Federal Proposal Will Eliminate Wildlife Habitat (West Virginia)

[Washington Hunter]

The federal government has recommended a plan for a West Virginia national forest that will devastate wildlife management and cripple sportsmen’s access to federal land.



The USDA Forest Service has proposed to expand the wilderness designation in the Monongahela National Forest to include an additional 27,706 acres. If Congress approves the designation, which the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and Gov. Joe Manchin oppose, critical wildlife management will be eliminated. The designation will also heavily restrict sportsmen’s access, allowing only traffic by foot or horseback.



“This is just one more example of how the federal government is trying to infringe upon hunters’ rights and diminish hunting opportunities,” said Bud Pidgeon, USSA president. “The USSA is working with members of Congress to make sure that hunting opportunities and wildlife conservation in West Virginia will not suffer.”



Expanding wilderness will take important forestland out of active management, depriving the areas of any future wildlife habitat improvements. Game and non-game species will become much less diverse and suffer greatly if active habitat management is eliminated.



The Monongahela National Forest encompasses nearly 920,000 acres in eastern West Virginia. There is currently 78,000 acres of wilderness areas in the forest.



Take Action! West Virginia sportsmen are urged to contact your U.S. congressmen and senators. Let them know you oppose additional wilderness designations in the Monongahela National Forest. Explain to them that the expansion will eliminate critical wildlife habitat management and severely restrict sportsmen’s access to federal hunting lands.



Sen. Robert C. Byrd
311 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3954



Sen. John D. Rockefeller
5331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-6472



U.S. Congresswoman Shelly Moore Capito
1431 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2711



U.S. Congressman Nick Rahall
2307 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3452



U.S. Congressman Alan B. Mollohan
2302 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4172

 

[Oak]

Gimme a break....

 

[Washington Hunter]

Yeah, I thought it was humorous too. I got it in an email from the U.S. Sportsman's Alliance. I don't understand how designating an area as wilderness could "devastate wildlife managment."

What do they do in a national forest to manage wildlife anyway, other than manage the people that hunt that wildlife?

It seems limiting easy access is the best way to manage wildlife to me. Unless the area they're talking about is already accessible by road, then I could see why they would be against it.

 

[Oak]

Yeah, I thought it was humorous too. I got it in an email from the U.S. Sportsman's Alliance. I don't understand how designating an area as wilderness could "devastate wildlife managment."

Maybe you should ask your buddy.

On another subject, how many of you guys are members of the USSA? And am curious if not why.

 

[Washington Hunter]

That's ok Oak. I wasn't looking for an answer. The answer is: it can't.

 

[Washington Hunter]

.............................................................

 

[shoots-straight]

Now that's a new angle from the resourch extraction industries. Get the sportsman to bite on the management thing..... What a joke. Can't wait for Ramituphisarse to comment on this!

 

[BigHornRam]

Shoots poorly,

I'm a big advocate for wilderness. If that's what the people in West Virginia want with this area. Just make sure the local people have a say in the mater. I doubt this area is anywhere near the true wilderness state that we are used to. Also I'm disapointed with the USSA's views on this. They are good with a lot hunter rights causes. This one they are losing a lot of credibility in my eyes.

 

[1_pointer]

What do they do in a national forest to manage wildlife anyway, other than manage the people that hunt that wildlife?

About the only thing I can think of a wilderness designation blocking is the use of mechanized equipment for vegetation manipulation. That's about all the USFS and BLM can do for game animals is improve the habitat or deter/prevent access.