Audubon wants Cape Hatteras Closed

[obxfish]

In the latest edition of the Outer Banks Sentinel, the editor reports that she found on Audubons site solicitations for scientists to write letters in support of their NEW proposal to close The Point, North and South Oregon Inlet beaches, North and South Hatteras Inlet beaches, and North and South Ocracoke Inlet beaches to ALL humans, on a year round PERMANENT basis, including pedestrians. No longer are they just interested in banning off road vehicles from Cape Hatteras National Seashore. They are also advocating severe restrictions on where people can go on the rest of the National Seashore as well. The editor reports that after she asked for comment from Audubon, they password protected the part of the site she found the proposal on. Truly amazing. Audubon is looking and acting more and more like eco terrorists. I hope they can be stopped.

[gary49]

When environmentalists go over the top, which they are apparently considering doing in this case, they end up shooting themselves in the foot---the same thing that extremists of all kinds seem to do. The fact that they password-protected their site lets you know that at least some of them realize that this would be an incendiary proposal. It actually might be a good thing for them to actually propose this, because it would let everybody know what a bunch of nuts they are dealing with--I am personally not very worried about any complete closure happening, I just don't think the general public will let it fly--so to speak. Thanks for the heads-up, though, I could be wrong, who would have thought a few years ago that the beaches would be closed even part time to protect nesting grounds that aren't the only or even the primary sites for nesting for the species?

[Liveaboard74]

Heard this was mentioned but this will never happen. There fools born every day and anything that would even come close to putting the beaches off limits would close Hatteras up alone with the rest of the townships in that area. The fishing will always be a issue for the ones that don't want the 4x4's on the beach but closing the beaches for everyone would end what life is down there.
The few we have down here that do get off their A$$ won't let that happen.

[surf rat]

I have been fishing Cape Point since I was a little kid. I can't believe how far things have gone with those stupid birds. The number one nesting area is on top of the Food Lion in Avon. Nothing would suprise me at this point. The park service is on the side of the birds and the bird lovers not the Fisherman. They ruined my vacation last year. They shut down the beach the very afternoon the Reds showed up. I was there. They ran me off along with several others. Year before last it was two days after they showed up. I was there for that as well.

[hookinfinger]

The kooks that are proposing this know it won't happen either. The problem is that they they work the system by proposing outlandish restrictions in hopes of getting 80% or so of what they want.


It is kind of like a lawsuit against a company. Lawyers will start HIGH knowing they will have to come down.. They can always come down with the demands but they can't go up, so they start on the moon.


Same deal with these enviro-nuts. They will give in some and than say what great people they are because they were willing to compromise. Meanwhile we all get screwed.


Dennis

[Liveaboard74]

I have been fishing Cape Point since I was a little kid. I can't believe how far things have gone with those stupid birds. The number one nesting area is on top of the Food Lion in Avon. Nothing would suprise me at this point. The park service is on the side of the birds and the bird lovers not the Fisherman. They ruined my vacation last year. They shut down the beach the very afternoon the Reds showed up. I was there. They ran me off along with several others. Year before last it was two days after they showed up. I was there for that as well.We could always block off the entrance to the food lion and have the local paper be there with others to get the photos before the cops show up. This will for sure get attention !!! HEY, we're protecting the birds.

[kendall]

people who join together always win due to the squeaky wheel gets the oil.......so we to be more outspoken and join together in mass....otherwise they will use every underhanded method to impose this......look at the politicians.....their so crooked its pittiful and they will be the first ones the auborn people put money in for their votes.....If they have to buy the whole panel.
In Chincoteague its the same way....they tell us not to cross a waterway on the refugee or drive here or there......Then some bird watcher plows right thru the marsh in a land cruiser and thriws mud and water up on ya and in your boots as you walk.....rutting up all the habitate and killing things the whole way to where hes going...but their not on his list of birds to watch......

[BLUEYZWAITN]

I see a complete due over in NC Congress wise and Senate wise... The people there have got to be getting tired of the rules and regs that change like the wind.The revenue lost for all the Beach changes Local Markets and other small buisnesses that they neglect .... For all those that make a living in the GOV't of NC may wanna start looking for new Jobs ..I think there will be a Change next time at the polls

[jig monster]

The park service is on the side of the birds and the bird lovers not the Fisherman.

Are they on there side or were they forced to shut them down because of the lawsuit against them? My understanding is they are still trying to settle out of court. When they first spotted the nest down in Hatteras, they didn't think it was a big deal then. They shut down a small part of the beach and they would escort you across to get to the inlet. It's hard for me to believe that the Park Service wants any part of this knowing how much revenue the O.B. is loosing over a few birds.

