Changing the Rules on National Lands?

[PA Elkoholic]

Hi All,
If you are a DIY hunter, the article below from the Casper Tribune in WY may be of interest to you. It appears that the US Forest Service is trying to change the rules about access to forest lands to benefit outfitters and guides, to the detriment of self-guided recreationists including DIY hunters! Is there any truth to this? Click the the link below:

http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2007/12/23/news/wyoming/6802037b59171f05872573b900269201.prt

[tangozulu]

My advise is to keep your eye on this ball.
Here in BC, Guide Outfitters have full time lobbiests working on taking away from the public to put in their own pocket. This in the form of restricting access to public land or increasing their own access to quotas.
Money always talks

[game4lunch]

As I read it, they are "proposed changes". And not far off from what the Nat'l For. is already doing.

Let's back up a bit and look at what policies have already been in place. Both as a DIY resident hunter and former guide for a licensed outfitter, I know the National Forrest has always required Outfitters, for-profit or non, to apply for, and payfor and receive written permission to operate in National Forrest lands. Both Wilderness and non-Wilderness depending on the Outfitters wishes. This is done not to prevent anybody elsefrom entering their area, but just other Outfitters. It is a way of keeping the competition out of an outfitters preferred area, and limits the over-use of public lands.
Capice?
Here in Wyoming at least, it has been G&F law for many years that no out-of-state hunter can hunt in Nat'l Forrest Wilderness Areas unless accompanied by an outfitter.
The ONLY reason the G&F does this, is the result of an agreement they made several years ago with the Outfitters Assoc. in order to give Outfitters some exclusivity. HOWEVER! The G&F also explains that "ALL RESIDENT LICENSED HUNTERS POSSES 'OUTFITTER' STATUS AND CAN LEGALLY ACCOMPANY A NON-RESIDENT INTO WILDERNESS AREAS TO HUNT."

I don't see how it can, or would, effect you next time you come out here to hunt, hike, run the rapids, etc. Unless you wanted to do that in a Wilderness Area. Which you couldn't do anyway! I'll tell you what I tell all of you out-of-staters who holler about the "Wilderness rules",
"They ain't gonna do anything to ya if'n they catch you anyway! The Nat'l Forrest and the G&F don't have enough law enforcement people to keep out all the poachers and lawbreakers as it is. You trapesin' around where you shouldn't be just doesn't ruffle enough feathers to do anything about it."
That is not a direct quote, but did come from a Wyoming G&F game warden.