+1
This is not congressionally designated wilderness that we are talking about; it is "BLM wilderness". So, yeah there will be some restrictions but it is BLM for he@ls sake. In my mind this is a good move to have "a wild area" but not wilderness. Managers can still manage the land(burn/let burn, treat weeds, use mechanical devices, etc.)without the restrictions of "designated wildeness". They might not be able to build wind mills and build roads everywhere but it just adds to the spectum of public lands we have as citizens of this country IMO.
You may or may not be able to drive your wheeler there, but at least you will have some habitat (IMO, the single most important element of good animals) for the game for future generations of hunters to enjoy.
Although I was in favor of the 2012 changes in UT deer hunt, I still don't think that this is going to produce the "turn-around" people want to see. Simply put, we/they shoot does, we build houses in critical habitat, we drive vehicle through critical habitat, we chase them year-long (scout, hunt, horn hunt), there are too many people that deserve everything (IE-"that's my deer" or " I'm rich, I deserve that"), there is too much money involved, so on and so forth!
I hate people that just #####, so I will give you a solution with this rant:
1. Get Involved--it is easy to sit behind your computer and say that "they" don't listen, but how many public meeting have you been to? It is easy to blame DH hunters for having or expecting more oportunity than you, but how much work have you done to enhance or help manage wildlife. How many times have you called F&G when you found a dead-head that could have been poached? Maybe nothing ever happens, or maybe they don't seem to care, but maybe it is the break they need.
2. Stay on the Trail! I own and ride a wheeler, but he#l there are a lot of roads out there and a lot of people that are ruining it for their fellow hunter. It is simple, if there is no trail there or if it is closed to motor vehicles then don't go there. It is far easier to close things off then to open them back up to motor vehicles.
3. Think about your actions. I horn hunt, I hunt, I scout, but I think about my impacts when I am out there. I dont' think that my s#$T don't stink, but I do "think" when I am out there. I think about my actions and how i may effect other's experiences or impact game. As hunters we need to think about our accumlative effects. When there are too many poeple in the feild doing what "I do" then the "managers" my need to manage it. If that mean resticting it so be it ( as much as it pisses me off to say that). In nature it is all a game of numbers!
4. Walk the talk. If you want bigger deer, don't shoot the smaller ones! I will admit that I do not live on deer meat year-round; I used to shoot the first buck I saw. I guess I have changed. I want to shoot big deer, I do not want a 2-point, I do like watching the same deer mature. I, like many (I think?)I want to hunt deer and see deer. I want to cut a fresh track that makes your heart jump. I want to earn a chance at a big buck. I want a place to do this with my children!
More quality habitat equals more quality game.
3p2