In the article by Examiner.com, two bills are introduced by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R- AK) and U.S. Representative Dan Boren (D- OK). Each bill would protect recreational hunting, fishing and shooting on land administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service. Congressman Burton is one of many cosponsors for this bill. More details about the bill are provided here.
Specifically, both bills would ensure that:
- Federal public land managers with the U.S. Forest Service and BLM provide for the use of and access to public lands for hunting, fishing and shooting,
- An “open until closed” policy is established for the lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the BLM unless public and Congressional notification is given,
- Land managers are urged to lease land for shooting ranges by having the lessee offer suitable assurances to remediate leased lands at the termination of the lease, thus remedying concerns expressed in the past by the BLM over damage to land used for shooting,
- Skilled volunteers be used on federal public lands not open to hunting when wildlife management requires the culling of animal populations,
- Congress receives an annual report detailing any closures of land to fishing, hunting, or shooting and the reasons for the closures.
Comments