Will this expand hunting and fishing opportunities?

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TRUMP SIGNS BIGGEST WILDERNESS PROTECTION BILL IN DECADE, DESIGNATES 375,000 NEW ACRES OF PROTECTED LAND

BY BENJAMIN FEARNOW ON 3/13/19 AT 11:13 AM EDT U.S.

President Donald Trump signed the country's largest wilderness preservation legislation in a decade, providing widespread protections for Joshua Tree and Death Valley national parks.

Trump's signing of the National Resources Management Act, or S.47, marked a surprisingly overwhelming bipartisan congressional effort and began with the environmental protection bill introduced by Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski in January. The bill expands federally protected land, where there can be no logging, drilling, mining or road construction, and establishes 375,000 new acres of wilderness across California, Oregon, New Mexico and Utah. The bill passed the Senate with a vote of 92-8 and the House with a vote of 362-63.

In another rare turn of events, the White House did not issue a statement or remarks from Trump after he signed the bill into law Tuesday. Murkowski posted a video to Twitter showing Trump gifting her office with the Sharpie pen he used to sign legislation.

The legislation creates recreational benefits and added security to visitors and explorers of the national parks through the facilitation of biking, hiking and numerous other outdoor activities.

"We built it through a team effort that drew strong support from both parties in both chambers. Today is a triumph for good process and good policy, and this bill is a win for Alaskans and all Americans," Murkowski tweeted Tuesday, lauding the bipartisan effort in Congress to pass the bill with overwhelming numbers. She noted Washington Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell worked with her on the lands package bill for several years.

President Donald Trump signed the country’s largest wilderness preservation legislation in a decade, the National Resources Management Act, or S.47, marking a surprisingly overwhelming bipartisan congressional effort. The bill passed the Senate with a vote of 92-8 and the House with a vote of 362-63.

The bill, the “John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act," is the most encompassing federal wilderness law passed in the U.S. since March 2009. At that time, President Barack Obama signed legislation which designated 2 million acres of new protected wilderness across the Sierra Nevada and California desert regions.

The lands package bill included the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which protects 30,000 acres of old-growth rainforest and 250 miles of waterways along Oregon's coastline.

The bill was touted by Mojave Desert conservationists and also created a new national monument in honor of 431 people who were killed during the 1928 collapse of the St. Francis Dam near Santa Clarita, California, near Los Angeles.

But Trump's signing of the bill was partially overshadowed by environmentalist groups angered that his proposed federal budget cuts funding by 31 percent for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA. His proposed budget also reduces funding for the U.S. Department of the Interior by 14 percent and completely eliminates a $7,500 tax credit given to owners of electric vehicles. Additionally, the president named a former coal lobbyist, Andrew Wheeler, as head of the EPA.

https://www.newsweek.com/wilde...FUn-OmJUB5SPGphw7srQ

I devil is in the details.

More wilderness does not always mean more hunting opportunities.


Could very well mean limited access except for those who are very physically fit.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
I devil is in the details.

More wilderness does not always mean more hunting opportunities.


Could very well mean limited access except for those who are very physically fit.

Well, what is stopping anyone from being physically fit?

You can always use horses as well.

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
I devil is in the details.

More wilderness does not always mean more hunting opportunities.


Could very well mean limited access except for those who are very physically fit.

Well, what is stopping anyone from being physically fit?

You can always use horses as well.

Lack of desire to exercise and beer

I just saw this piece too:

Donald Trump Jr., Sen. Daines: American sportsmen have reason to celebrate new access to public lands

Donald Trump Jr. By Donald Trump Jr., Sen. Steve Daines | Fox News

President Trump just scored a huge win for sportsmen and women by signing a sweeping, bipartisan bill that will dramatically loosen restrictions on hunting and fishing on public lands. As avid lovers of the outdoors, this is a big win for our families, as well as for the families across Montana and this nation who cherish their time outside as much as ours do.

Named after the late John D. Dingell, the longest-serving member of Congress in history and an avid sportsman who passed away last month at the age of 92, S. 47 includes numerous provisions that not only make it easier for sportsmen to access public lands, but also make it harder for the government to close off those lands for their use.

Most importantly, the legislation permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Plain and simple, LWCF exists to expand public access to federal lands. Currently, an estimated 10 million acres are inaccessible to the public. This means only a select few sportsmen and women can access some of the best hunting and fishing opportunities our country has to offer.

