Re: Wildlife Management Area Are Open
You are supposed to have a hunting or fishing license to be on a WMA. When do you think the last time that was enforced.
Consider the overall square miles that are included in the WMA's. Enforcement is a problem, to be sure. It is done, but because of the thousands of acres that have to be patrolled, the task is almost impossible. ATV's have been a problem and many cases have been investigated and resolved with the help of sportsmen.
Not everyone considers the open spaces of the WMA's the same. Some people are just slobs. The same can be said of SOME fishermen and hunters as well. Fortunately, there are sportsmen and women who regularly pick up after others by carrying a small trash bag with them to retrieve things like Power Bait jars, styrofoam bait containers, used monofilament fishing line, cans, bottles, and other trash. I wish more anglers would take the time to do the same.
As for the walkers and joggers and bicyclers, they do use the trails too, but unless they are littering or destroying the property, why hassle them? The Ken Lockwood Gorge is a WMA and it is open for fishing and multiple use. I expect the trails through there to be over crowded if the rest of the parks don't open up. The Columbia trail is already packed with more people than I've ever seen and I imagine those walkers will find their way through the Gorge.
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