Land Exchange Could Affect Hunting Access

A proposed U.S. Forest Service land exchange potentially could affect public access to some of the best mule deer hunting in the state. The Forest Service proposes to exchange all or part of six parcels of national forest land, comprising more than 5,200 acres, around Camas Reservoir and Bennett Mountain for about 1,550 acres of private inholdings within the Danskin Mountains off-highway-vehicle area. "It is not known if public access would be restricted if the [national forest] lands were exchanged into private ownership," the proposal says. Not all of the land in the national forest parcels would be exchanged, only enough to equal the appraised value of the private land. But Forest Service officials expect 50 to 75 percent of the identified national forest land would be part of the exchange. That could include lands that provide limited access to game management unit 45, an area known for its prize mule deer bucks. The Forest Service is conducting an environmental assessment of the proposal. Officials expect to announce the start of a 45-day comment period beginning with the publication of a "Notice of Exchange Proposal." For information on the proposed exchange contact the Mountain Home Ranger District at 208-587-7961. More information is available in a Proposed Action Report at: www.fs.fed.us/r4/boise/projects/Danskin_Land_Exchange.pdf