as possible. I would rather not have to deal with the minority of jackasses who really do not care for the sport or are too lazy to make an effort to do it right. That is all...

 

[MrMajestic]

Where there are roads there are those with physical limitations that can enjoy at least a percentage of those things that you do! JMHO, no I'm am not one with limits.

 

[timeout]

First off let me state that I am a truly dedicated outdoorsman, hunter, shooter and flyfisherman. The abuse I have witnessed here in western Washington of our national and state forests in recent years has been appauling. Trash dumping, carelessness resulting in wildfires, and poaching have taken their toll on our forests and land. I hunt road closure areas, yes... I walk into areas for hours sometimes to get to a decent hunt. The difference between road closure areas and open road areas is huge. I see no garbage, no signs of land abuse, quieter time in the woods, less over crowding, no signs of illegal activity such as forest product theft and the remains of deer and elk from poachers. The last two I find frequently on open roads. It is a sad thing to see the lack of respect for our wild places and it is the minority that has ruined it for the masses. The truth is.... we have to protect these areas from the minority so those of us that are responsible can still have places to hunt and fish or just enjoy the outdoors. I would rather spend time in an area that is clean and unspoiled as possible. I would rather not have to deal with the minority of jackasses who really do not care for the sport or are too lazy to make an effort to do it right. That is all...

Had that same arguement here from the WDNR on a piece of property purchased with taxpayer money. This all but made it impossible for us to hunt our coyote dogs there. Now, with my age and physical limitations, makes it nearly impossible for me to hunt or trap there at all. The problems that you cite as associated with open roads, are an enforcement problem. I saw this same mind set all through my schools years. In other words no one can do this or that, because one person abuses it. Thats Baloney Sausage. Punish that person, don't take it away from everyone else. With your line of reasoning, no one could own a gun, a car, or anything. Someone is always going to abuse the system. Deal with the source of the problem instead of making things miserable for everyone. JMO.

 

[Warren Dean]

First off let me state that I am a truly dedicated outdoorsman, hunter, shooter and flyfisherman. The abuse I have witnessed here in western Washington of our national and state forests in recent years has been appauling. Trash dumping, carelessness resulting in wildfires, and poaching have taken their toll on our forests and land. I hunt road closure areas, yes... I walk into areas for hours sometimes to get to a decent hunt. The difference between road closure areas and open road areas is huge. I see no garbage, no signs of land abuse, quieter time in the woods, less over crowding, no signs of illegal activity such as forest product theft and the remains of deer and elk from poachers. The last two I find frequently on open roads. It is a sad thing to see the lack of respect for our wild places and it is the minority that has ruined it for the masses. The truth is.... we have to protect these areas from the minority so those of us that are responsible can still have places to hunt and fish or just enjoy the outdoors. I would rather spend time in an area that is clean and unspoiled as possible. I would rather not have to deal with the minority of jackasses who really do not care for the sport or are too lazy to make an effort to do it right. That is all...

+1

Same situation here in Arizona. I, for one, was glad to see it implemented. We have plenty of slobs here that have no regard for public land and they should be publicly horse whipped for the destruction they do.

Yeah....really.

And the small percentage of folks with "physical limitations" do not offset the good that limiting access does. Tough luck.

"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few"

 

[CatShooter]

Same situation here in Arizona. I, for one, was glad to see it implemented. We have plenty of slobs here that have no regard for public land and they should be publicly horse whipped for the destruction they do.

Yeah....really.

And the small percentage of folks with "physical limitations" do not offset the good that limiting access does. Tough luck.

"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few"

Right on, right on... and we need to ban guns cuz the need for safety of the masses out weighs the needs of a few gun nuts! And the hell with the seniors who pay taxes to support these bits of lands.

And we should ban hunting and trapping, cuz the needs of the public to see the animals outweigh the needs of a few blood thirsty people to kill animals... and it goes on and on and on...

Solve the problem, don't make these pieces of public land the exclusive domain of a few.

That's what the gun banners and the Greenies want.

 

[Warren Dean]

.... we need to ban guns cuz the need for safety of the masses out weighs the needs of a few gun nuts! And the hell with the seniors who pay taxes to support these bits of lands.

