Off road or off track
Public outcry has led to some changes
Public outcry over ATVs has led to some changes

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By Ed Godfrey

Published: January 13, 2008

The U.S. Forest Service's plans to restrict off-highway or ATV travel in the Ouachita National Forest is a hot issue in southeastern Oklahoma.

Many folks in McCurtain and Le Flore counties have quietly enjoyed the Ouachita Forest for decades, and they don't want rules spoiling their use.

"This little topic is certainly stirring the pot down here in McCurtain County,” said Dian Jordan of Pine Meadow Cabins near Broken Bow.

Jordan said 20 percent of her cabin rental business is ATV riders. Beginning Oct. 1, ATV riding will be limited in the forest to designated trails only.

More than 200 people attended public hearing on the issues in Poteau and Idabel last week. Most believe the new U.S. Forest Service policy to be overly stringent, denying access to some fantastic scenery and limiting the mobility of hunters, especially disabled hunters.

Brock Rutledge, member of the Southeastern Oklahoma Hunter Rights Association, said the U.S. Forest Service plans to close more than 2,000 miles of roads in the Ouachita National Forest.

"The impetus for the closing of these roads and trails is that the Forest Service does not want to be out the cost of maintaining the existing roads and trails in the forest,” Rutledge said in an e-mail to The Oklahoman.

"The public will no longer have reasonable access to thousands of acres that were set aside for public use, paid for by public tax dollars with tax dollars continuing to be paid by the public to maintain closed roads and trails.”

Rutledge, like other hunters, also believe the restrictions planned for ATV travel by hunters during big-game seasons is unrealistic and overly restrictive.

"Hunters have historically treaded lightly upon the lands they hunt,” he said. "Using an ATV to access hunting areas or to go off-road to retrieve game, set up camps, etc., has an extremely low impact on the environment.

"Far less than the destruction caused by steel-shoed horseback riding on equestrian trails in the forest or bulldozing areas for logging contracts issued by the Forest Service.”

C. J. Norvell, spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service, said the lack of money and manpower to maintain roads is part of the reason for the restrictions. The U.S. Forest Service budget is shrinking, she said.

But safety issues and protecting the forest from the explosion of off-road use are the primary reasons for the restrictions, she said.

"Every area of forest land cannot be available for every use,” Norvell said.

However, only about 540 miles of roads — not more than 2,000 — will be closed in Arkansas and Oklahoma under the proposed plan, but that could still change, she said.

More roads could be opened or closed, and some might be opened just seasonally, like during deer season, she said.

As of now, slightly more than 2,500 miles of roads in the forest in both Arkansas and Oklahoma will be available to off-highway enthusiasts beginning Oct. 1, she said.

Many roads initally proposed to be closed have been opened at the public's request, she said..

"We are listening,” Norvell said, adding that some of the concerns raised at last week's public meetings likely will result in more changes to the travel policy.

For more information, visit www.aokforest.com or call (918) 567-2326.

Norvell said it is important for anyone with a suggestion or comment on the new travel policy to make it during the official 30-day comment period which will open later this month.

Comments can be e-mailed to travel-ohv-ouachita@fs.fed.us.

Alligator gar

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation also held public meetings last week on proposed hunting and fishing regulation.

One propose change that is generating interst among bowfishermen is the proposal to reduce the harvest of alligator gar to one per day, and none during the spawning season. At least one bowfishing club, the Oklahoma Fish Stickers, is opposing the proposal.

"We believe the regulations should remain unchanged for gator gar until further research can be conducted and that data compiled,” said Roy Martos, club member.

State wildlife officials admit they know little about the state's population of alligator gar and fear too many are being taken by anglers.

The Oklahoma Fish Stickers think more research needs to be done and that the state should implement a method whereby anglers can submit vital information on alligator gar to compile data, Martos said.

Related Topics: Sports, Hunting and Fishing, Sport Fishing