Is the National Forest closed
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Is the National Forest closed
I know they shut down loggers , campgrounds , and recreation areas. I have not heard you could not use any federal lands other than national parks.
The Cache River refuge and White river refuge are both closed to all access so I would expect the National forest is closed as well.
Jason
Have not seen any closure signs or heard anything. I'd call AGFC if your worried. COE lands are open just pay areas (day use and camping closed) unfortunately most ramps on lakes are within parks which are gated off.
Federal refuges are different from national Forrest lands.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jasonw
Funding LapseQuote:
Originally Posted by NIMROD
Due to the lapse in agency funding, the sale of all types of permits (i.e., recreation, firewood, forest products, mineral materials for example) are suspended, recreation.gov reservations are suspended, and all federally owned recreation sites are closed. All offices are closed. These services will be available once funding is restored.
Law enforcement, fire suppression, and other essential services will continue without interruption.
This web site will remain available for public safety announcements and updates such as for wildfire, floods, and so forth. We will attempt to make timely updates about public health and safety on these web pages as appropriate. We sincerely regret this inconvenience.
For general information on Forest Service shutdown procedures, please visit Agency Contingency Plans | The White House.
It is still federal government.
Most NF land is walk in hunt for the most part with limited roads. I thought God created those woods anyways not some government or Obama???:dono Just my 2 cents on the whole screwed up deal.
Only thing I see was the gate close and where I been going in I have not see anyone telling me I could not go in or any signs tell me it was close. :biggrin
You can still hunt the Forest. They are closing gates where they can but if you can walk in, hunting is still allowed.
Well I'm on a lease but used to hunt the forest and most roads I know in the Caney Creek WMA don't have gates to even close but I wouldn't put it past them figuring out a way to close em. I wanted to do some hunting in the WMA this year but too much work.
Just got this back from AGFC.
Rumors National Forests closed to hunting?
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Not true CA. Gates will be closed where they exist but the Forest is open for hunting.
Like · Reply · 2 hours ago
See article below. It does clarify the question about forest land still open but gates will be locked.
Shutdown curtails camping, hunting and fishing on federal lands
Posted by Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
The federal government shutdown is affecting fishing and hunting on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuges and camping on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects in Arkansas. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is reminding anglers, hunters, hikers, campers and others that the federal shutdown could change their plans.
AGFC Director Mike Knoedl said the federal government shutdown could influence people’s outdoor recreation plans in Arkansas. “If you’re heading for federal wildlife refuges to scout, hunt or fish, that activity is prohibited,” Knoedl said. “Arkansas Game and Fish Commission lands will remain open and our officers will be on duty,” he added.
USFWS land and facilities are closed due to the lapse in appropriation for 2014. For more information on the shutdown, go to Contingency Plans for Operations in the Absence of Appropriations.
The Little Rock District, Corps of Engineers is preparing for the closure of all Corps-operated campgrounds and day-use parks, affected recreation areas will not reopen until after the shutdown is lifted. Corps parks leased to partner agencies and concessionaires will remain open, but cannot be supported by the Corps while the shutdown is in place. Campers who are on site prior to the shutdown going into effect will be required to vacate campgrounds not later than 8 p.m. on Oct. 2.
If there is not a resolution before next week, there will be no hunting allowed within the Buffalo National River boundary. That could possibly affect the elk hunt for next week.
Gates to all U.S. Forest Service developed areas will be locked where applicable. However, the forests will remain open to public recreation.
Knoedl said boat ramps may also be closed, which impacts access to Corps lakes. “Closures may include visitor centers and gates on all access points,” he said. Wildlife management areas leased by the AGFC on Corps property will be open and managed by the AGFC. Boat launch ramps inside Corps campgrounds will be inaccessible. All other launch ramps will be open.
Before heading out to your favorite Arkansas Corps lake, go to Headquarters U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or call 501-324-5551 to find out about public access.
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Facebook Page
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I say vote the bums out of office! Closing hunting lands to deer hunting is un-American!
I got a buddy with a dozier, we make a new road! If more of us would band together this land lock, gate issue wouldn't be an issue guys! OH, how I do with God would make a statement to the government about who owns this land and who created it. If I was Indian I'd fight it through the tribal council over here in OK. Heck I am partly Cherokee I guess. Our tax $ pay their salary and pay for the ramps, camp grounds, ect. each time we spend $100 to camp a week on home waters or pay that $30 yearly boat ramp pass. Between me and dad we have given them $60 so just imagine how much $ they get in those yearly ramp fee's.....Hence my point, we pay for the use of something we aren't getting to use now. That's what I have a problem with! I sink brush to help fishing yet I don't see the COE guys or the G&F guys doing that???? I haven't much use for them if all they wanna do it pester us fisherman and not help our waters. They did do some stocking or so they said and I thank them for that. I'm still of a mind to try and transplant some fish from one lake to another, basically do the G&F job for them.
The state has no control , state lands and parks still open. Enforcement still on duty. Not only is transfering fish dangerous to do ( could cause eviromental issuses) but also illegal.Quote:
Originally Posted by constructskeeter
It is all a bunch of crap, we need better leaders and get this shut down back open and running again.
How do they close the refuges but not the national forests? I know enforcement officers are still working on refuges, so what's the difference?
Most enforcement are guys like you and I and know it's BS to landlock everything so I'm guessing they feel same way about it all we do....that it's just a technicality. I work in safety and it's all about do I want to be a hard tail or do I cite things that could get guys hurt, i.e, just keeping them from getting hurt or hurting someone else. As for the fish transfer it is tough considering distance, oxygen, ect. but I said all last Winter I'd do it and never did for one reason or another. I'd say unless they were extremely deep or it was too hot you could move crappie from one lake to the other via my live box and constant aeration. Once back to lake B just unload and head to your already sank brush to dump em out. I know you will heard there's things that you can bring from lake to lake that effect the ecosystems but my reply to that is what you think birds do each and every day?? Once again it's up to us hunters and fisherman to keep what we enjoy populated it seems. Recon I could transplant a few of those Nimrod juveniles to another lesser populated lake??Quote:
Originally Posted by NIMROD
I read this and you may like it also.
Alaska slams feds for keeping hunters off land - Washington Times
SEEMS LIKE THE FEDS ARE KEEPING HUNTERS OFF LANDS THEY PAID FOR FROM SPORTING GOODS TAX , DUCK STAMPS, AND SO ON. :mad:
I'm torn.
I can't decide if I believe A) that the Government has mostly been shut down for most of my life, or B) that the government is NOT currently shut down, only a few non-essential (unworthy to exist?) bureaucracies are.
To charge me to launch a boat at a ramp I've already paid to have built is bad enough. To close it after I paid for it is insane. That's not a "government shutdown". That's a political agenda being fomented.