And we should ban hunting and trapping, cuz the needs of the public to see the animals outweigh the needs of a few blood thirsty people to kill animals... and it goes on and on and on...

Kind of sensitive aren't you there, goober? I didn't say or imply any of that nonsense.

In the interests of civility, I will withdraw from this debate and declare you the victor.

Cheers!

 

[North Fork]

That's why i own horse's i can go around all close gates.The forest sevice where i live try to close all the roads .I have to cut at least 6 cords of wood a year to heat my house.

 

[wyoming .260]

The road closures on one hand have limited the access to some people, but on the positive side have actually increased the amount of hunting landd the is not traveled by endless lines of 4wheelers and side by sides. I for one prefer to walk and am happy about the road closures. If willing to do a little walking it actually makes the hunting easier!

 

[deadwooddick]

For the specifics: http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/4272/text

Section 2 (b) Prohibition on Implementation or Enforcement of Travel Management Rule.--Immediately upon the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall cease all implementation and enforcement of the travel management rule for units of the National Forest System derived from the public domain.

"Something" tells me losing federal management of roads and trails on forest lands to INDIVIDUAL counties isn't going to be a "good thing."

Here in the Black Hills, the "ATV slobs" have completely ruined several ATV trails (not a single grain of the thin topsoil remains e.g. scarfed down to bedrock). So… they closed the trail(s). It's not unlikely that similar activity has/is occurring on other NF lands.

It's clear such activity needs regulation, that being the case… do you spend the limited budget "trying to catch the perps" or just simply close the trail(s) to travel.

It's obvious, closing them STOPS the destruction. Isn't that the point ?

 

[wyoming .260]

For the specifics: http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/4272/text

Section 2 (b) Prohibition on Implementation or Enforcement of Travel Management Rule.--Immediately upon the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall cease all implementation and enforcement of the travel management rule for units of the National Forest System derived from the public domain.

"Something" tells me losing federal management of roads and trails on forest lands to INDIVIDUAL counties isn't going to be a "good thing."

Here in the Black Hills, the "ATV slobs" have completely ruined several ATV trails (not a single grain of the thin topsoil remains e.g. scarfed down to bedrock). So… they closed the trail(s). It's not unlikely that similar activity has/is occurring on other NF lands.

It's clear such activity needs regulation, that being the case… do you spend the limited budget "trying to catch the perps" or just simply close the trail(s) to travel.

It's obvious, closing them STOPS the destruction. Isn't that the point ?

The roads here in the Bighorn mtns that are open to travel are almost completely impassible because of atvs!

 

[nosualc]

I've got zero sympathy for road hunter slobs who are now limited in their choices to shoot game out of a pickup window. Same said for ATVs. Nobody is entitled to drive-up access to everything.

-nosualc

 

[GlennGTR1]

First off let me state that I am a truly dedicated outdoorsman, hunter, shooter and flyfisherman. The abuse I have witnessed here in western Washington of our national and state forests in recent years has been appauling. Trash dumping, carelessness resulting in wildfires, and poaching have taken their toll on our forests and land. I hunt road closure areas, yes... I walk into areas for hours sometimes to get to a decent hunt. The difference between road closure areas and open road areas is huge. I see no garbage, no signs of land abuse, quieter time in the woods, less over crowding, no signs of illegal activity such as forest product theft and the remains of deer and elk from poachers. The last two I find frequently on open roads. It is a sad thing to see the lack of respect for our wild places and it is the minority that has ruined it for the masses. The truth is.... we have to protect these areas from the minority so those of us that are responsible can still have places to hunt and fish or just enjoy the outdoors. I would rather spend time in an area that is clean and unspoiled as possible. I would rather not have to deal with the minority of jackasses who really do not care for the sport or are too lazy to make an effort to do it right. That is all...

