What is it about the word, “wilderness,” that strikes fear into some, and often creates a knee-jerk reaction from some government officials and ranchers? The great conservation writer, Aldo Leopold, had it right. He wrote that wilderness is the artifact from which man has hammered civilization. Moreover, I think most of us who spend time outdoors feel a need for wide-open spaces, and I appeal to my fellow sportsmen to support a modest proposal for a few unique wilderness areas in South Dakota.
About 10 years ago, I opened the West River deer season on a big piece of lovely public land. As I tried to blend into the mosaic of prairie, rocks and brush, I was literally assaulted by a constant parade of ATV’s and 4wd pickups. They made it a lousy hunt. On that day, I realized the need for a few places where an ATV could not tread.
These machines aren’t evil, and I wouldn’t hesitate to use one to haul my ice-fishing shack across a frozen lake. But darned if I can find a legitimate use for one in hunting, other than hauling a critter out where it is legal to do so. Even then, dragging a buck the old fashioned way becomes a part of the hunting experience.
Some will say, that isn’t fair to senior citizens. Well, life isn’t always fair, and I’m one year shy of being eligible for full social security benefits. What’s left of my hair is gray, and though I’m in reasonably good shape, hunts get a bit more difficult each year. But this isn’t about you or me. It’s about the future and our kids and theirs.
Gem hunters have protested wilderness, but where is it written that it takes 4wd power to gather gems? Besides, a pocketful of rocks should be easier to haul out than a big buck.
Let’s talk about what IS allowed in wilderness.
High quality hunting. Horseback riding, fishing, hiking, camping. Livestock grazing where previously established, including rancher access. Mining on pre-existing claims. Rafting, canoeing, guiding, outfitting. Scientific studies, educational travel. Control of wildfires, insects, and disease outbreaks.
The States Attorney in Fall River County, and a few County Commissioners have decided there’s no place for wilderness in South Dakota, and they’ve taken it upon themselves to scare people about it. They’ve succeeded in convincing some County Commissions to pass anti-wilderness resolutions. Many times, those resolutions have passed without the benefit of reasonable information or public scrutiny. Elected officials shouldn’t do business that way, but we’ve learned that is often how they operate in South Dakota. It’s time they open government to the public.
These wilderness proposals will have no effect on private land, and they are proposed for public lands. The separate tracts carry names like Red Shirt, Indian Creek, Cheyenne River and Black Canyon. They feature wind-swept tabletops, sheer cliffs, stark buttes, and a seemingly endless supply of grass. What sets them apart from other wilderness areas in America is that these will be our only prairie wilderness areas.
That’s important, because if you’ve traveled around our state, you will realize how rapidly prairie is disappearing. Most has already been plowed and what remains are under threat of plowing. That’s why I am asking my fellow sportsmen to support leaving this legacy to our children.
