Dear Members of Congress:
The undersigned hunting and fishing businesses are part of a thriving outdoor recreation industry that contributes $887 billion annually to the U.S. economy. We are writing in support of the Antiquities Act of 1906 and to request that it be used responsibly and in
a way that supports the continuation of hunting and fishing in America. The Antiquities Act is an important conservation tool and using the tenets detailed below will ensure hunting, fishing and wildlife values are priority considerations and that future land protections enjoy widespread support.
Over a century ago, Congress recognized that there was need to ensure that public lands of “historic or scientific interest” be conserved as national monuments through executive action by the president. Known as the Antiquities Act, it was signed into law by Theodore Roosevelt and has since become one of the most successful conservation tools in American history.
Over the last 110 years, 16 U.S. presidents – eight Democrats and eight Republicans – have used the Antiquities Act to protect some of the nation’s best public lands, including areas important for hunting and fishing like Colorado’s Browns Canyon and New Mexico’s Rio Grande del Norte. In each of these locations, sportsmen supported, locally-driven legislative proposals languished in Congress for years – sometimes decades – despite overwhelming support. Faced with Congressional inaction, the Antiquities Act provided a path forward. The Antiquities Act is a tool, and like any tool there is a right and wrong way to use it. To that end, numerous hunting and fishing organizations and businesses have been steadfast in our belief that the following tenets must be followed in places important to hunting and fishing, prior to the designation of any future national monuments.
- The monument proposal must be developed through a public process – one that includes hunters and anglers, as well as appropriate state and local governments.
- The monument proclamation must clearly stipulate that management authority over fish and wildlife populations will be retained by state fish and wildlife agencies.
- Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service lands must remain under the authority of a multiple-use focused land management agency.
- Reasonable public access must be retained to enable continued hunting and fishing opportunities.
- The input and guidance of hunters and anglers must be included in management plans for national monuments.
- Important fish and wildlife habitat must be protected.
- The proposal must enjoy support from local sportsmen and women.
- Sporting opportunities must be upheld and the historical and cultural significance of hunting and fishing explicitly acknowledged in the monument proclamation.
Adherence to these tenets will ensure the responsible use of the Antiquities Act, and we oppose any effort to undermine Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy by undoing or modifying it. Instead, we urge you to encourage its use through a process that is locally driven, transparent, incorporates the science-based management and conservation of important fish and wildlife habitat, and upholds continued opportunities to hunt and fish.
Sincerely,
Able Reels Montrose, Colorado Adipose Boatworks Helena, MT Airflo Lines Vancouver, WA Alaska Fly Fishing Goods Juneau, AK Alaska Kenia Fishing For Fun Soldatna, AK Almont Anglers Almont, CO Animas Valley Anglers Durango, CO Angler’s Covey Colorado Springs, CO Angler’s Xstream Parkersburg, WV ARC Fishing Lenexa, KS Backcountry Experience Durango, CO BinoBro Bend, OR Boat Ankor Missoula, MT Breckenridge Outfitters Breckenridge, CO The Caddis, Fly Angling Shop Eugene, OR Castle Construction & Taxidermy Las Cruces, NM Charlton Reels Montrose, CO Cheeky Fishing Arlington, MA Clackacraft Clackamas, OR ColdAvenger Missoula, MT Colorado Hunter Hiker Highlands Ranch, CO Colorado Outfitters Clark, CO Confluence Casting, LLC Gypsum, CO Cooper Landing Fishing Guide, LLC Cooper Landing, AK Creek Company Steamboat Springs, CO Crystal Fly Shop Carbondale, CO Custom Bird Works Missoula, MT Dean Finnerty Guides and Outfitters Cottage Grove, OR Page 3 of 5 Dun Magazine Dover, TN Duranglers Durango, CO Durango Sporting Goods Durango, CO Dvorak Expeditions Nathrop, CO Echo Rods Vancouver, WA Endless Drift Missoula, MT Far-Flung Adventures El Prado, NM First Lite Ketchum, ID Fishpond Denver, CO Fly Fishing Film Tour Boulder, CO Four Wheel Campers Woodland, CA Free Fly Apparel Charleston, SC Gardenswartz Outdoors Durango, CO Great Miami Outfitters Miamisburg, OH Great Outdoors Provision Company Raleigh, NC Green Anchors Hamilton, MT Hart-Montgomery Outdoor Sales Bozeman, MT Heads Up Flyfishing Durango, CO Henry’s Fork Lodge Island Park, ID High Desert Angler Santa Fe, NM Hunter Banks Fly Fishing Ashville, NC Idaho Angler Boise, ID Jimmy’s All Season Angler Idaho Falls, ID JP Fly Fishing Specialties Canon City, CO JY Fly Fishing Hopewell Junction, NY Last Exit Goods Broomfield, CO Little River Outfitters Townsend, TN Montana Raft Frames Huson, MT Northfork Fly Shop Morgantown, WV One Fish Engineering Fort Collins, CO Page 4 of 5 Oregon Outdoor Excursions Lyons, CO Oregon Pack Works Bend, OR Orvis Manchester, VT Orvis – Greenville Greenville, SC Outback a’Horseback Radium Spring, NM Premier Outfitters Questa, NM Questa Economic Development Fund Questa, NM Rainbow Falls Mountain Trout Woodland Park, CO Red Canyon Lodge Dutch John, UT Redington Bainbridge Island, WA Reel Em in Guide Service Ellijay, GA RepYourWater Erie, CO RIGS Fly Shop and Guide Service Ridgeway, CO Rio Products Idaho Falls, ID Riverside Anglers, Inc. West Yellowstone, MT Rocky Mountain Rod Shop Lakewood, CO Rogue Valley Anglers Medford, OR Ross Reels Montrose, CO Royal Treatment Fly Fishing West Linn, OR Sage Bainbridge Island, WA The San Juan Angler Durango, CO Sawyer Paddles and Oars Phoenix, OR Scheels, Reno-Sparks Sparks, NV Scientific Anglers Midland, MI Scott Fly Rods Montrose, CO Seek Outside Grand Junction, CO Silver Creek Outfitters Ketchum, ID Simms Fishing Products Bozeman, MT Solitary Angler El Prado, NM Southwest Expeditions Mesilla, NM Page 5 of 5 The Sportsmen, Inc. Lake City, CO Stone Creek Fly Rods Greely, CO Sweetwater Fly Shop Livingston, MT Sweetwater Ranch Properties Livingstone, MT Sweetwater Travel Company Livingston, MT Taos Fly Shop Taos, NM Telluride Outside Telluride, CO Tenkara USA Boulder, CO Three Rivers Resort Almont, CO Tight Lines Media Idaho Falls, ID Timber to Table Guide Service Paonia, CO Time Timer Cincinnati, OH Trout Creek Flies Dutch John, UT U.P. Fly Angler Trout Creek, MI Vedavoo Leominster, MA Vermillion Ranch Billings, MT Waters West Port Angeles, WA Western Rivers Fly Shop Salt Lake City, UT Willowfly Anglers Almont, CO The Wooden Fly Easthampton, NY