In February, the Congressional Sportsmen’s
Foundation hosted its first ever sportsmen’s
town hall meeting in conjunction with the
National Wild Turkey Federation at their annual
convention in Columbus, Ohio.
Over
50 state and federal wildlife management professionals,
met with Representative Collin Peterson (D-MN),
Co-Chair of the Caucus Executive Council,
as well as Matt Hogan and Melinda Gable of
the CSF, to discuss impediments to improving
wildlife management on National Forests. James
Earl Kennamer of the National Wild Turkey
Federation moderated the Town Hall Meeting.
Discussions at the meeting
focused on how the Forest Service appeals process
and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
have been used by individuals and organizations
to prevent management actions targeted at improving
wildlife habitat on our national forests.
“For the price of a 34
cents stamp, groups who oppose active forest
management have been able to tie the Forest
Service in knots every time they try to take
any action. Something has to be done to address
this or we will quickly lose our ability to
manage for any wildlife on our public lands,”
stated Rep. Collin Peterson.
A number of wildlife species,
including wild turkeys, require openings in
the forest to create a viable habitat needed
to thrive. Historically, these openings were
created through periodic wild fires and other
natural disturbances. However, on a number of
our forests, fire has been removed from the
landscape and man has had to step in and provide
these openings through forest management.
“Unfortunately, we’ve
become a society that views any type of man-made
forest disturbance as something that should
be prevented at all costs. Ironically, the very
people who think they have the best interest
of the wildlife and the forests at heart are
preventing the very thing they need by blocking
management activities in our forests,”
said James Earl Kennamer, Conservation Director
for the National Wild Turkey Federation. Simple
common sense wildlife management practices are
being blocked because of emotionalism and sound
science is being ignored.
“This town hall meeting
helped frame several issues that we can bring
to the Caucus for their consideration. We are
hopeful that we can build on this model and
use this format to help develop Caucus initiatives
that will help wildlife and sportsmen,”
said Matt Hogan, CSF Conservation Policy Director.
Plans for future town hall
meetings are in the works. Current considerations
include a town hall meeting on the Farm Bill
conservation programs this summer. Please contact
Matt Hogan, CSF Director of Conservation Policy
at 202-543-6850 if you would like to host or
discuss a topic for a town hall meeting.
