Thanks RB...didn't mean to come off like an a-hole (which I am at times). They attempted this last year using mule deer as the scapegoat. Now mule deer numbers are sky high (in one year???) and they are trying to close lands to shed hunting using the grouse as the concern. Keep in mind YOU CAN STILL WALK ALL OVER THE SAME LANDS, JUST CAN"T PICK THE SHED UP. Any numskull can figure out that this does NOTHING to minimize disturbance to the grouse. Furthermore, USFWS found that the grouse needs no protection and THAT IT IS DOING FINE.
This was proposed by a quasi-government group founded and funded by the taxpayer. Now the WC gave the go ahead to the DOW staff to REFINE the issue with this group. GOV. waste BIG TIME.
AND...it won't apply to private lands where 33% of the grouse reside.
Remember...under their proposal, users can do nearly ANYTHING ELSE on these SAME lands and it is not a violation. But...if you pick that shed up, BINGO, you are a criminal. If that isn't clearly an attempt to being to regulate and eliminate shed hunting, I don't know what is.
If this was guns, there would be a revolt. But since it is sheds, they will probably prevail. Sad the way things are going in the good old USA. Soon we will all be making the same income, looking at animals in the zoo, and living in the same style energy-efficient high rise building giving most of our income to the government....oh yeah, probably all speaking English as a second language...