Clearwater extends comment on travel
Comments regarding the Clearwater National Forest’s plan for managing motorized recreational travel will be accepted until Feb. 29. Forest officials extended the comment period because of high interest in the plans.
“We think the Forest Service was surprised by the volume and passion of user comments asking that recreation friendly options be considered,” said Joe Dowd of the Panhandle Trail Riders’ Association.
The proposals, released Nov. 28, are part of a national mandate to formally designated roads, trails and areas where motorized travel will be permitted on national forests.
Details are online at www.fs.fed.us/r1/clearwater.
Rich Landers
CONSERVATION
Jewelers are gems in mine protest
Five of the nation’s leading jewelry companies have come out against a large gold and copper mine planned for the Bristol Bay area in Alaska, headwaters for some of the world’s most productive wild salmon streams.
The jewelers, including Tiffany & Co., Ben Bridge Jewelers and Helzberg Diamonds, pledged Tuesday not to sell jewelry made from gold that might be extracted from the proposed Pebble Mine.
The companies made the pledge as part of a “dirty gold” campaign organized by Alaskans opposed to the mine.
The Pebble Mine deposit in southwest Alaska is estimated to be the second-largest ore deposit of its type in the world.
Associated Press
HUNTING
Idaho drops turkey pamphlet
In order to cut publication costs, the Idaho wild turkey hunting regulations pamphlet will be dropped this year and the information will be combined in the upland bird hunting pamphlet, state wildlife officials said.
The new pamphlets are just being delivered to license vendors and Fish and Game Department offices.
The application period for controlled turkey hunts has been extended to Feb. 25.
New rules for this year include:
•Extending the youth turkey season so it runs from April 12 through April 14.
•Making youth-only controlled hunt turkey permits valid during the youth season.
•Extending the $5 special turkey tag to be valid for all turkey depredation hunts, and eliminating controlled turkey depredation tags.
Rich Landers