PDA

View Full Version : G&F Land Management Meetings (We need YOUR participation)


1BLKJP
04-09-2007, 10:51 PM
Hi All,

I was just alerted to these information sessions below. WE NEED people to show up at these meetings and stress the concerns that we have across the state. G&F are not land managers, however they have a large stake in the land management processes for several reasons. We are asking for some REAL participation at these meetings so that we can drive home to G&F that we do recreate in washes. That people hunt in washes. We need to stress to them that access to our public lands are as important to us as the activities that we all participate in on those lands.

I also implore all of you to PM Chris (My1stJeep) or myself with any area's of concern that you know of wherever it is that you live. We want coverage for the entire state. We are going to use the information to try and compile some formal Q&A talking points for these meetings. G&F needs to be on our side in regards to public land management. Hopefully we can show up in force with our red shirts and remind them that we are a MAJOR user of public land and that we expect them to support our open access.

Since these meetings begin on Monday the 16th I would like to definitely express our concern in putting together some information as quickly as possible. And please remember not to put the information up on this form itself unless you are confirming the fact that you are attending one of the sessions or that you are sending me a message.

If you like you can also send information to Chris and I thru email. Send any to 1blkjp@gmail.com or my1stjeep@excite.com


---------------------------------------



Learn about federal land management planning efforts around the state
April 5, 2007


Arizona Game and Fish Department to hold informational meetings on how to become involved in the process

The USDA Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are revising land use management plans and travel management plans statewide. These plans include updated guidelines and rules on how public lands are to be managed (including what activities are permitted), and how and where motorized travel should occur.

The plans could potentially include proposed alternatives that change the way you currently enjoy public lands, particularly with regard to:

Vehicular access and transportation
Designation of open and closed roads
Dispersed camping and/or recreation
Motorized retrieval of lawfully taken big game by hunters
Public input process

Each planning effort includes a public process for providing comments so that your issues are considered. The different Forest Service districts and BLM field offices are in various phases of the planning efforts. More information can be found on the USDA Forest Service (Southwestern Region) and Bureau of Land Management (Arizona) Web sites.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department has been working, and will continue to work, to ensure that wildlife habitats, wildlife management, and wildlife-based recreation are considered in each planning effort. However, the public must also be engaged throughout the entire process to ensure that issues important to you are considered.

Informational meetings on how to become engaged in the process

The Arizona Game and Fish Department will host a series of meetings across the state to provide an overview of the Forest Service and BLM planning processes and how you can become engaged.

How do you know if you should be engaged? Review the Forest Service and/or BLM proposed alternatives and ask yourself the following questions:

Access and roads

Where do I go to enjoy the outdoors, and how do I access those areas?
Which roads should remain open and which should be closed?
Will these areas be available to me in the new plan?
What areas are important to access for hunting, wildlife viewing, etc.?
What modes of transport do I enjoy to access those areas?
Camping and recreation

Where and how do I camp now?
Where and how will I be able to camp once these plans are final?
Will I be able to choose my own campsite, or will I be limited to identified sites only?
Will I be able to collect firewood, or will I have to bring it in?
Hunting and game retrieval

How am I able to retrieve downed big game currently? (Motorized, non-motorized, etc.)
Will I be able to camp near where I hunt?
How will the revised plans change or modify those allowances?
Note: Certain designations on BLM or Forest Service lands may dictate the approach to these issues, such as congressionally designated wilderness, national monuments, etc.

Meeting schedule

Informational meetings are scheduled for the following dates:

Monday, April 16, 6-9 p.m., Mesa, Arizona Game and Fish Department Mesa regional office, 7200 E. University Drive.


Tuesday, April 17, 6-9 p.m., Flagstaff, Arizona Game and Fish Department Flagstaff regional office, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road.


Monday, April 23, 6-9 p.m., Pinetop, Arizona Game and Fish Department Pinetop regional office, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd.


Monday, May 7, 6-9 p.m., Yuma, Arizona Game and Fish Department Yuma regional office, 9140 E. 28th St.


Friday, May 11, 6-9 p.m., Sierra Vista (location to be determined; will be posted at azgfd.gov when available).


Saturday, May 12, 9 a.m. to noon, Tucson, Arizona Game and Fish Department Tucson regional office, 555 N. Greasewood Road.
The meetings will include information on the Forest Service and BLM planning processes; facts about the new policies and direction, from both a statewide and local standpoint; how you can become involved in the process, including the Forest Service and BLM public meeting schedules and comment periods; and resources where you can learn more information. Regional Game and Fish Department staff will be on hand with maps and information on local areas.

If you want to learn more about the management and travel planning process and how it could affect the way you recreate on public lands, you will want to attend one of these meetings.

The schedule for additional meetings will be posted at azgfd.gov as those dates become available.

My1stJeep
04-10-2007, 11:51 AM
Please get involved. Everything Jack is stating is true to the bone. At the last meeting it was noted that G&F is even looking at closing off graded roads that are used as access to many trails, camping sites and hunting areas. In affect cutting off many areas used to recreate by cutting off the main route to these areas. We need to impress upon them our responsible use messages, that we use them and personal opinion not enter into decisions, but rather facts are used to determine what trails remain open or should be closed or limited use. To date there is not evidence that states or shows or even implies that there is any reason to close a trail that is within a wash. This is something we need to get across to them, however we must do this in a professional manor and not spout off, it only hurts us.

