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http://www.atvidaho.info/alerts.php?a_id=36Ribbon Alert
BlueRibbon Coalition Idaho Land Use Update
Dear Idaho Action Alert Subscribers,
I wanted to alert everyone regarding an issue that is hitting the media in Idaho. This is an important issue concerning a regulation closing of Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management trails to certain motorized vehicles.
This regulation has not been promulgated by the US Forest Service, nor by the BLM, but by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDF&G).
This regulation applies only to hunters and applies only to trails, not roads.
What you'll likely to read in the media is that this is a conflict between hunters and ATV users. That's not at all true, but I guess it fits with the assumption of those who are un-educated -- or more likely -- with reporters who just want to create controversy to sell newspapers.
What this issue is NOT about:
Let me set this straight right off the bat. This issue is not about the effect vehicle use has on wildlife habitat.
The effectiveness of wildlife habitat is a combination of a great many factors, including human disturbance, climate, vegetation composition age and class, and the availability of water. The impacts of human disturbance, whether by hikers, hunters, mountain bikers or ATV riders is addressed in land use plans.
If someone tells you the IDF&G's regulation is about ATV's and their impacts on wildlife, that's a sure sign that person has an agenda, or an axe to grind.
What this issue IS about:
There are two driving forces behind this issue. One is about enforcement of existing vehicle use regulations. The second is about the desire for a non-motorized hunting experience. BRC believes both issues are legitimate, and we are working with members of the sportsmen community to address them.
IDF&G's Regulation:
The way the Fish and Game is choosing to address these issues is misguided. BRC is hopeful the agency will re-think their strategy in addressing the legitimate issues associated with hunting and ATV use.
On the IDF&G website the agency justifies its regulation by stating:
Question: Why did the Fish and Game adopt rules limiting the use of motorized vehicles while hunting?
Answer: The rules are in response to many hunters, who, over the last 10 years, requested that something be done about the increase in off-road travel, particularly by ATVs, during hunting season. Fish and Game has the authority to regulate use of motor vehicles while hunting. Landowners, including the Bureau of Land Management, United States Forest Service, Department of State Lands, and private landowners, regulate vehicle use on their property. The Fish and Game rules are an attempt to reduce conflict between hunters by limiting off-road travel.
I'm going to resist the temptation to make fun of this statement, but I trust you can see the contradiction regarding who has jurisdiction over roads and trails on public lands.
IDF&G has claimed it has "authority" over motor vehicles that are being used on routes under the jurisdiction of federal land management agencies. They make this claim by defining ATV's and motorcycles as a "method of take." That adds these vehicles to a list that includes such things as rifles, shotguns and fly rods.
The Fish and Game claims their rule is an attempt to reduce conflict. Sadly, their rule has resulted in creating conflict by setting up a situation where it is legal for me, as an OHV rider to travel on a trail, but not legal for my neighbor, as a hunter to travel on the same trail.
The public depends on the consistent application of lawful rules and regulations. BRC believes this rule and its implementation is actually resulting in increased conflict, controversy and confusion regarding travel management on Idaho's National Forests and public lands.
What is BRC going to do about it?
As is our way of things, BRC is aggressively addressing the legitimate issues surrounding vehicle use and hunting.
We are also aggressively opposing those who would attempt to use those legitimate issues to drive a wedge between the OHV community and the sportsmen community.
Toward those ends, BRC and the Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife - Idaho (SFW-Idaho) have formulated a five step action plan to cooperatively address these issues.
In addition, BRC has asked for legislative oversight regarding both the effectiveness and the legality of IDF&G's rule. It is our hope that legislative oversight will encourage the IDF&G to promulgate lawful rules that address legitimate issues and not proceed with misguided restrictions that increase conflict among forest users.
How you can help:
First and foremost, you can help by resisting those who would use this issue to drive wedges between the sportsmen and OHV communities. If you are a hunter, I encourage you to join an OHV group like BRC, Gem State ATV Association (http://www.gemstateatv.org) or Idaho Trail Machine Association as well as Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife (http://www.sfwsfh.org//idahosfw.html).
By joining both an OHV association and a sportsmen association you show solidarity and support for real solutions to real issues.
Additional action items on IDF&G's plans to increase the areas covered by their regulation is on Gem State's excellent website. Click on the link and take action: http://www.gemstateatv.org/alerts.htm
You can learn more by reading Tom Glass' excellent op-ed printed in the February 28, 2006, edition of the Idaho Statesman:
Tom Glass: F&G, ATV concerns not so different
http://www.idahostatesman.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060228/NEWS0503/602280339/1055
Finally, you can support BRC and SFW-Idaho's Five Step Action Plan:
Action Item 1: Ethic Message
Pursuant to the existing Memorandum Of Understanding between the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDP&R) and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDF&G), the organizations will assist the agencies in developing and distributing a more effective ethic message specifically targeting hunters who utilize ATV's.
The organizations will encourage the IDF&G to publish ethic information in the proclamation, as well as distribute ethic materials at other outlets such as sporting goods stores and ATV dealers.
Action Item 2: Travel Regulations/Maps
The organizations will encourage the IDF&G to notify all tag purchasers of the existence of the relevant travel regulations and the manner of obtaining the same. In units where current travel regulations are 'limited to designated roads, trails and areas' the organizations will work with IDF&G to make available a current travel map for applicable big game units.
Action Item 3: Update Travel Plans
The organizations will support federal land managing agencies to move to the 'motorized travel limited to designated roads, trails and areas' paradigm. The organizations will support formulating travel regulations that are consistent with federal, state and local laws.
Action Item 4: Law Enforcement
The organizations will support enforcement of travel regulations that are consistent with federal, state and local laws. The organizations will support cooperation and coordination between the IDP&R and the IDF&G, pursuant to the existing MOU, for law enforcement efforts focused on the hunting seasons.
Action Item 5: Wildlife Enhancement Projects
The organizations will assist the IDF&G, the IDP&R and other stakeholders in implementing habitat enhancement projects that benefit wildlife such as noxious weed control in order to benefit Idaho's wildlife.
Date Posted: 2006-03-02
Last date for action: 2006-03-30