[surf rat]

I don't know how much time you spend on Hatteras surf fishing each year. I fish there a lot and I can tell you that the park rangers in general are not any firends of mine. I am sure they have some normal people,but I think most of them are tree huggers that would just as soon shut the beaches down to fishing and driving. I would be suprised if more than one or two of them even fish. They have very little respect for fisherman in general. One nite a couple years ago I was fishing the shoal at O.I. about midnight with one other guy. This ranger pulls up and parks with his high beams on us about 50 yards out in the water. He then orders us to come to him. I walked up to him and he was in the bed of my truck throwing my gear around. I told him he had no right to be in my truck and he said he did't need anyone's permission. He acted like he had just busted up a drug deal or something. What a moron he was. He blinded my nite vision and wasted about half hour of my time in the middle of a Striper bite. The whole time he was there he shined his flashlight in our face.

[MeOff]

The AMZING part is the government has forgotten that National Parks were created for PUBLIC use. I'm sure Teddy is rolling in his grave. These idiots backed with TOYOTA money ; who don't even use the area; are to blame period. They don't give a crap about Hatteras or the people who live there.
The Rangers are on a POWER TRIP! Last year the couple beside us on the beach got a Warning ticket because their two little kids were feeding POTATOE CHIPS to the seagulls! WAY TO MUCH TIME ON THEIR HANDS!!

[Too Bubbas]

my 2 cents; from the beginning of this mess the Park Service has sided with the tree huggers. Think about this, how much easier is it to manage the Park if NO ONE is there. Most of them are probably not from that area, they don't give a crap about the locals or the visitors. Their mis-management years ago opened the door for the Audu-idiots to get this closure to begin with.

AND, no one thought they could get away with the first closure, but they found a nutty judge and look what happened. Anything is possible.

I love going to Hatteras, but its time to find some place else to vacation. Between April and August you never know what fishing beaches will be opened or closed. Too much B.S.

Fish

[gooosehunter]

This is when you shine your flash light in his eyes too. There is noting he can do about it. You just want to see who you are dealing with and make sure you write down his description, license plate, badge number and make and model of the vehicle he is driving and a description of what occured. Also, try to get a witness to do the same thing. Make sure you are doing this as he is trashing your vehicle. Take photos as he is doing all of this and if he questions why you are taking photos and notes, just tell him it is for the defence of your rights and possibly a harrasment suit against the National Park Service.

My two cents.
Dave


I don't know how much time you spend on Hatteras surf fishing each year. I fish there a lot and I can tell you that the park rangers in general are not any firends of mine. I am sure they have some normal people,but I think most of them are tree huggers that would just as soon shut the beaches down to fishing and driving. I would be suprised if more than one or two of them even fish. They have very little respect for fisherman in general. One nite a couple years ago I was fishing the shoal at O.I. about midnight with one other guy. This ranger pulls up and parks with his high beams on us about 50 yards out in the water. He then orders us to come to him. I walked up to him and he was in the bed of my truck throwing my gear around. I told him he had no right to be in my truck and he said he did't need anyone's permission. He acted like he had just busted up a drug deal or something. What a moron he was. He blinded my nite vision and wasted about half hour of my time in the middle of a Striper bite. The whole time he was there he shined his flashlight in our face.

[Fishboy OV8]

Heard this was mentioned but this will never happen. There fools born every day and anything that would even come close to putting the beaches off limits would close Hatteras up alone with the rest of the townships in that area. The fishing will always be a issue for the ones that don't want the 4x4's on the beach but closing the beaches for everyone would end what life is down there.
The few we have down here that do get off their A$$ won't let that happen.


I just Googled the topic and did a little reading to refresh my memory of what this is all about in some detail.

From what I remember, The lawsuit, filed in October 2007, claimed the National Park Service's interim management plan did not adequately protect nesting piping plovers and sea turtles. The Park Service had a time frame to come up with a plan for the Beaches, which they did not do. In July 2007, Judge Boyle ruled that the NPS' lack of a long-term management plan technically made beach driving illegal. In response, the NPS formed an interim plan, against which the lawsuit was filed.

So I guess it's now up the NPS to enforce the Judges ruling in the matter.......not exactly what they wanted to happen either.
I wouldn't rule out anything........... did it once they might do it again. I know everyone tried their best to stop the injunction back in 2007 and failed. Never say never !!!!! i'm sure there's more to come on the subject . I wonder if Toyota is throwing money at them ??

[HYDRAFISH]

What we need is a list of their members names and addresses so they can be touched on a personal basis so that they can't hide

[MeOff]

Hopefuly they all drive toyota's and their gas peddles get stuck. With their top 6 vehicles not being sold now and 2,000,000,000 being recalled maybe they'll be a little thin in the pocket book and won't be able to help again.

[jig monster]

Hopefuly they all drive toyota's and their gas peddles get stuck. With their top 6 vehicles not being sold now and 2,000,000,000 being recalled maybe they'll be a little thin in the pocket book and won't be able to help again.

I don't know for sure but i heard it was over a half million the first time.

[soggy dog]

Elizabeth Dole tried to fix the situation in Congress. Unfortunately, she was voted out. Now it's up to the present NC congressmen and women to run with this issue for their constituents. I'm an OBPA member and haven't heard about this before. Thanks for the info.