Enjoy hunting in National Forests? Think again says the courts!

Chest Rockwell · Nov 1, 2010

http://www.ussportsmen.org/page.aspx?pid=2560

Court Decision Threatens Hunting on National Forest Lands

USSA Urges U.S. Forest Service to Fix Forest Planning Regulations
10/28/10

On October 26th, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) and a coalition of nineteen other leading conservation groups sent a letter to the U.S. Forest Service requesting that it rewrite certain regulations. That language was recently used by a Federal Court to render an anti-hunting decision.

The court ruling, by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, requires the Forest Service to consider banning hunting with guns on lands designated as “primitive” or “semiprimitive.” In its decision, the Court ruled that two parts of the Forest Service’s planning regulations required that the Forest Service consider banning gun hunting in these designated areas.

The Court determined that hunting with guns and the noise associated with gun hunting could harm the quality of the recreational experience of hikers, backpackers, and cross country skiers.

Second, the Court ruled that the Forest Service was required to consider closing these areas to gun hunting in places where there is other public, non-Forest land nearby that is open to gun hunting. This could require the Forest Service to close lands currently open for gun hunting when new state or federal hunting lands are opened.

Further, the Court’s depiction of hunting is almost as disappointing as the actual ruling itself. The Court commented that the Forest Service should consider whether birdwatchers should be able to enjoy these Forest lands “without ducking for the occasional gunshot.”

“This ruling could allow anti-hunters across the nation to file lawsuits seeking to close hunting on Forest lands by simply claiming that gun hunting disturbs their quiet use of the land or that there is other land nearby that is open for hunters to use.” said Rob Sexton, USSA vice president for government affairs. “We are urging the Forest Service to fix these misguided regulations."
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Marso · Nov 1, 2010

Bosh.

The part of the year when people are hunting is too cold for most bird watchers, I'd wager.

Paladin · Nov 1, 2010

“without ducking for the occasional gunshot.”
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If that quote was actually in the ruling, it's clear the judge was heavily biased against hunting from the outset.

Tamar Garish · Nov 1, 2010

It's not what you think.

The Forest Service is violating it's own forest and land use plans in this particular place. Areas of the forest are already supposed to be designated Primitive, non-motorized ect, to provide areas for a wide variety of activities. They have been allowing hunting everywhere but the parking lot, in defiance to their own filed plans. They made up numbers and all kinds of shenanigans...check it out yourself:

The Court Decision

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Enjoy hunting in National Forests? Think again says the courts!

Chest Rockwell I'm a big fuckin' dick.

Marso High speed, low drag.

Paladin Overjoyed Man of Liberty

Tamar Garish Wanna Snuggle? Deceased Member

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Enjoy hunting in National Forests? Think again says the courts!

Chest Rockwell I'm a big fuckin' dick.

Marso High speed, low drag.

Paladin Overjoyed Man of Liberty

Tamar Garish Wanna Snuggle? Deceased Member

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