“The facts and the myths about Outdoor Access (see features) ”, requires some balancing statistics. I admire the hunting accomplishments of F.J.Hurtak, count him as a good friend, and have lunch with him quite often, but I feel driven to respond to his recent column, and he encouraged me to do so!

It seems to me the article endeavoured to have the public believe that Access Management Areas, Vehicle Access Closures, gates, trenches, cross ditching, and pulled bridges only have a minimal (less than 8%) affect in restricting motorized hunting opportunities. Is that really a fact? I challenge you to do what I did in evaluating the access situation.

First I looked at back-road maps, and made a list of all the larger side valleys that drain into the Elk and Kootenay river system. 

Next, I opened the hunting regulations to the long list of VAC and AMA's, and also mentally remembered the many gates, pulled bridges, tank traps, mega cross ditches, and some totally deactivated publicly funded logging roads.

Of the 60 side valleys I found that 46 of them were in part, or were totally closed to motorized hunting. F.J. that is not 8%, but nearly 80%. And that also is a fact! 

When I was younger, I mostly drove roads during darkness, believing that daylight was for hunting high and far away from roads and vehicles, and yes, I sort of looked down on “road hunters”! Age and arthritic knees have driven me toward ATV travel, and advocating motorized access.

As the little café sign said, “Don't complain about the coffee, some day you may be old and weak too!”