FYI, got this from my Dad. Looks like some additional ammo for the greenies, but could be used for our cause to promot safe, responsible and legal wheeling. Mostly aimed at ATV's I think.
SURVEY REVEALS CONFLICT BETWEEN OFF-ROAD VEHICLES AND HUNTING, FISHING
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Izaak Walton League of America, a national leader in community-based conservation, today released a new survey of managers of state fisheries and wildlife agencies from around the nation, which reveals negative impacts on hunting and fishing from various types of off-road vehicles (ORVs). Furthermore, these agency managers strongly indicated that more enforcement of standards is needed to protect hunting and fishing from ORV impacts.
The survey, conducted in July and August of 2007, reached out to each of the 50 state wildlife managers and each of the 50 state fisheries managers. A total of 34 agencies, representing 27 different states, responded to the survey.
The survey is part of a broader IWLA report, Collision Course? Off-Road Vehicle Impacts on Hunting and Fishing, which was also released today. The report can be found online at http://www.iwla.org/publications/wilderness/OHVreport.pdf
Off-road vehicles are important to many people's lifestyles both for work and recreation, including many Izaak Walton League members, and we believe that most users drive their ORVs responsibly," says Kevin Proescholdt, director of IWLA's Wilderness and Public Lands Program. "However, our survey of agency managers clearly indicates a reckless contingent of riders is harming fish and wildlife habitat and ruining hunting and fishing experiences for many people. Our survey also points to the need for more enforcement to protect hunting and fishing. That is why we call on Congress to thoroughly investigate this growing problem.
Among the key findings of the survey are:
83% of wildlife managers say that they have seen resource damage to wildlife habitat caused by ORVs, following closely behind by 72% who cited disruption of hunters during hunting season as another impact from ORVs.
61.1% of surveyed wildlife program managers agreed or strongly agreed that ORVs negatively impact hunting and habitat in my state, while 0% disagreed or strongly disagreed with that statement.
57.2% of state fisheries managers surveyed agreed or strongly agreed that ORVs negatively impact fishing and fishing habitat in my state. Only 7.1% of survey respondents disagreed with that statement.
53.3% of fisheries managers surveyed believe that existing standards do not adequately protect fishing from ORV impacts.
47.1% of wildlife managers surveyed believe that existing standards do not adequately protect hunting from ORV impacts.
To address these issues, the League calls on Congress to conduct thorough oversight of U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management efforts to designate and manage ORV routes; enforce lawlessness that is occurring as a result of reckless riding; assess if these agencies have what they need administratively and financially for enforcement, implementation, and restoring and repairing past damage to public lands; and, determine if current rules, standards, and penalties serve as effective deterrents to reckless riding.
SURVEY REVEALS CONFLICT BETWEEN OFF-ROAD VEHICLES AND HUNTING, FISHING
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Izaak Walton League of America, a national leader in community-based conservation, today released a new survey of managers of state fisheries and wildlife agencies from around the nation, which reveals negative impacts on hunting and fishing from various types of off-road vehicles (ORVs). Furthermore, these agency managers strongly indicated that more enforcement of standards is needed to protect hunting and fishing from ORV impacts.
The survey, conducted in July and August of 2007, reached out to each of the 50 state wildlife managers and each of the 50 state fisheries managers. A total of 34 agencies, representing 27 different states, responded to the survey.
The survey is part of a broader IWLA report, Collision Course? Off-Road Vehicle Impacts on Hunting and Fishing, which was also released today. The report can be found online at http://www.iwla.org/publications/wilderness/OHVreport.pdf
Off-road vehicles are important to many people's lifestyles both for work and recreation, including many Izaak Walton League members, and we believe that most users drive their ORVs responsibly," says Kevin Proescholdt, director of IWLA's Wilderness and Public Lands Program. "However, our survey of agency managers clearly indicates a reckless contingent of riders is harming fish and wildlife habitat and ruining hunting and fishing experiences for many people. Our survey also points to the need for more enforcement to protect hunting and fishing. That is why we call on Congress to thoroughly investigate this growing problem.
Among the key findings of the survey are:
83% of wildlife managers say that they have seen resource damage to wildlife habitat caused by ORVs, following closely behind by 72% who cited disruption of hunters during hunting season as another impact from ORVs.
61.1% of surveyed wildlife program managers agreed or strongly agreed that ORVs negatively impact hunting and habitat in my state, while 0% disagreed or strongly disagreed with that statement.
57.2% of state fisheries managers surveyed agreed or strongly agreed that ORVs negatively impact fishing and fishing habitat in my state. Only 7.1% of survey respondents disagreed with that statement.
53.3% of fisheries managers surveyed believe that existing standards do not adequately protect fishing from ORV impacts.
47.1% of wildlife managers surveyed believe that existing standards do not adequately protect hunting from ORV impacts.
To address these issues, the League calls on Congress to conduct thorough oversight of U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management efforts to designate and manage ORV routes; enforce lawlessness that is occurring as a result of reckless riding; assess if these agencies have what they need administratively and financially for enforcement, implementation, and restoring and repairing past damage to public lands; and, determine if current rules, standards, and penalties serve as effective deterrents to reckless riding.
And none of it supported by fact.
