Eliminate Idaho Fish & Game Rule Closing Trails Designated Open To OHVs

February 2012 Powersport News, Travel

BlueRibbon Coalition, Idaho Recreation Council and the Idaho State ATV Association urge riders to support legislation to establish that Idaho Fish & Game does not have authority to restrict, by rule, the use of trails on federal land that are designated as open by the federal land manager (e.g., BLM, USFS).

THE PROBLEM: In approximately one-third of the management units in Idaho, Fish & Game has promulgated a rule prohibiting hunters from using OHVs on trails on federal lands. These trails are designated as open to OHV use by the federal land manager. This rule has created tremendous confusion among the OHV and hunting community, fails to address conflicts between hunters on public lands and has generated animosity between sportsmen. The rule is unfair and unwarranted because:

· Fish & Game lacks authority to regulate travel on federal lands;

· The rule was initially created to prohibit off-trail travel-off-trail travel is now prohibited on all federal lands, so the rule is no longer needed (except in rare instances like sand dunes);

· The rule does not provide for a non-motorized experience because recreational use or hunters not after big game are allowed to use the trails;

· The rule undermines the NEPA planning process on federal lands that results in established travel plans and designated routes;

· Because the rule does not apply to recreational trail users, enforcement of the rule is difficult and often results in unnecessarily interference with innocent users' exercise of 2^nd Amendment rights.

THE SOLUTION: A legislative solution exists to correct this problem that Fish & Game refuses to correct on its own. The proposed legislation would, quite simply, provide that Fish & Game has no authority to restrict the use of motor vehicles, such as OHVs, on federal lands. Existing restrictions related to shooting from OHVs, or chasing animals with OHVs, would remain in effect. Travel designations and restrictions on federal land should only be made by the federal land manager. Recreationists fought long and hard to keep these roads open year around.

Those interested in helping fix this problem are asked to show up Monday, Feb. 13 to a meeting at Idaho's capitol to be heard on the issue. The meeting is in room EW40 at 1:30 p.m.

If you're an Idaho resident and want to let your state representative know your feelings on this issue, contact them at the following e-mail addresses:

jawood@house.idaho.gov JoAn Wood

Lbarrett@house.idaho.gov Lenore Barrett

geskridge@house.idaho.gov George Eskridge

draybould@house.idaho.gov Dell Raybould

Sbedke@house.idaho.gov Scott Bedke

kandrus@house.idaho.gov Ken Andrus

fwood@house.idaho.gov Fred Wood

mhagedorn@house.idaho.gov Marv Hagedorn

dharwood@house.idaho.gov Dick Harwood

jvanderwoude@house.idaho.gov John Vander woude

mgibbs@house.idaho.gov Marc Gibbs

dpence@house.idaho.gov Donna Pence