PORTLAND – Representative Greg Walden (R-Ore.) sent a letter to US Forest Service Region 6 officials Nov. 1 to register his disagreement with the prohibition on using Off Highway Vehicles (OHV) for big game retrieval and to voice his dissatisfaction over the agency’s rule-making process.

“When rules like this are handed down from the regional office, individual forests are deprived of the flexibility to meet the needs of local citizens most affected by the decision,” Walden wrote.

Walden is asking that the USFS reconsider the regional ban on cross-country travel by OHVs for big game retrieval and for the decision process to be made at the national forest level rather than by the Region 6 office.

“I urge you to strongly consider the public comments and concerns, and ask that you reconsider the regional prohibition on cross-country OHV access for game retrieval,” Walden said. “This is an issue of great importance for many who utilize the federal forest around them.”