Threat to riding area.

polarisrider1

New member
January 7, 2011
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Bill Manson
616-361-2285
Michigan Snowmobile Association



Attention All Snowmobilers: MSA threat assessment............

Your snowmobile riding opportunities in the Huron Manistee National Forest are in danger of being taken away!

This is not a threat. It is a distinct possibility, following a lawsuit alleging that hunters and snowmobilers receive preferential treatment compared to "quiet users."

The National Forest Serviceisconsidering banning hunting and snowmobiling in the semi-primitive non-motorized areas of the forest. There are currently 13 of these semi-primitive non-motorized areas in the Huron Manistee National Forest, of which 7 have snowmobile trails running through them.
Kurt Meister, a Novi lawyer who has a cottage in Cadillac near the Huron Manistee National Forest, successfully appealed a lawsuit to the U.S. 6th Circuit Court arguing the Forest Service favored hunters and snowmobilers over quiet users in its 2006 land management plan. A federal district judge in Detroit had ruled in favor of the Forest Service before this appeal.

Instead of appealing the ruling, the Huron Manistee National Forest has chosen to do a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). The notice of intent was published on 12/28/10 that would ban firearm hunting and snowmobiling within Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized Management Areas. Many of these areas that were designated as Semi Primitive Non Motorized had existing snowmobile trails before they were designated as such, and many of these trails are on the county road system.

Public Meetings have been scheduled for the week of January 31. The National Forest Service will have one at each of the District Offices (Baldwin, Manistee, Mio and Oscoda). The Forest Service will also have one in Grand Rapids, Lansing, Warren/Livonia, and north of Flint. The Forest Service is hoping to have many snowmobilers and hunters at these meetings.....and expect Mr. Meister to attend many of these meetings as well.

MSA will be sending you some "talking points" for use with your appearance at the meetings or for your letter to the National Forest Service. Mark these dates and attend if you can. your attendance will be crucial.



· 1/31/11 Holiday Inn Express of Birch Run,12150 Dixie Hwy, Birch Run MI 4-8 PM

· 1/31/11 Huron Shores Ranger Station, 5761 North Skeel Rd, Oscoda, MI 4-7 PM

· 2/1/11 Hilton Garden Inn, 26000 American Drive, Southfield, MI 4-8 PM

· 2/1/11 Mio Ranger Station, 107 McKinley Road, Mio, MI 4-7 PM

· 2/2/11 Causeway Bay Hotel (Best Western) 6820 South Cedar St, Lansing, MI 4-8 PM

· 2/2/11 Days Inn of Manistee, 1462 US 131 South, Manistee MI, 4-7 PM

· 2/3/11 Crowne Plaza, 57000 East 28th St., Grand Rapids, MI 4-8 PM

· 2/3/11 Plainfield Township Hall, 885 Eighth Street, Baldwin, MI 4-7 PM



Written comments must be sent to Lee Evison, Forest Planner, Huron Manistee National Forests, 1755 S. Mitchell, Street, Cadillac, MI 49601 Fax 231-755-5551

e-mail to comments-eastern-huron-manistee@fs.fed.us Comments should contain in the subject line: "Forest Plan SEIS".

STAY TUNED, WE WILL BE GETTING MORE DETAILED INFORMATION TO YOU SOON!



Michigan Snowmobile Association


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Cat600

Member
Question from me is what do these "quiet users" do in the Huron Manistee National Forest when there is 2 feet of snow and temps below freezing that rationalize sleds and hunting to be banned?

Oh and if the trails use the existing county road system, then shouldn't cars and trucks and whatnot be banned as well all year?


Obviously I'm not familiar with the area since I have never been there, but some of this stuff is just getting ridiculous.
 

indy_500

Well-known member
then shouldn't cars and trucks and whatnot be banned as well all year?

Exactly. These enviromentally friendly people really kill me. They go around trying to get people to buy earth friendly FOREIGN cars to save our planet and country. Can someone tell me what's wrong about this? :mad:
 

rmk4ever

New member
Exactly. These enviromentally friendly people really kill me. They go around trying to get people to buy earth friendly FOREIGN cars to save our planet and country. Can someone tell me what's wrong about this? :mad:

Not with out getting political.:D
 

ezra

Well-known member
just a small tip of the ice berg boys we had a lobiest from MN USA at a club meating and all I can say with out getting the thred pulled is you wanted change you are getting it babby hope you enjoy it
 

prowrench

New member
CALL, WRITE, EMAIL
Must.................Not......................Reveal......................What.................I.........................Truly...................Think.........................;)
 

polarisrider1

New member
This area is a huge chunk of prime snowmobiliing. It is all about the numbers. Squeaky wheel gets the oil. I need everyone squeaking. I have been riding this area since 1982. The local businesses depend on us and welcome us.
 

pman

New member
Snomobile and hunting seasons are dictated by specific use dates. "Quiet users" do not have a season, so it must be open year-round. So who is being favored? I read here alot about hunters and snomobilers basically showing respect to each other, landowners, and other people by staying out of each other's way (always a few exceptions). Not the "quiet users", they need it their way or nothing.
 
