Utah's hunting traditions must be protected

Most folks agree that increasing our domestic energy supply should be a national priority. Oil and gas development, however, must be guided by science to ensure that the needs of fish and wildlife are met. The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, a conservation organization working on behalf of sportsmen's interests, has developed a science-based approach to energy development called FACTS for Fish and Wildlife, designed to help conserve our hunting and fishing resources during energy development. If federal agencies use this model, the impacts on our outdoor traditions could be significantly reduced.

Fortunately, the BLM recently made the right decision and temporarily withdrew 46,000 acres of critical mule deer winter range in Utah from energy development due to habitat concerns. Hopefully, the agency will use this action as a stepping stone to begin planning energy development in a way that minimizes impacts on fish, wildlife and the public's hunting and fishing opportunities.

Now is the time to support a century of hard work by Utah conservationists and wildlife managers in order to maintain big-game herds that the public can enjoy. Our hunting traditions are too precious to sacrifice to poorly planned energy development.

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Joel Webster works to protect America's hunting and fishing traditions as a field representative for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.