VTFWCG Submits Comments to VTF&W on Draft Management Plan

Comments as submitted are below. We encourage all members to submit their own comments after reviewing the plan- they are due 12-15-19. See the plan here: https://vtfishandwildlife.com/BMU-draft-plan

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Re: Border Management Unit LRMP

Mr. Morin,

We are writing to provide comments on the Long Range Management Plan of the Border Management Unit. Our membership is made up of concerned hunters, trappers, and anglers primarily from Essex, Orleans and Caledonia counties who support policies that promote conservation, environmental education, and outdoor activities.

We support maintaining as much of the road system on the Bill Sladyk WMA as possible to accommodate outdoor enthusiasts of all abilities, as well as to distribute hunting pressure more evenly. Well maintained roads with crowns and properly sized and maintained culverts contribute greatly to water quality and fish habitat/passage. This should be an immediate priority with very limited closure of these roads, rather than closing them until some unknown future date.

Obtaining an official right of way off of VT Route 114 to Averill Mountain WMA, with suitable parking roadside, should be a priority as well. This will serve multiple user groups and is a significant safety concern.

Properties that are managed by the Fish & Wildlife Department, and designated as “Wildlife Management Areas”, should be actively managed as the name implies. We would like to see as much of the land in the BMU actively managed as possible. With the exception of wetlands, shore land areas, and other appropriately restricted areas, we think more active management on the remaining lands will benefit wildlife populations.  It is important to maintain forest openings, particularly the Ben Cole clearings, to provide habitat for woodcock, ruffed grouse, snowshoe hare, and white-tailed deer. There should be more early successional habitat than the 4% proposed in the plan; Conservation Design recommends at least 5%. With regard to the Reserve Area, we feel this should not exceed the Conservation Design recommendation of 15% Old Growth Forest, a target we feel should apply within the unit rather than considering the region.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of VTFWCG members,

 

Walt Driscoll, Secretary

VTFWCG

PO Box 207, East Charleston, VT 05833