Quote:
Originally Posted by CNP
We make choices everyday. I choose to hunt. I chose to go scouting. I chose to pay $100 for diesel that day. I chose to phone the landowner. She chose to enlist CLAS in order to field all the calls like mine. I chose to be a member of CLAS in order to benefit from that service. I didn't have to make any of those decisions. I had choices, I had alternatives. So your "no alternative" comment doesn't work on me. It's not "pay for access" It's pay for using a service. Again, understanding what is being paid for is what makes this legal and in my opinion an alternative for both landowners and hunters. I respect that anyone that doesn't like it probably won't use it. They have alternatives. I'll use it.
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That reminds me of the leaseholder that told me I had to hire the Outfitter if I wanted to access the grazing lease to hunt elk....
I guess they were only selling a service, not making me pay for access.
CLAS's recreational access model has not been determined to be legal.
When asked by CLAS, the government gave no opinion as to whether the recreational access part of their business was legal or illegal. The gov did decided to not charge them and test the case in court, at the time.
This could very well change. I've discussed this with the gov, CLAS and lawyers. Other legal opinions suggest that the model is illegal.
The law states that NO ONE may be compensated for providing recreational access. CLAS is acting as an agent for the land/leaseowner, receiving a valuable service from CALS. CLAS receives financial compensation from the recreational access user. In other words and IMO, both CLAS and the land/leaseowner are recieving compensation for providing recreational access, which is illegal.
I've stated here before that the owners of CLAS have class and have developed a model that could be a great benefit to Landowners, recreational users and the government. I am not against the concept in general, just against the current financial scheme.
What happens if/when fees increase to join CLAS or another similar company? Or when the fee is charged per access request?
This property is $1000 to access, that one is $50.
With groups like ACA using CLAS, what if in the future ALL lands require paying for this "service"?