Trump Administration Policies are Decimating Habitat and Hunting
A July 13 proclamation signed by President Donald Trump reduced the size of two national monuments in Utah — Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante — by 90%, or about 2.9 million acres. As explained by American Hunters & Anglers, “The largest rollback of protected public land in American history just happened and it was served with a side of lies.”
American Hunters also pointed out that Trump said (incorrectly), “You can’t do anything. You can’t go hunting. You can’t go fishing. You can’t do anything. You can virtually not even walk on it.”
Hunters and anglers disagree. Backcountry Hunters & Anglers posted the following “Facts Incoming” response on Instagram: “President Trump says there’s no hunting, fishing, or even walking on the ‘Grand Staircase monument.’ Here’s the truth: hunting, fishing, and recreation have always been allowed in Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante.” As for not being able to “walk on it,” well, I’ve hiked and camped in Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears many times over the years.
In addition, during 2017 BHA released detailed habitat maps of six Western national monuments. Each of the monuments — including Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante — was designated to safeguard, at least in part, important wildlife habitat, valuable fisheries and access to great places to hunt and fish. Together, the six monuments encompassed nearly 4 million acres of big game habitat, including nearly 3 million acres of deer habitat, and more than 1 million acres of elk habitat. Despite the fact that 65% of Utah voters and 91% of Western voters oppose cuts to the monuments, Trump took the action anyway.
Colorado’s Dinosaur National Monument (and others) may be next on the chopping block. During June the Bureau of Land Management leased thousands of acres in northwestern Colorado to oil and gas companies in the state’s biggest such sale in modern history. (Read more from “Trump Administration Policies are Decimating Habitat and Hunting” HERE)
Photo credit: Flickr
