PUBLIC LANDS -- Motorized recreation groups and industries are jumping at the chance to court favor with president-elect Donald Trump. Key on their list of desires is more vehicle access to public lands.

A recreation "Roundtable" of about a dozen groups has proposed several initiatives directly to vice-president-elect Mike Pence. Among the demands include requiring government agencies to conduct economic impact studies before approving travel management plans and establishing road closures that might be designed to manage crowding or provide refuge and habitat protection for wildlife such as elk, grizzly bears and bull trout.

The Roundtable sent a letter on Nov. 16 to the Trump administration transition team outlining four strategies it will pursue on behalf of the motorized outdoor industry.

The portion of the outdoor recreation industry involved or supportive non-motorized recreation is not represented on the 
Roundtable. This significant group of recreation interests -- including backpacking, bicycling, climbing, hunting, fishing, backcountry horsemen and other groups -- largely supports current public lands conservation regulations.