A federal judge in Portland upheld a previous decision and sided with several groups that filed suit to stop the U.S. Forest Service from constructing 137 new miles of off highway trails in critical habitat on the Ochoco National Forest in the central part of the state.
“It’s a good day for elk, hunters, and conservation,” said Jim Akenson, Oregon Hunters Association conservation director. “OHA is not opposed to responsible OHV use, we are just opposed to the disturbance and displacement of elk in critical habitat that would move them off public land onto nearby private land, where they would get themselves into trouble. We filed this lawsuit as a last resort.”
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation supports the decision.
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(Photo source: Sandy Lowe)