highplainsdrift
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Re: Transfer of Federal Lands to the States
We have launched a new facebook page to keep people abreast of issues relating to federal land transfer (which we oppose). Please visit and "like" our page. Thanks! https://www.facebook.com/WyomingSportsmenForFederalLands/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel592Views0likes0CommentsRe: Transfer of Federal Lands to the States
BoonHauler wrote: I had this link sent to me so I thought it would be good to post here. It's a YouTube clip worth taking the time to view it. Here's the link Using The Antiquities Act To Steal Your Land I watched the extremely biased video and have the following comments: To suggest the Malheur Refuge occupiers were patriots is offensive. They were domestic terrorists! To suggest one of them was shot down in cold blood is utter nonsense. That sounds like a "hands up, don't shoot" line to me. I'm not buying it! To suggest that the only people who want to retain/expand federal lands are progressives (Democrats) is inaccurate. I have been a Republican for decades and I want the federal government to retain/manage our federal lands. Most sportsmen are Republicans. Most western sportsmen hunt on federal land. Tens of thousands of sportsmen want federal lands to stay in federal hands. To cite a few examples where the federal government has abused the land and/or denied access and then use those examples to promote state or private ownership is shortsighted. State and private owners have a much longer record of abuse and/or denying access. How many signs have you seen on private property that say "Public Welcome!"? None of my comments should be construed as support for Harry Reid or Barack Obama. I seldom agree with either of them. I strongly encourage you (and others who may have viewed the video) to find a more balance source of information regarding federal land issues in the United States. It is extremely important that we all look past inflammatory rhetoric and use some common sense.594Views0likes0CommentsRe: Transfer of Federal Lands to the States
LenSatic wrote: Just read a story in the local paper about a 4th generation rancher who deeded the family ranch to the FS several years ago. So, since 1905, 4 families have owned this property and raised their children and grandchildren, earned a living, and lived their dream. Then this woman, who inherited it, decides to deed it to the Forest Service because someone might build a Wal-Mart Super Center on it! Of course she never considered that she may have deprived someone else from living their dream of owning a small ranch at the base of the Huachuca Mountains. And what did she get out of "deeding" it to the FS? Tax write-off maybe? Just asking. http://www.svherald.com/free_access/loving-the-ranching-lifestyle/article_ea761388-18c1-11e6-b479-abdb20b7a05a.html That property is now, forever, out of the ranching and lifelong dream inventory. And NO, Wal-Mart would not have even considered that land. LS In this day and age of tax cheats and welfare fraud, this lady is a breath of fresh air! She wants to give to all of us, rather than take. I applaud her decision to give her property to the Forest Service!592Views0likes0CommentsRe: Transfer of Federal Lands to the States
BoonHauler wrote: When discussing the state of Utah, I'd much rather see ALL federal public land handed over to the state, any day of the week! That would be a TERRIBLE mistake! So because the feds aren't perfect and you could lose SOME access due to their policies you want to give the land to the states who can't afford to manage them. Then the land will be sold and you will lose ALL access. That doesn't make sense. It is like cutting off your nose to spite yourself! A very good example is the wildlife refuge in Puerto Rico. A few misguided congressmen want to transfer it to Puerto Rico so they can pay off their debt. If the transfer takes place, the land will be sold in a heart beat. How much access to the land will people have then? It is not difficult to envision what will happen to our public lands if they are transferred to the states. I don't understand why you are struggling to see it. If you want our public lands privatized, just come right out and say so. If you don't want our public lands privatized then I suggest you quit jumping on every opportunity to criticize the feds. They aren't perfect, but they ARE our best hope.330Views0likes0CommentsRe: Transfer of Federal Lands to the States
BoonHauler wrote: I thought all we had to worry about was State Governments. Now your telling us it's the Feds? I never said ALL we had to worry about is state governments. Clearly Congress can do bad things too. This is one of them.329Views0likes0CommentsRe: Transfer of Federal Lands to the States
I just received this email (below) from Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. They are asking us to contact members of the House of Representatives to oppose the sale of a wildlife refuge in Puerto Rico. If the sale were to be approved, it would set a terrible precedent for federal lands in our neck of the woods. Please consider writing your congressman/woman. Thanks. BHA Members - Rep. Rob Bishop, chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, has slyly attached a measure that would enable the sale of the 3,100-acre Vieques National Wildlife Refuge in Puerto Rico to a bill aimed at resolving unrelated fiscal issues on the island. We need your help to stop this precedent-setting public land divestiture! Puerto Rico's dire fiscal woes simply should not be abused to advance the anti-public lands agenda of an out-of-touch few in Washington. While a national wildlife refuge in Puerto Rico may seem far removed from the public lands elk haunts and trout holes many of us frequent, its sale could have sweeping consequences for the places we enjoy closer to home. Please take a minute to contact your member of Congress at 202-224-3121 or http://www.contactingthecongress.org/ and tell them the following: Puerto Rico is currently $72 billion in debt and thus could never afford the management costs of the Vieques NWR, which is currently managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Handing over American public lands to Puerto Rico has but one possible result: a public lands sale. Puerto Rico never asked for this land. The Vieques National Wildlife Refuge is currently owned by every American, not the people of Puerto Rico. We all should have a say in the future ownership of our American public lands - and we believe strongly that our congressmen should vote to keep it public! Thanks for speaking up and for all that you do to help keep our public lands public. Tim Brass State Policy Manager 651-206-4669 Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is the sportsmen's voice for our wild public lands, waters and wildlife. Here is some more information about the proposed sale: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-3519902/US-official-warns-Puerto-Rico-resources-targeted-amid-crisis.html329Views0likes0CommentsRe: Transfer of Federal Lands to the States
I have tried multiple times to explain that the states cannot afford to manage MILLIONS of acres. As a result, they would have to sell some/most of the land to pay for the management of the remainder. Any land sold to private parties would be lost to public access. If we can't get access to it, then the argument of who is managing it best is a moot point. That seems like pretty simple logic to me. But to drive home the point, let me try a little political satire. I recently put together this 'recipe' for federal land transfer. Hope you enjoy it. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=223887441315525&set=a.111447952559475.1073741828.100010828117915&type=3&theater329Views0likes0CommentsRe: Transfer of Federal Lands to the States
fla-gypsy wrote: As a side thought, the Federal Govt rarely manages anything well and most conservation groups would exclude all human population from wilderness areas except for themselves of course. I think some development of all wilderness areas is reasonable so that the entire population has some access to them. If your advanced in age or not a physical specimen they are completely off limits to you. If it is indeed our land, make it accessible to all of us (reasonable fees expected). If not give it to the states. It is true that federal management is far from perfect. But giving the land to the states will result in a lot of land sales. We will have no access to those lands. So what do you want, less than perfect federal management or no access?329Views0likes0CommentsRe: Transfer of Federal Lands to the States
Idaho has sold 1.7 million acres of state land to private interests. Goodbye public access on those acres! http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2016-05-04/public-lands-wilderness/report-idaho-has-sold-1-7-million-acres-to-private-interests-since-statehood/a51728-1152Views0likes0Comments
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