For some convincing this article is good insight as to why the "pros" of this are oversold and will lead to unintended consequences. Thanks
@Elky Welky
Mike Mershon and Jake Schwaller write in a column that the best way to keep hunting robust in Montana is by keeping the 'Roadless Rule.'
dailymontanan.com
"If this repeal happens, we could see new roads bulldozed into the backcountry, pushing elk onto private lands where they are often inaccessible to hunters.
So why undo something so favorable to sportsmen? One common argument is that more roads would allow hazardous fuels reduction work. However, research shows that roads actually lead to more fires, either from mechanical issues from vehicles, or simply because more roads mean more people, and people don’t always listen to Smokey Bear. Nearly nine of 10 wildfires are human-caused, and 78% of those start within a half-mile of a road.
Fire mitigation already happens in roadless areas. These are not wilderness areas; mechanized thinning and prescribed burning already occur here. Since the Roadless Rule was enacted in 2001, more than 350,000 acres in Montana roadless areas have been treated for hazardous fuels reduction, representing more than a quarter of all treatments in our state during this timeframe.
Then there’s maintenance. We can’t afford to maintain the 371,000 miles of roads already in our national forests. The Forest Service has an $8 billion maintenance backlog, half due solely to existing, dilapidated roads. What makes us think we can afford to build and maintain more?
The management of our public lands isn’t perfect, but more roads are not the answer—and the public agrees. When the Roadless Rule was created, hundreds of meetings were hosted across the country, including 24 in Montana, and more than 1.5 million public comments were submitted, with 67% of Montanans supporting strong safeguards for roadless areas. Now, the public has just 21 days to comment. That is unacceptable.
Any public land hunter who uses mapping layers to find unpressured big game on national forests, especially elk, should support of our backcountry roadless lands. Otherwise, you can expect more hunters and fewer elk in your favorite spots"
