Washington State hunters please read:

[jmden]

Washington State hunters please read:

http://nwsportsmanmag.com/editors-blog/mt-baker-snoqualmie-nf-districts-travel-plan-notable/

Take your blood pressure meds first.

These are areas my family has used for years and years and now they will be essentially closed year around. Wells Creek Rd. is already closed November through March or April already for the large herd of mountain goats that winter there, not that you could get up there anyway then. Don't forget the Mt. Baker Ski Area a couple of miles away has the world's record for snowfall in one year. Most of these high places aren't accessed until well into July anyway, which means these areas are effectively closed year around now.

The local tribes have already used their attorneys to work their way into co-managing the Nooksack Elk Herd due to a judges interpretation of treaties made 140 years or so ago, something that is causing wildlife managers and farmers much more trouble as I have learned first hand. There seems to be no end to these 'sovereign tribes' 'special rights'. They already have incredible big game seasons much different and longer than 'regular people' and while if I ever draw a tag for goat, moose or big horn, for instance, which is likely to never happen, I'll only be able to shoot one in a lifetime in this state. Tribal members can go buy a tag over the counter. I talked to one member who did that for goat last year and shot a nice billy a few days later...easy as that. They already can have casinos, etc. on their land that aren't legal in the rest of the state, etc. Now, they have attorneys working very hard for them to exploit every possible 'right' they can. The effect, however, is creating more and more ill will against them as they are not seemingly functioning as 'members of a community' but exploiting everything they can and reducing opportunity and access for the rest of us that live here too. It feels like the rest of us are the ones being discriminated against.

Please call and write:

District Ranger Erin Uloth
Mt. Baker Ranger District
810 State Route 20
Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284

360-856-5700

 

[Barrelnut]

So, they are closing the roads on national forest lands to recreational traffic but allowing tribal access on those same roads. That is basically giving them the land! Are the tribes gonna maintain these roads? Bet ya not. And even if they did, I think this plan is illegal.

We have a lot of the same issues in Oregon. Tribal members on public land with very generous hunting privileges are decimating game in some sections of the NF in Oregon. Oregon Fish and Game turns a blind eye to it and doesn't publicise it at all. There really is nothing they can do anyway as the treaties are a federal thing. But at least they haven't turned public land over to them 'yet'.

Thanks for posting.

 

[HARPERC]

This state surrendered to the tribes many years ago. Some of it is understandable, a lot of it is just the old fashioned corruption we're seeing boil over nationally.

Most are completely detached from public land use, and as long as the major scenic highways are open their desire to participate in the outdoors has been satisfied.

Sadly, the casino experience suffices for most, and the loss of opportunities for other activities goes unnoticed.

 

[jmden]

So, they are closing the roads on national forest lands to recreational traffic but allowing tribal access on those same roads. That is basically giving them the land! Are the tribes gonna maintain these roads? Bet ya not. And even if they did, I think this plan is illegal.

We have a lot of the same issues in Oregon. Tribal members on public land with very generous hunting privileges are decimating game in some sections of the NF in Oregon. Oregon Fish and Game turns a blind eye to it and doesn't publicise it at all. There really is nothing they can do anyway as the treaties are a federal thing. But at least they haven't turned public land over to them 'yet'.

Thanks for posting.

You are right. Managing those road systems that way is essentially giving the tribes more land. Land that was not agreed to in treaties.

The US Representative in the area affected is Suzan Delbene:

https://delbene.house.gov/contact-me/email-me

Also, US Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray can be emailed at:

https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/contact/email/form

https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactme


If this gains precedence here or elsewhere, and folks don't fight back, you can expect the issue to be at your own front door at some point. Write an email. Call.