The new law also takes significant steps toward ensuring that future federal officials cannot arbitrarily restrict sporting activities on federal lands, clarifying that all federal lands are open to hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting unless otherwise designated by the Secretary of the Interior.

The Trump administration has been an unfaltering friend to sportsmen like us. Unfortunately, future administrations may not be so well-disposed to that lifestyle. That’s why it’s so important this package of bills are now law – to prevent any future effort to prohibit hunting and fishing on lands that are owned by the American people.

This is yet another example this administration’s commitment to keeping its promises. The importance of access to public lands was a major focus for both of us when we were on the campaign trail together in 2017 and 2018, and we couldn’t be happier with what we’ve achieved since then.

For us, two people who have spent countless hours and days enjoying our public lands in Montana and across the country, this law protects our way of life. This law, which protects our access to some of the most amazing parts of Big Sky Country, and other states in all corners of our country, will allow us to instill our love for the outdoors in our kids and grandkids.

Thanks to S. 47, the Interior Secretary must consult with state wildlife officials and allow for public notice and comment before closing off any parcel of public land to sporting activities. Temporary closures are limited to 180 days and can only be renewed up to three times, but must also be narrowly justified. Permanent closures, meanwhile, require the Secretary to extensively document the rationale for the decision, how the Department responded to concerns raised through public comments, and demonstrate that closing the land was necessary.

Further, the new law also authorizes the Secretary to lease or permit the use of public lands for shooting ranges, which currently have to navigate a complex web of local, state, and federal regulations, and frequently face organized opposition from anti-gun activists.

This bipartisan public lands package is a tremendous victory for us, our children, and our grandchildren. We applaud President Trump for this new standard of access to our public lands – something that all of us sportsmen and women can appreciate.

https://www.foxnews.com/opinio...7M_jifGfA3N_YbgMLdFo

quote:

Well, what is stopping anyone from being physically fit?

Age, disease, accident a just a few that could make one less fit then they would like to be.

Whether or not I get to use the land it is comforting to know that some places can only be reached with great effort, that is what makes some places so special and a true wild experience without other people.
Not every bit of Public land has to be accessible by ATV's and side by side UTV's.

Bad knee's have kept me out of where we hunted
for 35 years. Can't ride due to the knee pain
either. Sure as hell can't walk.

Restrictions on W/A's keeps a great many folks
off those lands.

Where we hunted: Mineral Creek W/A. Rancher there had a headgate 100yds past his line that
irrigated 77 acres since 1920 or before. Soon as that bill passed the Forest Service came in and blasted it out. That dried up his upper field.

Not long after that, they dropped his range permit for 53 cow/calf pair.
Hey, no water=no hay, no permit=no cows.
No reason to own the ranch.

So he sold out and moved to another area and bought a place on a big ditch. That whole valley is dried up and turned into prairie dog towns now. Take a look on G/Earth. His place was the only one on Mineral Creek. 525 acres in all. Totally dried up now.
So are the two other ranches in the valley.

AZ: you need to check into things before spouting off: "ride horses", not everyone can
any longer.

George

quote:

Originally posted by georgeld:
Bad knee's have kept me out of where we hunted
for 35 years. Can't ride due to the knee pain
either. Sure as hell can't walk.

Restrictions on W/A's keeps a great many folks
off those lands.

Where we hunted: Mineral Creek W/A. Rancher there had a headgate 100yds past his line that
irrigated 77 acres since 1920 or before. Soon as that bill passed the Forest Service came in and blasted it out. That dried up his upper field.

Not long after that, they dropped his range permit for 53 cow/calf pair.
Hey, no water=no hay, no permit=no cows.
No reason to own the ranch.

So he sold out and moved to another area and bought a place on a big ditch. That whole valley is dried up and turned into prairie dog towns now. Take a look on G/Earth. His place was the only one on Mineral Creek. 525 acres in all. Totally dried up now.
So are the two other ranches in the valley.

AZ: you need to check into things before spouting off: "ride horses", not everyone can
any longer.

George

I have hunted wilderness areas by backpacking and using horses. Honestly, if you can't walk or ride a horse, the solution is to hunt where you can use ATVs.

