This is the time of year when I spend my weekends in the National Forest on Oregon’s north coast. I am in search of elk. Come November, Oregon’s western rifle season is a mere four days in length, which gives me 361 days to prepare. There is a calm anticipation that I feel hiking Oregon’s rugged coastal rain forest alone, scouting for wildlife. A slight feeling of vulnerability keeps me alert. Noises that would cause many city dwellers to panic, I welcome. Cracking sticks, bushes rustling, grunts, growls, snorts, wheezes and bugles all spike my adrenaline, making me smile. This National Forest that I love at times can be unforgiving, it is always rewarding, and most importantly: it is ours.
The House of Representatives earlier this year adopted a budget resolution proposing to sell off public land to help pay down the national debt. At its winter meeting, the Republican National Committee approved a resolutionendorsing proposals to turn our public lands over to Western states that want to increase development. Additionally, Members of Congress like Senator Barrasso have sponsored dangerous bills that would mandate increased logging and drilling on public lands regardless of the environmental consequences.