Please make time to attend if at all possible, or even find a way to make it possible, it is critical.

macinyart
04-10-2007, 04:45 PM
This sounds bad, but I have a question. Is G&F actually given the power to "close" areas. My understanding is that they are not empowered to do that, but I also don't know who does have that power?

My1stJeep
04-10-2007, 04:56 PM
Not bad at all. G&F do not have the power per say, but they do relay their opinion on what should be done on lands to the land management (like the BLM or Forest Service or STL). They press really hard to get what they would like to see as the use plan for the lands and the land management groups do listen to the input. Currently at most meetings G&F are showing strong with about 50% of the attendance at meetings, thus giving them a very strong voice in the minds of the land management agencies.

The BLM, Forest Service and STL have the actual authority and make the decision to close or not to close.

Sandee McCullen
04-10-2007, 10:10 PM
This sounds bad, but I have a question. Is G&F actually given the power to "close" areas. My understanding is that they are not empowered to do that, but I also don't know who does have that power?

YES, under certain circumstances G&F CAN CLOSE LANDS. They cannot in most cases, if any, close Federal Lands but they certainly can and do close on State Lands. It's not a "personal opinion" closure however. Each proposed closure goes through several levels of approval as well as the G&F Commission.........

These meetings are not aimed at CLOSING BLM or FS lands or areas as much as it seems they are simply trying to rabble rouse against the feds stopping motorized game retreival and/or "shed hunts" which need cross country access. HOW and WHY should hunters have the right to "make new trails" by going cross country to retreive game or hunt antler sheds??????? OHV cannot. I have been a hunter since I was 14. NO, you don't need to know how long ago that was but I can tell you there were not ATV's or Rhino's then and I had to WALK and drag or travois my game out to the nearest road. Seems to me it wouldn't hurt more of our citizens to do the same!!!!

Also the camping outside designated camping areas (NOT fee sites) now looks to be limited to 100 feet off a existing/designated road/trail where it used to be 300.

The #1 issue involving OHV recreation would be G&F vehemently fight against any motorized use within any wash. Doesn't matter that many of our ROADS are already in washes; doesn't matter that the washes have always been the mode of transportation in our state. When we ask for data showing use of washes or OHV recreation as a whole impact the habitat or wildlife......... have never seen anything. Only "Personal Opinion".

Neither BLM or FS were notified, contacted or invited to these meetings............. hmmmmmmmmmmmmm maybe a reason??? Personally I'd like to know WHERE the money is coming from to fund these meetings. I'm betting the OHV Gas Tax Dollars to G&F for OHV EDUCATION might very well have something to do with this. Other than their "hunters" I have no idea WHY they feel it necessary to get involved in LAND MANAGEMENT when they are WILDLIFE MANAGERS and have no mandate to manage recreation or anything regarding the uses of Federal Lands.

We'll see.............. What is VERY IMPORTANT is to stand up for YOUR RIGHTS but be equal and fair to all.

Billy 4 hp
04-11-2007, 09:12 PM
Isn't there still a major Game and Fish office on Greenway road??? I would love to go to a meeting, but it almost seems like a lot of meetings are held out of the way on purpose...

At least out of the way from my neck of the woods which happens to be north central Phoenix... I do plan on attending the BLM meeting on the 24th.. It will be my first one :o but it's at start...

1BLKJP
04-11-2007, 09:23 PM
Isn't there still a major Game and Fish office on Greenway road??? I would love to go to a meeting, but it almost seems like a lot of meetings are held out of the way on purpose...

At least out of the way from my neck of the woods which happens to be north central Phoenix... I do plan on attending the BLM meeting on the 24th.. It will be my first one :o but it's at start...

Don't worry about it being your first meeting Billy. 2 years ago I went to my first meeting. Now I'm an elected member of the AZOHVC, Tread Lightly Trainer, and have attended virtually every meeting over the last 2 years. More recently I'm even having to take time off work to attend, but it will be worth it to save our trails.

Look forward to seeing you.

RokNRich
04-12-2007, 01:26 PM
I'll be at this one, anyone up for a bite to eat and a cold beverage beforehand ?



Monday, April 16, 6-9 p.m., Mesa, Arizona Game and Fish Department Mesa regional office, 7200 E. University Drive.


:cool:

Sandee McCullen
04-12-2007, 03:16 PM
Got this from the Blue Ribbon Coalition today:




I'll be at this one for sure:



Monday, April 16, 6-9 p.m., Mesa, Arizona Game and Fish Department Mesa regional office, 7200 E. University Drive.


:cool:

PLEASE REMEMBER THIS IS THE TRAVEL MANAGEMENT FOR TABLE MESA BY BLM PHOENIX OFFICE. IT IS NOT THE SAME ISSUE, MEETING OR AGENCY.

rockwerks
04-17-2007, 04:10 PM
going tonight here in Flagstaff, who else will be there? wearing my RED