Ridecamp: Re: [RC] [RC] Hunting Season

> OK, so that means those who pay the most get to use public lands and
> those  who apparently pay less don't?  If that's true I wonder what
> would happen  if hunting revenues had to support public lands *fully*
> for the months of  the year that they use the land.  I doubt hunting
> revenues bring in that  much money!

Actually, Lif, hunting revenues are quite substantial.

> If this situation was reversed would it work (this is a method I use to
> check lots of arguments):  Do public lands get closed down to outside
> use  when an endurance ride or a bike race takes place over it?

Yes, the area involved often gets closed to other users for the duration
of the event.  Whereas very few places are closed to other users during
hunting seasons, in my experience.

> If someone would point out that endurance
> ride fees for  public land use are much less than hunting revenues, then
> I'm thinking that  if might makes right ("count the money") then we
> should really count the  money.  Do hunting revenues bring in more to
> maintain public lands than  *other tax dollars*?

First of all, hunting fees are not tax dollars.  They represent actual
user fees, just like timber sales, grazing fees, trailhead fees, etc.  In
most areas, the revenue brought in by hunting may actually surpass the
monies brought in by timber and grazing.

>If not, how is it fair
> that other financial  supporters of public lands cannot use those lands
> part of the year?

We've put on and attended numerous endurance rides that are permitted in
areas during active hunting seasons.  By and large, public lands are NOT
closed due to hunting, unless there is a specific area where there is
sufficient conflict that it merits local closure.

> I'm not a hunter and don't
> see  why I should pay to support their recreational use of MY land!

In truth, Lif, they pay enough that they are likely subsidizing YOUR use
of the land.

Heidi



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