H
HighWidenHandsome
Guest
I just returned from a hunting and camping trip in the Beaver district. I received a flyer from the forest service while camping in an undeveloped area. The flyer was to advise campers they are restricted to 16 days of camping (per year) That's right 16 days annually! Well, I like to camp in the summer and hunt in the fall, so if I take my family camping and fishing for a week ( 9 days including weekends) that leaves me 7 days combined for deer and elk! I thought at first the flyer was an incorrect print but after calling several different national forest offices I was finally informed that the district manager can make special regulations for his particular district! Of course I let him know that I register my truck and trailer and ATV's in the state and I purchase hunting and fishing licenses annually. His response is "who cares, that's state money and we're federal and it's not our job to appease the public" now he didn't mean that to offend me, he was just telling me how the system works! I explained to him that I was one of the first to complain when I arrived on friday mornings before the hunts only to find most campsites already full with trailers that had been dropped off and left unoccupied for days so the owners would have the spot they preferred. Yes, he agreed and that was part of why this rule is now in place. But, I suggested "why not hand out a flyer warning campers unoccupied campers to be towed at the owners expense, surely this would free up some camp sites" we don't like to involve the sheriff was the reply! The district policy involving camping in the developed campground is still the same I said. I may stay for 14 days move down the road to the next campground the same day if I wish and I can stay another 14 days and then back to the original and start all over again but these campgrounds are fee areas and do not allow ATV's! No comment, it's up to the district manager! After spending my 16 days in the undeveloped camp area I may move a minimum of 5 road miles and camp again if I wish but if I like to hunt and fish in the same area I get a maximum of 16 days! Is this rule enforceable I asked, what if I share my trailer with another person and they camp within my area and I go back a month later? We have ways to counter that he said, it's not who is camping it's the camping unit on the property! This is the only forest I've heard of applying this rule, but the officer suggested it's not the last. My family believes we're losing more rights all the time, what's your feelings? Is this rule GOOD or BAD ?
Can we do anything about it or just too bad? Does this rule spread to other forests even other states? Many people have been worried about having their guns taken away, how many have thought about losing their national forest camping?
Can we do anything about it or just too bad? Does this rule spread to other forests even other states? Many people have been worried about having their guns taken away, how many have thought about losing their national forest camping?
