CWF Organizes Sportsman Opposition to Bush's Proposed Federal Lands Sale

March 8, 2006

U.S. Senator Wayne Allard
521 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C.  20510

Dear Senator Allard:

The undersigned sportsmen's organizations and other conservationists in Colorado strongly oppose President Bush's 2007 federal budget proposal to liquidate hundreds of thousands of acres of U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands.    Hunters, fishermen, and other conservationists view all public lands as "crown jewels."  These public lands form the very core of our proud tradition of hunting and fishing heritage.    

The message Colorado sportsmen and conservationists deliver consistently is, "Our federal lands are not for liquidation, at any price, for any reason."  This newest attempt to engage in a sell-off of public lands follows on the heels of public outcry about other public lands sales attempts such as in December 2005 within the House Budget Reconciliation Bill.  Forty-four sportsmen's groups signed onto Colorado Wildlife Federation's letter within one week, as part of a national outrage which collectively helped defeat Representative Pombo's attempt to sell off public lands through an amendment to the 1872 Mining Act that would have mandated public lands be sold to mining claim holders.   Another proposal sponsored by our own Colorado Representative Tom Tancredo, still technically alive, would have sold public lands to pay for Hurricane Katrina.    These efforts share a common result... liquidating our public lands, acre by acre.   To these propositions Colorado sportsmen stand united in saying, "NO WAY."

The lands at risk in this newest public lands sell-off plan include USFS lands totaling 304,370 acres in 32 states.   In Colorado, the targeted level of USFS lands for sale totals 21,572 acres, roughly 30 square miles.  We have attached a map of parcels that would be sold, preliminarily mapped to sections.   We are not yet aware of what BLM land parcels would be sold, yet know they would be primarily in western states such as Colorado, be as much as 350,000 acres, with the intent to raise at least 0 million.  The sheer magnitude of USFS and BLM sales is reported to be highest levels in the history of both agencies.  USFS proceeds would fund the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act, yet this Act's funding is reduced by 50 percent and would be phased out completely in years to follow.   BLM land sales proceeds would go into the U. S. Treasury, a band-aid approach to funding for a federal deficit that has grown to 0 billion.

Colorado sportsmen, more than most, know the value public lands provide to our natural resources we cherish and use in our outdoor recreation endeavors.  These same lands constitute the habitat for the wildlife and fisheries all Coloradoans value.    Public lands trades or upgrades can be responsible management practices, yet these proposals are simply liquidations, public lands to become privatized forever.  To sportsmen, public lands value is greater than any need for an unrelated federal budgetary income source, greater than any need to fund any unrelated federal program, and certainly greater than any special interest agendas that would view public lands as disposable.  Public lands should be preserved, remain under public dominion, and be expanded.    The public demand for public lands will only continue to grow in Colorado and across America.            

Sportsmen in Colorado expect President Bush and the Congress to preserve the value public lands have to the public.  Preservation of public lands is a responsibility today to ensure the legacy of public lands extends another hundred years.   If we sell off our public lands, their privatization will never return to public ownership, a loss forever.   Colorado sportsmen restate "Our federal lands are not for sale."

Sincerely,

Kent Ingram, Chair
Colorado Wildlife Federation

Map of Proposed Federal Lands to be Sold (PNG format)
Colorado sportsmen organizations supporting this letter in opposition to selling off our public lands.

Colorado Mule Deer Association
Keith Goddard, President

Colorado Bowhunters Association
Dennis Meyers, Chairman

Colorado Outfitters Association
Larry Bishop, President

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society
John Legnard, President

Colorado State Muzzleoading Association
Jerry Ferringer, Wildlife Director

Colorado Trappers Association
Opal Watts, President

Colorado Mule Deer Association, Grand Junction Chapter
Colby Olford, President

Denver West Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Glen Edwards, President

Morgan County Chapter of Pheasants Forever
Greg Wagers, President

Front Range Archers
Glenn Schultz

Cutthroat Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Cathy Houser, President

Colorado Sportsmen's Wildlife Fund
Dick Steele

Colorado Resident Hunters Equality Task Force
Kenneth E. Greninger, President

Southern Colorado Greenback Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Pat McGraw, President

Colorado River Headwaters Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Scott Linn, President

United Houndsmen of Colorado
Lester Mundy

Collegiate Peaks Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Frank Yeager

Wild Trout Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Elbert Bivins, President

Copy to:

Senator Salazar

Representative Hefley,  Representative Degette, Representative Salazar, Representative Beauprez, Representative Udall, Representative Tancredo, Representative Musgrave

4045 Wadsworth Blvd., Suite 20, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033  (303 987-0400 Fax (303) 987-0200
www.coloradowildlife.org cwfed@coloradowildlife.org