Faux Outdoor Groups Have No Place in Land-Use Debate/Political Process

           The Famous Carnegie "Eco-Hoax" Fish - The only fish that has ever been in the tiny stream

Over the last few years, HQ has written about faux OHV groups who have been created by far left green groups as a way to try and confuse general recreationists and elected officials. One of HQ’s blogs exposed several of these groups as nothing more then a proverbial “Skunk at the Party.”

HQ Blog on Skunks at the Party
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2011/07/new-green-skunk-at-ohv-party-old-trick.html

BRC article about Skunks at the Party
http://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/2011/08/16/skunks-party-dave-skinners-latest-dont-miss-article

Based on my experience with fake OHV groups, it came as no surprise when I read over the Thanksgiving Holiday about “Montana Hunters and Anglers” - a faux sportsmen’s group that is nothing more than a political attack dog - seeking to take out Congressman Denny Rehberg (MT) in the 2012 election.

Ron Arnold’s Article on Faux Hunting and Fishing Group in Montana
http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/2011/11/montana-outdoors-group-actually-stealth-democratic-attack-dog

OHVers in the SF Bay Area got their dose of a closure oriented “sportsmen’s” group several years ago when the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance filed a suit to “protect fishing” at the Carnegie OHV Park. Trouble was that there have never been any fish in the tiny intermittent stream that runs in the center of the park. It was totally a faux issue much like the effort being used to unseat Congressman Rehberg.


Story on the Carnegie Eco-Hoax Fish
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2009/12/miracle-at-18600-corral-hollow-road.html

Working with legitimate environmental and conservation groups is something I do on a regular basis. However, faux OHV and hunting/fishing groups should have no place in the land-use debate or political process.
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