In Michigan, there’s a movement afoot to ban hunting with firearms in a large section (over 67,000 acres) of the Huron-Manistee National Forest.  The argument is that hunting and some other recreational activities detract from other users’ enjoyment of the National Forest lands which have already been designated “semi-primitive”.  These “noisy” activities allegedly make it difficult for other users such as hikers, birdwatchers, and horseback riders to enjoy the quiet of nature. 

I have to first confess that I haven’t been following this issue the way I should.  The discussion first came up in March, and honestly, I didn’t think it would gain any traction.  But I guess when you pit a skilled lawyer against the federal government, you can’t take anything for granted.  And now it’s down to the wire.  The period for public comment ends tomorrow morning… February 11. 

I’d suggest that anyone wanting to get in their two cents worth take the time to read up a little about the issue.  Here’s what the NSSF has to say about it on their blog:

NSSF is urging all hunters and sportsmen to submit comments to the U.S. Forest Service on a proposed firearm hunting ban for areas of the Huron-Manistee National Forest in Michigan. The proposed ban could pose a threat to firearm hunting on portions of federal lands across the nation. The Forest Service is accepting public comment on alternatives until Feb. 11.

Background: In September, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Forest Service’s regulations required that it consider banning hunting with firearms on lands designated as “semi-primitive” within the Huron-Manistee National Forest. The court felt the noise associated with firearm hunting could harm the quality of the recreational experience of hikers, backpackers, and cross country skiers. The court ruled that the Forest Service had to consider closing these areas to hunting with firearms if other public hunting land was available nearby. The U.S. Forest Service is therefore required to do a formal review to determine if it should move forward with a ban on firearms hunting ban on these areas.

Please submit comments to the Forest Service urging it to adopt the “No-Action” position, which would allow hunting with firearms in areas designated as semi-primitive to continue.

Sportsmen can fax comments to Lee Evison at 231-775-5551 or e-mail comments to comments-eastern-huron-manistee@fs.fed.us.

Please include your name and address with your comments. E-mailed comments must include “Forest Plan SEIS” as the subject line of the e-mail. All comments must be received by Friday, Feb. 11.

You may also submit your comments via mail to:

Forest Planner
Huron-Manistee National Forests
1755 S. Mitchell Street
Cadillac, MI 49601

You can Google the topic to read some other viewpoints, and I strongly recommend that you do.  But for my part, what I see here is a dangerous precedent being set wherein hunters will face more and more challenges to their access to Federal and State lands.  It may not be sweeping, but if this effort succeeds, it will mean that more of our own efforts, and the resources of hunter advocacy organizations, will be spent fighting further closures.

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