Photo Courtesy of Paul Turcke
*As some of you know,
Paul Turcke is ending his private law practice. It has been my privilege to work with Paul
over the last 25 years on many legal efforts throughout the country to defend good
travel management decisions or challenge bad travel management decisions. Turcke’s prowess on federal recreation access
issues is unmatched. There will be plenty of time for me to write on many of
those court battles, but I wanted to make sure that folks knew about Turcke’s
passion for hunting and fishing on public lands. His commitment to conservation and resource
management is captured below in an article that he wrote about his outdoor experience
on Wilderness hunts. QWR wishes Turcke
all the best at his new post and thanks him for his service in support of
sustainable OHV recreation on designated roads, trails, and areas.
-- Don Amador
WILDERNESS HUNTING –
CHALLENGES AND REWARDS
By Paul A. Turcke
A colleague emailed me, saying only that he wanted to talk.
We worked for a long time in the same building for organizations usually at
odds over public lands issues, but I always enjoyed bumping into him, pretty
much in the way of Ralph Wolf and Sam Sheepdog in the Looney Tunes. So I
accepted his invitation over a cup of coffee.
He asked if I wanted to write a piece on hunting in Wilderness, which
evoked a reaction of equal parts flattery and fear.
I accepted, mindful of our backgrounds and
differing professional roles. This piece will not emphasize Wilderness as
religion, but more a practical perspective on what Wilderness is, and what it
is not.
Photo Courtesy of Paul Turcke
I’ve sought opportunities in Wilderness, including a DIY
Grand Canyon float trip in 1986 and other similar “whitewater Wilderness”
experiences. My assignment here is to talk about hunting in Wilderness, and I
have done a share of that. It’s often not exactly “fun” to be in Wilderness.
It’s a lot of work. Apparently there are people who backpack camp for “fun” and
I don’t get it. But any aversion I have to sleeping in a 24 ounce tent gets
overshadowed by the force of an unpunched tag for some elusive ungulate and the
prospect of an unparalleled peak experience.
Each Wilderness can offer a unique, dynamic experience. One
should be careful to recognize differences across the broad diversity of areas,
or different times in the same area. As the Act states, we are ”visitors” who
do not remain, catching a momentary and individualized glimpse into any
Wilderness. Even within this diversity, Wilderness is rarely an idyllic place
where everything is perfect. Classic “rock and ice” Wilderness can be pretty
stark, where wildlife is often far less abundant than in successional habitats.
So what is the attraction of hunting in an area where one will almost certainly
work harder while likely seeing less game?
Photo Courtesy of Paul Turcke
The ultimate goal offers one explanation. Certain species
exist primarily in Wilderness, like sheep or goat. For more common species like
deer or elk, Wilderness can offer opportunities that may not exist in more
accessible areas. The preoccupation with trophy score can sometimes raise
concerns, but experienced hunters seek the challenge of locating, studying and
taking mature animals. Escapement is a key contributor, facilitated by the
vastness and challenges of Wilderness.
There is also something to be said for the constancy and
ethos of Wilderness hunting. There are rules, stated and thus locked in by the
Act itself. It feels good to understand and devise methods of complying with these
standards. One must recognize and solve numerous logistical challenges to
thrive during, or even survive, an overnight trip in Wilderness. Quality
hunting can be a matter of avoiding competition, and the challenges of
Wilderness help limit hunting pressure. The remoteness, distance and difficulty
of the terrain demand good fitness, gear and decision making. Those who
appreciate and invest in this culture gain deep satisfaction and will help
share it and instill a similar appreciation in others.
Hunting connects
us with reality. You can’t talk your way out of being upwind of a mature buck.
Wilderness intensifies this reality. Planning a stalk and pulling the trigger
can have significant consequences, causing one to spend, or squander, many
hours or even days reckoning the outcome of the choices made.
These factors all point to a core attribute of Wilderness:
Solitude. Some prefer more of a social
or group experience, which is possible in Wilderness, such as the “classic”
hunt facilitated by a string of packhorses. But many seek a solitary experience
on foot. There is little denying this is in some form escapism. Such escapism
is a justifiable if not healthy response to our society’s present trajectory.
Connecting with primitive and sometimes harsh simplicity of Wilderness provides
insight and perspective on the developed world.
After about 20 years of resident applications, the word
“selected” appeared on my 2018 Idaho California bighorn sheep draw result. The
sheep in that unit live primarily within Owyhee Canyonlands Wilderness
designated in 2009. This is not impenetrable “rock and ice” Wilderness, but
sagebrush-steppe punctuated by 300 meter deep canyons. Out here one will find
cherrystemmed access, fences, livestock and F-15s overhead, reflecting the
version of Wilderness that can even hope to gain traction in today’s Congress.
I have been drawn to this area for over 25 years by hunting, botany,
archeology, photography and management issues involving water, livestock
grazing and recreation. My knowledge and appreciation grew exponentially
through this hunt.
Unlike
the hours long treks from a trailhead and backpack camping suggested above,
this area offers huntable access about 90 minutes from Boise. I made six
scouting trips and hunted a total of seven days throughout the season. I did
encounter other hunters along the roads, who were on different hunts and throughout the season. I did encounter other hunters along
the roads, who were on different hunts and excited to hear that bighorns roamed
this country and to live vicariously through the quest of us lucky enough to
hunt them. I never saw another human while afield.
Photo Courtesy of Paul Turcke
Hunting provides an impetus for visiting Wilderness but much
of what we experience while there comes simply from being. Equal to the
memories of shots successfully taken are those of relict rangelands, fledgling
burrowing owls, pediocactus sites and scurrying short-horned lizards.
Beyond one’s own experiental benefits, being in Wilderness
allows us to recognize and contribute to the broader custodial effort. In
places like the Owyhees agency staff face daunting responsibilities and can be
aided by good behavior and feedback from users. Sometimes we see evidence of
even light touch management, like boundary signage or efforts to restore the
Parker Road to single track after decades of being a vehicle-traveled way. It’s
satisfying to recognize or be part of a collective effort. We should all be
building karma through respect and better care for our public lands.
Wilderness is one position in our portfolio of public land
ownership. There is nothing inherently “good” or “bad” about Wilderness and
there is a limit to the lands that qualify, making it ever more important that
we know and appreciate these places. Hunting is a recognized and historical use
in Wilderness that can provide top quality visitor experiences while enhancing
Wilderness ethos and management. For many, including hunters, Wilderness can provide unique challenges
and commensurate rewards.
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