Here are my notes from last night meeting, this was the follow up meeting from the 2/3 meeting:

Well to me this meeting was a bust. There were more people in the room then the previous meeting, however mostly shooters ticked off that they might be ushered toward shooting areas and they want to shoot where ever they drop their tail gates. Sound familiar?

The main down side was we were hashing over the same things again, when asked who was a first time meeting attendee 90% of the room raised their hands. The entire room of new comers forced us to hash over the same stuff yet again, thus making very little progress on actual proposals.

There was a chemist there who talked to someone who tests the water for lead coming out of Lake Pleasant to determine how much of the lead from shooting was causing a problem. You have to take measures when the amount reaches 15 parts, the current level is not even at 5 parts, so no worries there.

Shooters detailed the issues with being forced to shooting areas and requested to be allowed to basically do as they will. Our response was that due to incidents where 4x4's are exiting or traversing existing trails and have had bullets fly over head or as exiting a trail been staring down the barrel of a gun that just allowing it to be done anywhere is not an option, there is going to have to be a balance. If you want an area where you can shoot where every want then mark it on the map, make a proposal, but since we all use the area differently we are all going to have to compromise and give a little. Not very well received by the shooters, but still a very valid point.

Another suggestion was sort of a citizen patrol group to report issues to law enforcement, this idea had some merit, but needs some serious direction before it takes hold. One suggestion was to partner with the OHV Ambassadors to work something out.

Another proposal was to put the legal barrier limit around the private property, highlight that in red as closed to shooting, still work on developing shooting areas, but work on criteria for shooters if they want to shoot elsewhere.

Hunters are requesting the ability to cross country travel to retrieve game. While it makes sense, it also causes some of the issues with wildcat trails. Someone comes along the next day sees the tracks and heads off to see where it goes, and his buddies follow. After two days of this we have a new road. This issue did not get too much discussion.

Most of the discussion was by the shooters feeling they have been left out and not part of the process and how dare anyone tell them what or where they can shoot. They wanted to know the process and why so much was closed off, nothing as of yet is actually closed, this is still just a proplosal. there will be another meeting after the EA is done, I will or someone else that has that date can post it when it is final. I believe they are shooting for a June 30th meeting. Then 2 weeks to send in your comments.

There is still the appeal process that will follow, we need to be ready for this part as those who call themselve environmentalists are not attending these meetings for the most part, and I am sure they are preparing for the appeal time frame to produce potential evidence that will push for closure and alter the proposed plan. We need to be ready to have ourselves documentation as to why trails should and can remain open.