DNR, Horse riders to saddle up at bargaining table.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=2687812&BRD=2086&PAG=461&dept_id=348406&rfi=6 Top Stories DNR, Horse riders to saddle up at bargaining table By:Nerissa Young, staff November 26, 2001 Charles Lester of Ballard shows on a map a few spots where he and fellow horse riders are allowed to ride. (Sarah Garland/The Register-Herald) INDIAN MILLS - The Bluestone Wildlife Management Area wasn't big enough for the both of them. One had to leave. Area horse-riding clubs have been evicted from the public lands after clearing more than 12 miles of trails, and state Division of Natural Resources officials admit they stepped in it. "We're just really sorry for the miscommunication," DNR spokesman Hoy Murphy said. "This has been a wake-up call for us." Robert Beanblossom, district administrator for DNR's Parks and Recreation Section, said, "We should have cleared that with (the) Wildlife (Section) first ... We have tried to use this as a learning experience." Delegate Mary Pearl Compton, D-Monroe, said 18,000 acres ought to be enough room for wildlife, hunters, anglers and horseback riders to peacefully co-exist. "This whole thing was mishandled, and it should never have happened." Charles and Brenda Lester of Ballard are founding members of the Cherokee Trail Riders horse club. Last year, they wrote Parks and Recreation officials to request adopting trails in Bluestone Wildlife Management Area at Barton Ridge, Buffalo Creek, Red Sulphur Turnpike and Cherokee Falls. State parks officials granted them a written permit to cut and maintain the four trails for horseback riding. A dozen members worked nine- and 10-hour days opening the trails, which still had a lot of debris from Hurricane Hugo. Members used their own tools, equipment, tractors and gasoline to clear about 13 1/2 miles. Each time they rode, they carried out their own litter and what others had cast aside. To respect the rights of campers, they mowed adjacent grasslands for tie lines to keep horses and manure from degrading campsites during overnight rides. Members of the Buckhorn Trail Riders and Mountaineer Trail Riders in Princeton joined the Cherokee club. Horse enthusiasts from Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina came north for benefit rides to support various causes. A cut of the proceeds was given to state agencies for hosting the rides on public land. Suddenly, last spring, the hospitality ended. "They stopped us because they said we were disturbing the turkey brood," Brenda Lester said. Club members learned DNR Wildlife and Parks officials planned a May 10 meeting at BWMA headquarters here to discuss trail use. Charles Lester said officials told riders all trail use would end immediately. They offered to not ride during hunting season and to leave their dogs home as a compromise. "This has been an issue ever since I've been in the Legislature," Compton said. For at least 15 years, horseback riders have sought access to the area. She said she has worked during her tenure to open roads and access to BWMA, which fronts the New River and includes the mouth of Indian Creek. "I like going down there ... It is just an outstanding area." She suggested the parties gather at headquarters to resolve the matter. Wildlife officials pledged to study it, look at maps and designate trails. They agreed on a second meeting to arrange a compromise. "What happened was Parks and Wildlife met at Pipestem State Park to decide what they were going to do ...," Compton said. "They made the decision, and they decided where the horsemen would ride." Charles Lester agreed the meeting never happened. Wildlife officials never gave the trail riders "a sound answer" why they were evicted. He suspects they want the public land for their own use. "They just flat out don't want us in their woods." Murphy said wildlife management areas are not eligible for the adopt-a-trail program. Parks manages the campground and maintenance facilities. Wildlife has jurisdiction over everything else. The federal government acquired the land during Bluestone Dam construction, and the state leases it. Beanblossom said, "You've got to balance the outputs of the land with protecting the resource base." Managing the wild turkey habitat is DNR's primary concern. "No one was trying to give (horseback riders) a hard time." Murphy said if Wildlife officials had known of the trail permit, they may have been able to arrange a compromise. Because federal money and state license sales subsidize BWMA, its use is restricted to hunting and fishing. "The more you develop it, the worse it would get ... We're not against horseback riding, but a trail does damage." He added the state maintains several parks with abundant public recreational uses. Charles Lester said the club cut a narrow trail width to minimize disruption. One trail improved access to hunting and fishing areas near the mouth of Indian Creek. Brenda Lester said riders saw a turkey hen and carefully rode around the nest. When they returned six weeks later, they saw the mother with her brood. Murphy and Beanblossom said DNR fielded no complaints about the horseback riders. It was a simple case of improper access allowed by the state. DNR is forming committees to improve internal communication and ensure no similar mistake occurs. Compton said the state reneged on its permit, which is a bad precedent. "I think Wildlife needs to stick to the agreement." State officials should make some accommodation to the trail riders, who performed a public service in good faith. State officials did give them alternate trails, all of which are paved and gravel roads used for vehicular traffic. Beanblossom said, "I know we haven't pleased all the user groups." Murphy said he hopes the riders will return to BWMA to use the campsites and approved trails. Charles Lester said, "We'll probably just go somewhere else." Riders are migrating to Bland, Va., where officials accommodate them on public lands and collisions with vehicles aren't a safety concern. Compton said riders are taking with them thousands of dollars spent on camping and riding supplies bought from locally owned stores. Brenda Lester stood at the mouth of Buffalo Hollow and surveyed some of the 350 blackened acres damaged in wildfires Nov. 3-4. "They're worried about this with horses. Now look at it." ©The Register-Herald 2001

INDIAN MILLS - The Bluestone Wildlife Management Area wasn't big enough for the both of them. One had to leave.

Area horse-riding clubs have been evicted from the public lands after clearing more than 12 miles of trails, and state Division of Natural Resources officials admit they stepped in it.

"We're just really sorry for the miscommunication," DNR spokesman Hoy Murphy said. "This has been a wake-up call for us."

