US FISH & WILDLIFE, US BLM, US FOREST SERVICE PROPERTIES

[Chris Dillard]

Why does Uncle Sam have to jack up Deer Season? Seems in the wisdom of Washington that all Federal Lands are closed to entry and hunting until the shut down is over. Funny how I'm still paying taxes to a closed government
I'm just glad I have a State Management Area to hunt tomorrow

[Kegbelly]

The situation may have changed since this happened, but on the 5th we had a work day at our hunt club, we've got about 600 acres surrounded by about 180,000 acres of National Forest. A Nat'l Forest Service Officer pulled up and chatted with us while we were taking a break, and this very question came up. He said the Nat. Forest was still open to hunting, hiking, etc, only the campgrounds and official facilities were closed. He was on duty, and he said game wardens also are, they are considered essential personnel. FWIW my hunting buddy went out yesterday to put some climbers up, he said there were hunter's trucks all over the Forest. So it's still open here, but not where you are, maybe they've selectively closed some forests and not others? I wish you luck wherever you get to hunt. Maybe the idiots in Congress will quit pissing on each other's shoes long enough to actually do something worthwhile for our country but I seriously doubt it.

<edited> wow I just realized you;re also in AL, are you saying Bankhead NF is closed?? We were told just the opposite

[Chris Dillard]

Yes I was told that Bankhead National Forest and Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge are closed to hunting. The Refuge folks posted signs up yesterday at the various gates with the notice. The Federal LEO are still patrolling both the Forest and Refuge. I'm headed to the Swan Creek Management Area in the morning.

[strum]

hey Chris ..im from that are and used to hunt wheeler some.
good to have a fellow Alabamian on here. cant remember if we talked or not but any way ROLL TIDE.
I been hearing the same about out Forestry land here in Ga.
A friend told me all the gates were closed where he normally hunts.
He said the appellation trails were closed too. Sucks

[vixenmaster]

Mark Twain Nat. Forest in Mo. is only closed on the gated roads & lakes/campgrounds. The Forest is open fer hunting usein any & all trails/paths/roads not set wid a lockable gate

[Kegbelly]

I just got back in, Bankhead is open to hunting. Just the campgrounds, facilities and recreation areas are closed. Gated roads are closed in the areas we saw today, so if you want to go deep your gonna have to park at the gate and hoof it unfortunately.

[Chris Dillard]

Sounds good, wish Wheeler would do the same
ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!

[Kegbelly]

Wheeler reopened to hunting today. I drive thru there daily, saw a bunch of trucks parked all over so I called the office and they said they just reopened today.

[Chris Dillard]

Great News