BRIAN of Winslow, ME jm....evidently you have no idea how much money motorsports bring to the economy in the northern half of the state, do you?

While gas is expensive, there is no shortage. While I may conserve in the interest of my own funds, myself and many other enthusiasts will continue to enjoy life as we see fit.

If you can't afford the gas to enjoy snowmobiling,ATV's or boating then yes, you should refrain from enjoying those activities.

I get the feeling that if gas was $0.50 a gallon you'd still want people to do activities that only you approve of.report abuse

jm of Augusta, ME Brian:

You willfully ignore that, of all the outdoor activities you mention, snowmobiling, ATVing and jet-skiing all require people to burn up gasoline in order to "have fun." That's ONE reason why prices of gasoline are so high. News flash: CONSERVATION is the order of the day!

And we wonder why there's such a problem with obesity....report abuse

Punky Hollow of Poverty Hollow, MEIt is worse than you think. The Sportsmans alliance pushed hunting and fishing harassment legislation that is continually being changed to suit their needs. In many states they are now pushing to outlaw other users from even using the woods during hours of hunting etc. A hunter can now shoot you and claim it was only the excitement of the hunt and your dead. But if you even ask that hunter to point his gun other than in your face a warden can chage you with harassing a hunter. Hunters are using this to intimidate and cause fear to landowners across this country. You complain and the warden sides with the hunter. So you are either dead or in jail. Will Geoge have his way...you bet he will because those additional harassment laws are upgraded at the whim of hunters and zip right though legislation buried in rule changes.report abuse

BRIAN of Winslow, ME Doug Watts are you one of those guys that wants people to only enjoy the outdoors under your terms. People should only do things you enjoy? That's not very a liberal train of thought....well maybe it is.

Whether it be canoeing or jet-skiing. Whether it be hunting or wildlife photography. Whether it be snowmobiling or xc skiing. Whether it be ATVing or hiking. Whether it be tenting or staying in a condo.

All are fun activities and it may be any one of them that sparks a kids interest in the outdoors,which will lead to a branching interest into some of the others and maybe all of them as the years go on, like myself. I see the value in all the mentioned activities.

George Smith realizes this and it's those that want to set limits on ones legal interests that are doing damage.report abuse

ev of Trescott, MEGeorge Smith is to be commended for recognizing that the land the condescending elitist destroy-the-economy wilderness fanatics want to take over is someone else's private property and that LURC had better start respecting that.report abuse

Douglas Watts of Augusta, ME "The things that are working well for the economy of this area are forestry, snowmobiling and bear hunting. The thing that is not working well is primitive wilderness backcountry -- a focus of the new plan. Visitor numbers in backcountry areas have plummeted. Tenting is out. Luxury is in."
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This is all your fault, George. You are the executive director of the Sportsmans Alliance of Maine.You have spent the last decade sending the message to Maine's youth and their parents that they cannot enjoy the outdoors unless they are sitting on a motorized ATV, snowmobile or 4x4; and that people who hike or canoe or enjoy nature with a camera are not 'real Mainers' ...

Your line is very old and very worn. It is as old as your "wolves are evil killers' line. You are not helping the youth of Maine enjoy the outdoors. You are hurting them. And their outdoors.

George, please stop this cynical, destructive, childish charade.

Thanks.

Doug Wattsreport abuse