Had that same arguement here from the WDNR on a piece of property purchased with taxpayer money. This all but made it impossible for us to hunt our coyote dogs there. Now, with my age and physical limitations, makes it nearly impossible for me to hunt or trap there at all. The problems that you cite as associated with open roads, are an enforcement problem. I saw this same mind set all through my schools years. In other words no one can do this or that, because one person abuses it. Thats Baloney Sausage. Punish that person, don't take it away from everyone else. With your line of reasoning, no one could own a gun, a car, or anything. Someone is always going to abuse the system. Deal with the source of the problem instead of making things miserable for everyone. JMO.

Problem again.... so many were abusing it, large tracts of land where people were making their own landfills, tons of garbage, not just a soda can or two, organized poaching rings, lots of land to patrol adequately to stop that kind of activity and it was rampant, seriously impacted the environemnt. For those that qualify for handicap status there is access through an application process. I have been in and run into these handicaped folks, they usually are responsible. Most hunters though are capable and for those a little walk wont kill them. Meth labs were found in trailers dumped daily along forest service roads as well, these cause a public safety hazard also... toxins leaking out of these things kill everything.

 

[GlennGTR1]

Same situation here in Arizona. I, for one, was glad to see it implemented. We have plenty of slobs here that have no regard for public land and they should be publicly horse whipped for the destruction they do.

Yeah....really.

And the small percentage of folks with "physical limitations" do not offset the good that limiting access does. Tough luck.

"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few"

Right on, right on... and we need to ban guns cuz the need for safety of the masses out weighs the needs of a few gun nuts! And the hell with the seniors who pay taxes to support these bits of lands.

And we should ban hunting and trapping, cuz the needs of the public to see the animals outweigh the needs of a few blood thirsty people to kill animals... and it goes on and on and on...

Solve the problem, don't make these pieces of public land the exclusive domain of a few.

That's what the gun banners and the Greenies want.

Those that are handicaped can get passes and keys for hunting purposes, they usually arent the ones causing the issue. I actually want to have a population of animals to hunt and anyone wanting to get out and off their butt to hunt can do so. If your unable they are more than willing here to help those that are handicaped. I hunt with a gentleman that is in his eighties and he walks without complain.

 

[GlennGTR1]

How anyone could turn this into an anti gun rant on a pro gun site is beyond me. I am ok with mental patients and criminals not having firearms... are we not all agreed on that? Are we not in agreement that conservation is a good thing? I would rather hump my butt off all day getting out a nice buck or elk than have to deal with tons of garbage, poison, criminals and slob hunters. If your handicaped I support you fully, if your lazy and out of shape.... get to walking.

 

[GlennGTR1]

We are talking about expanding road access. There is a ton of road access here already, way more than closed areas. Its a freaking zoo in hunting season. I'm all for it, but I'm also for areas closed to vehicles so the elk have some where to hide from the volley fire. Its pretty sick watching a heard run back and forth getting shot at from every direction and chased from the truck window. I dont want to ban it, but I dont want to have to be around it, so I like to hunt in area you have to hike in.

I have seen the same kind of run and gun action on elk herds here as well. The herd is scattered, some elk that arent legal to shoot end up being shot, safety goes out the window and it feels more like a mob sport than hunting.

 

[queen_stick]

the complaints about ATV's is interesting...

A LOT of people use public land to ride... shutting down these roads/trails is killing another sport indefinitely, not just during YOUR hunting season. I'm not for or against it, just stating a point...

I know people abuse public land (for many reasons)... that's the way she goes!

like others suggested, reprimand the individuals, not the majority.

 

[GlennGTR1]

the complaints about ATV's is interesting...

A LOT of people use public land to ride... shutting down these roads/trails is killing another sport indefinitely, not just during YOUR hunting season. I'm not for or against it, just stating a point...

I know people abuse public land (for many reasons)... that's the way she goes!

like others suggested, reprimand the individuals, not the majority.

Working in LE field I can tell you we do not have the resources even in wealthier states to patrol our national and state forests. It is a large number who are ruining it for those of us who actually care about our forests and a huntable wildlife population. The damage done is large in scale and can be easily seen when going into open road areas, trash is everywhere, orv trails deep and muddy, other crimes such as manufacture of meth are also evident. What do you do when its a large number doing this and you dont have the resources to deal with the issue? When was the last time you heard of an individual being prosecuted for dumping garbage on public lands??????