Robert Beanblossom, district administrator for DNR's Parks and Recreation Section, said, "We should have cleared that with (the) Wildlife (Section) first ... We have tried to use this as a learning experience."

Delegate Mary Pearl Compton, D-Monroe, said 18,000 acres ought to be enough room for wildlife, hunters, anglers and horseback riders to peacefully co-exist. "This whole thing was mishandled, and it should never have happened."

Charles and Brenda Lester of Ballard are founding members of the Cherokee Trail Riders horse club. Last year, they wrote Parks and Recreation officials to request adopting trails in Bluestone Wildlife Management Area at Barton Ridge, Buffalo Creek, Red Sulphur Turnpike and Cherokee Falls.

State parks officials granted them a written permit to cut and maintain the four trails for horseback riding. A dozen members worked nine- and 10-hour days opening the trails, which still had a lot of debris from Hurricane Hugo. Members used their own tools, equipment, tractors and gasoline to clear about 13 1/2 miles. Each time they rode, they carried out their own litter and what others had cast aside.

To respect the rights of campers, they mowed adjacent grasslands for tie lines to keep horses and manure from degrading campsites during overnight rides. Members of the Buckhorn Trail Riders and Mountaineer Trail Riders in Princeton joined the Cherokee club. Horse enthusiasts from Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina came north for benefit rides to support various causes. A cut of the proceeds was given to state agencies for hosting the rides on public land.

Suddenly, last spring, the hospitality ended.

"They stopped us because they said we were disturbing the turkey brood," Brenda Lester said.

Club members learned DNR Wildlife and Parks officials planned a May 10 meeting at BWMA headquarters here to discuss trail use. Charles Lester said officials told riders all trail use would end immediately. They offered to not ride during hunting season and to leave their dogs home as a compromise.

"This has been an issue ever since I've been in the Legislature," Compton said. For at least 15 years, horseback riders have sought access to the area. She said she has worked during her tenure to open roads and access to BWMA, which fronts the New River and includes the mouth of Indian Creek. "I like going down there ... It is just an outstanding area."

She suggested the parties gather at headquarters to resolve the matter. Wildlife officials pledged to study it, look at maps and designate trails. They agreed on a second meeting to arrange a compromise.

"What happened was Parks and Wildlife met at Pipestem State Park to decide what they were going to do ...," Compton said. "They made the decision, and they decided where the horsemen would ride."

Charles Lester agreed the meeting never happened. Wildlife officials never gave the trail riders "a sound answer" why they were evicted. He suspects they want the public land for their own use. "They just flat out don't want us in their woods."

Murphy said wildlife management areas are not eligible for the adopt-a-trail program. Parks manages the campground and maintenance facilities. Wildlife has jurisdiction over everything else. The federal government acquired the land during Bluestone Dam construction, and the state leases it.

Beanblossom said, "You've got to balance the outputs of the land with protecting the resource base." Managing the wild turkey habitat is DNR's primary concern. "No one was trying to give (horseback riders) a hard time."

Murphy said if Wildlife officials had known of the trail permit, they may have been able to arrange a compromise. Because federal money and state license sales subsidize BWMA, its use is restricted to hunting and fishing. "The more you develop it, the worse it would get ... We're not against horseback riding, but a trail does damage."

He added the state maintains several parks with abundant public recreational uses.

Charles Lester said the club cut a narrow trail width to minimize disruption. One trail improved access to hunting and fishing areas near the mouth of Indian Creek.

Brenda Lester said riders saw a turkey hen and carefully rode around the nest. When they returned six weeks later, they saw the mother with her brood.

Murphy and Beanblossom said DNR fielded no complaints about the horseback riders. It was a simple case of improper access allowed by the state. DNR is forming committees to improve internal communication and ensure no similar mistake occurs.

Compton said the state reneged on its permit, which is a bad precedent. "I think Wildlife needs to stick to the agreement." State officials should make some accommodation to the trail riders, who performed a public service in good faith.

State officials did give them alternate trails, all of which are paved and gravel roads used for vehicular traffic.

Beanblossom said, "I know we haven't pleased all the user groups."

Murphy said he hopes the riders will return to BWMA to use the campsites and approved trails.

Charles Lester said, "We'll probably just go somewhere else." Riders are migrating to Bland, Va., where officials accommodate them on public lands and collisions with vehicles aren't a safety concern.

Compton said riders are taking with them thousands of dollars spent on camping and riding supplies bought from locally owned stores.

Brenda Lester stood at the mouth of Buffalo Hollow and surveyed some of the 350 blackened acres damaged in wildfires Nov. 3-4. "They're worried about this with horses. Now look at it."

We HAVE TO stop arguing each point these agencies are doing to strip us of our freedoms in America and ask ourselves: WHY?

Why is our government wanting people off federal owned (note, I DIDN'T say "public") properties. Is it because the United Nations--third world entities--have management/control of over 75 % of our National Parks now?

Is it REALLY to protect the wildlife, the natural resources, a horse from stepping on a turkey egg (after that same agency has neglected the land and left acres and acres to burn and destroy those SAME turkeys?)

Hum, or do you think, each ploy by these agencies is part of a bigger ploy to gain control and access of our most valuable pristine areas, ripest with our most valuable natural resources?

Seems strange to me, they strip us of our private property, our recreational freedoms, charge us to drive through or view a small portion of them.....or......are they "saving" them for the perpetuity of THEIR future? Let's stop questioning each action and question the motive behind ALL these actions being perpetrated on American citizens under the 'DIS'guise of "resource protection", "tourism dollars" TURKEY EGGS!!!!

(That's better than the excuses they've used to steal OUR homes /farms / fishing camps / houses /trailers / businesses along the New River, Countrydummy!! The National Park Service FORGOT ABOUT THE TURKEY EGGS!! DARN! :-)

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