Land sales that require our attention (insurance, assess, design)

[clearwater66]

I recommend we keep a close watch on these events.

Do two Texas billionaire brothers now own a big chunk of S. Idaho? | Idaho Statesman

[banjomike]

There's not a lot anyone can do when big money moves in.
Like the article said, it's up to the owner as to whether the public can access a privately owned forest, or a big ranch, or any big patch of prairie.

There was a lot of uproar over in Gallatin County, Montana, when Ted Turner bought up the Flying D, a huge old cattle ranch and fenced it all in to grow buffalo on it. The back side of the ranch had been open for hunting and fishing for many decades, but Turner shut it all down.

You can see some pictures of it here:

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q...9H0&ajaxhist=0

[Smokinlib1]

I almost made the mistake of going to work for the Wilks brothers a few years ago. After doing a lot of research and speaking in private to the person who would have been my direct manager I made the decision that their ideas/views were 180* opposite of mine and there would be no way I could work for them. They offered great money but in turn you sold them your soul. I heard all about the ranch in Montana and the numerous helicopter hunts they did. They even had special harnesses made so they could lean way out of the helicopter and "hunt" their game. It's a shame they now have their sights set on Idaho. All I see happening with that is more access to public land being removed.

[Cnynrat]

Of course, these were private lands both before and after the sale, so there really isn't any limitation of access to public lands.

The primary way in which access to public lands is limited is by designating them as wilderness, which limits the recreational options in terms of how people can visit these areas and what they can do when they are there. As an example, if the proposed Scotchman Peaks wilderness is approved many historic recreational uses will be eliminated. The other thing that happens when Federal lands are designated wilderness is there is little or no timber management, and as a result these areas tend to become prime areas for the development of fuel for wildfires over time.

With regard to the Wilks properties perhaps they will open public access to some of these areas once they have assessed what they now own and have all the right insurance in place. I'm afraid that's the best we can hope for with any privately held land.

Dave