Comments on: Pawnee Grassland – A changed landscape

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Fri, 19 May 2017 00:26:56 +0000

In reply to Serri. Thanks! Loved all the interesting links in your write up.

By: Serri

Serri — Thu, 18 May 2017 21:07:57 +0000

We touched base a few days ago through my Friendly Rock blog . . . I’ve also posted a link on West with Kids (a family travel site), with much thanks. Love your writing and thoughts. https://westwithkids.com/2017/05/18/destination-pawnee-national-grassland/

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 20:54:12 +0000

Another good article about this changing landscape… http://www.boulderweekly.com/article-15261-does-it-make-a-sound.html

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 02:07:10 +0000

FOLLOW UP: Excellent article in Westword
http://www.westword.com/news/the-blm-just-sold-more-leases-on-the-pawnee-and-environmentalists-say-thats-for-the-birds-6965224

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Fri, 10 Jul 2015 21:10:16 +0000

In reply to Paul Mags.

The proposal is in place and the USFS is seeking further commentary http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=46910

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Mon, 25 May 2015 15:07:45 +0000

In reply to Drew Smith. My wife and I noticed the amount of shooters as well. The birding was noticeably less, too. Thanks for the link.

By: Drew Smith

Drew Smith — Mon, 25 May 2015 02:35:18 +0000

Yes, the eastern section has become completely ruined for camping or wildlife watching. One can still find quiet, wildlife and dark skies on the western section, but you have to work for it. The problem here is that the area has been overrun by rec shooters. I’m not anti-gun by any means, but it is very hard to get away from the sound of gunfire on weekends. First weekend in May I took some kids camping as part of the Sierra Club’s Inner City Outing program, only to have a group of guys set up their sniper rifles a quarter mile away. They were shooting at targets 1200 yards away, and I’m sure the kill range was well over a mile. Needless to say, no pronghorns were in the area. They were good guys, and were being responsible, but not everyone will be – this is a disaster waiting to happen. The FS is aware of the problem, and is inviting comments on a management plan for the area: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/arp/news-events/?cid=STELPRD3836842
I encourage you and your readers to share your thoughts with the FS.

By: Paul Mags

Paul Mags — Thu, 21 May 2015 17:53:08 +0000

In reply to Andrea. Indeed. I keep thinking back to what that reader wrote back in 2012: "I hope that at somepoint in time people won’t look back at our images and think “where was that? It’s just a field of oil wells.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Thu, 21 May 2015 15:04:21 +0000

Oh, this bums me out so much! My husband and I camped at Pawnee many years ago (16-17-18?). We just unrolled our sleeping bags on the grass and lay under the stars–not a building, not a powerline, not a fence post for as far as the eyes could see in every direction. On the hike to the buttes we sawed a horned lizard and rattle snake (dead). Tons of wildflowers. It was so beautiful there. How sad and short-sighted to mar the last bits of wild prairie left.