I want to see all of these "quiet users" have a 50$ registration sticker duck taped to there spandex covered A$$ and then they can start talking about preferential treatment. I'm more than willing to share the trails as long as they start paying for there part. And that's all i have to say about that.
 

snowshoe

Member
While I feel your pain on this for those that live there and/or use it everyday, a more real threat to my riding are not the greenies but guys that decide to use trails that are closed or go off trail to "cool" the sled but end up hitting trees that were just planted or some winter crop.

I have snowshoes and love hikes in the snow. I love being in the snow period it's a reason I ride. There's room for everyone.
 

polarisrider1

New member
While I feel your pain on this for those that live there and/or use it everyday, a more real threat to my riding are not the greenies but guys that decide to use trails that are closed or go off trail to "cool" the sled but end up hitting trees that were just planted or some winter crop.

I have snowshoes and love hikes in the snow. I love being in the snow period it's a reason I ride. There's room for everyone.

We have an excellent trail system set up for the Snowshoe, cross country skier group through this forest already. There trails are marked with blue. They don't even use this trail, they like the groomed trails we ride on. Well, greenies if we are gone so are the groomers.
 

amo

New member
Isn't this a case of reverse discrimination? I mean, they want the noisy users removed all together while they get to stay. Seems like they work in absolutes while we work to get along with everyone.

We: Manage, groom/maintain, and pay for the trails they use
They: Get full use for free

If they take the people that pay for liceneses (whose $$$ are used to support the forest) away, then the trails go away and the forest is returned to it's original state which is prolly their real goal. Sad thing is, doing this probably puts the forest at greater risk. If the DNR has no $$$ to maintain the forest or pay staff, whose to stop riff-raff or over-zealous folks from doing what they do best. What's to stop the forest from natural issues like disease, fire, etc. Also, the best way to preserve a forest is to buy areas around it and expand, where is that money gonna come from?

Balance is the answer, and finding it with the green machine is very hard since they work in absolutes. I think the best solution is re-routes of trails to minimze their footprint on the forest. The real damage however, is the precedint this sets for others to do the same with other forests.
 

kirk600

Active member
I used to ride my own sled on Yellowstone National Park roads, rode right up to OLD FAITHFUL......NOW YOU NEED A GUIDE AND YOU NEED TO RENT HIS MACHINES!!!!


WE NEED TO STICK TOGETHER ON THIS PEOPLE. LOOK AT WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK!!!!! only 381 sleds per day
Call, write show up in person just make your voice heard we need to stop the little leaks or one day the flood gates will open then we are all done no more trails.
As Wayne said this is a big chunk of the trail system around Cadillac, I believe it includes parts of Wellston Baldwin Irons also.

Thanks for letting me vent,

Kirk600
 

polarisrider1

New member
I used to ride my own sled on Yellowstone National Park roads, rode right up to OLD FAITHFUL......NOW YOU NEED A GUIDE AND YOU NEED TO RENT HIS MACHINES!!!!


WE NEED TO STICK TOGETHER ON THIS PEOPLE. LOOK AT WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK!!!!! only 381 sleds per day
Call, write show up in person just make your voice heard we need to stop the little leaks or one day the flood gates will open then we are all done no more trails.
As Wayne said this is a big chunk of the trail system around Cadillac, I believe it includes parts of Wellston Baldwin Irons also.

Thanks for letting me vent,

Kirk600

It includeds Wellston, Baldwin, Cadillac, Irons, Dublin, Reed City, Sippy Flats, down to Newaygo. The email link is not working that I have posted above. Please contact www.msasnow.org

Try this email address comments-eastern-huron-manistee@fs.fed.us
 
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snowshoe

Member
We have an excellent trail system set up for the Snowshoe, cross country skier group through this forest already. There trails are marked with blue. They don't even use this trail, they like the groomed trails we ride on. Well, greenies if we are gone so are the groomers.

I guess I was read wrong. I'd be upset to if I live there.
 
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