Pinedale BLM implements winter land closures to protect big game
by Bureau of Land Management
January 7, 2010
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Pinedale Field Office will once again close a portion of BLM-administered public lands to motorized vehicle travel to protect big game on crucial winter ranges and feed grounds.
These closures include snowmobile and off-highway vehicle travel on existing roads and two-track trails. The closures do not include active oil and gas field roads unless otherwise posted, or state or county roads. The BLM administered public lands included in these closures are as follows:
Elk winter feedground areas are closed from Nov. 15 to April 30 to all motorized use and human presence. The closed areas are the Franz, Finnegan, Bench Corral, Fall Creek, Scab Creek, North Piney, and Black Butte feedgrounds.
Big game winter ranges are closed to all unauthorized motorized travel from Jan. 1 through April 30. The Ryegrass, Bench Corral, Deer Hills, Calpet and Miller Mountain winter ranges include all BLM-administered lands north of Fontenelle Creek, east of the U.S. Forest Service Boundary, west of Highway 189 and south of Horse Creek, which contains approximately 444,000 acres. The Mesa winter range includes all BLM-administered lands east of County Road 110 (East Green River Road), north of County Road 136 (Paradise Valley Road), west of the New Fork River and south of State Highway 191, which contains approximately 76,000 acres. Use of winter range areas by non-motorized means is still allowed.
Signs will be posted at key locations going into the closed areas. Motorized vehicle use during the remainder of the year is limited to existing roads and two-track trails. Violations of these closures are punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment. These closures have been in effect since 1988 and were included in the 2008 Pinedale Resource Management Plan.
For additional information, contact Wildlife Biologist Rusty Kaiser at 307-367-5317 or visit the BLM Pinedale Field Office, 1625 West Pine Street, Pinedale, Wyo.
The BLM manages more land - 253 million acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
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