I am going to be 60 in three months. I run 4 miles every other day at an 8 min/mile pace and step on the scale every day. I try to keep my weight at 147; if I am heavier, I either exercise more or eat less and/or drink less alcohol (amazing how a beer or two day packs on the pounds). Will I be able to hunt wilderness areas when I am 70? Maybe...maybe not. There comes a time when we are just too old, and I am ok with letting others have a wilderness experience that I may not be able to do. But for now, I do everything I can to make sure I am best able to hunt.

quote:

I am going to be 60 in three months. I run 4 miles every other day at an 8 min/mile pace and step on the scale every day. I try to keep my weight at 147; if I am heavier, I either exercise more or eat less and/or drink less alcohol (amazing how a beer or two day packs on the pounds). Will I be able to hunt wilderness areas when I am 70? Maybe...maybe not. There comes a time when we are just too old, and I am ok with letting others have a wilderness experience that I may not be able to do. But for now, I do everything I can to make sure I am best able to hunt.

I am older then you I did more exercise then you until 3 years ago when lymes laid me low.

I use to think a 8 mile pace was walking speed. under 6:30 was fairly normal for me. Days I didn't run I bike 25 to 30 miles lifted weights ect.

I haven't drank 4 beers in 40 years.

I use to be self righteous about others not exercising also.

Funny how ones perception changes.

I am fighting to get back.

But remember your one tick bite/fall/twisted knee ect ect from not being able to do what you want to do.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:

quote:

I am going to be 60 in three months. I run 4 miles every other day at an 8 min/mile pace and step on the scale every day. I try to keep my weight at 147; if I am heavier, I either exercise more or eat less and/or drink less alcohol (amazing how a beer or two day packs on the pounds). Will I be able to hunt wilderness areas when I am 70? Maybe...maybe not. There comes a time when we are just too old, and I am ok with letting others have a wilderness experience that I may not be able to do. But for now, I do everything I can to make sure I am best able to hunt.

I am older then you I did more exercise then you until 3 years ago when lymes laid me low.

I use to think a 8 mile pace was walking speed. under 6:30 was fairly normal for me. Days I didn't run I bike 25 to 30 miles lifted weights ect.

I haven't drank 4 beers in 40 years.

I use to be self righteous about others not exercising also.

Funny how ones perception changes.

I am fighting to get back.

But remember your one tick bite/fall/twisted knee ect ect from not being able to do what you want to do.

Like I said PD, the day I can't walk is the day I leave wilderness hunting to others.

In many areas of AZ you can hardly walk a mile in forested National Forest (desert is also NF) without hitting a road. I once hunted in 12B for deer and ATVs were buzzing up and down the roads from sunrise to sunset. Might be your cup of tea, but not mine.

So you are saying you are going to
give up hunting all together.

Not in my planning even if I can't hump a 60lb pack like I did 3 years.

I still find reasonable places to hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
So you are saying you are going to
give up hunting all together.

Not in my planning even if I can't hump a 60lb pack like I did 3 years.

I still find reasonable places to hunt.

Not saying that PD, but if I can't ride a horse or backpack, I won't hunt wilderness areas. Most of my hunting is not wilderness in the legal sense.

quote:

Not saying that PD, but if I can't ride a horse or backpack, I won't hunt wilderness areas. Most of my hunting is not wilderness in the legal sense.

Exactly what I am saying but the more area they close off to vehicle traffic..

The less area is available when you get to that point.

The more crowded it becomes.

The whole idea of wilderness is to keep people out.

How convenient.

And you lot are turning a blind eye to him allowing oil drilling in an Alaskan National Park!!??

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
How convenient.

And you lot are turning a blind eye to him allowing oil drilling in an Alaskan National Park!!??

You drill for oil where the oil is located. Simple.

People who live in comfort make decisions unbothered by their non-memory of when we did not. Shameful our lack of institutional memorial untouched by memory of how we got here.

I remember when there were no 4 wheelers or side by sides.

The Artic wildlife refuge is the size of 2 of our smaller states out here in the east, and the ONLY place they are looking to drill is a area not to big, I'm thinking under 12 acres, right out in the marsh where nothing lives etc anyway. Drilling not going to hurt the area. Caribou right now, calve at Prudhoe bay area. Liberal no drilling types pretend the mountain area involved and it isn't.

George now 75 and one knee replaced and another one to go. Then he'll maybe be able to get out and hunt. NO reason to let folks on ATVs etc in wilderness areas. They mostly don't go there to hunt, just run around and destroy the area. I'm 77 and will walk in, and enjoy not having a lot of competition. If someone a real hunter, should be willing to get out and walk. Too many of todays "hunters" want to be lazy and not put anything into hunting, just want to "go out and shoot something". Got to realize to, before this legislation was signed the agencies attitude, NO hunting at all.

I think it’s great
If I cant do it one day, I’ll deal with it then