Proper logging creates habitat just as good, provides jobs (better than temporary fire fighting employment) and boosts state revenue. There is more than one way to rejuvenate a forest. Think about it!!!

I have a hard time understanding why any hunter who knows the current downswing in moose populations would even want to hunt moose. I can see it already once the moose are almost extinct and on the endangered species list in Minnesota they will blame the environmentalist, the DNR and everyone else because they cant hunt them. How about a little hindsight people.

Sorry gutshot, but your statement is fantasy. Logging causes changes in the makeup of the forest that are different from those after fire. In addition logging also increases the potential risk of fires by reducing the canopy allowing more sunlight and wind to dry out the forest floor.

gutshot - there is plenty of logging available already. It isn't like they are out of areas to log right now so we won't see any more revenue/jobs, and if there is logging in the BWCA I can guarantee you travel revenue for Ely and Grand Marais will plummet.

Ok.....If fire is so damn good, why don't we start and burn down the whole state from Duluth north....(sic)!

Many parts of the BWCA were logged years ago. In fact you can still see some of the railroad ties that they used to rail it out.

Look, I mentioned logging as a substitute for uncontrolled fire as a tool of forest management and creation of habitat/browse for Moose. Disputed??? It's not an equivalent and we can argue forever on whether that's good or bad. It's debatable whether a tourist would prefer a burnout over a small clear cut If properly planned, in areas not visible from canoe or hiking routes (unless one wants to see a moose). Both leave sentinel trees and green over at an amazing rate. I doubt it causes more fire than fire by drying anything out! I am in favor of more/better moose habitat.

What a shame that some bureaucrats sitting at their desks in Washington thought that letting a forest fire burn, hoping it would burn out before it did any damage, now are not responsible for the millions of dollars it took to put it out. I would like some answers as to who makes these decisions. Are these people elected, appointed, what???

gutshot: You will never be able to talk common sense to the Twin Cities nature fakers or the unknowing. We've tried it for over 40 years. Ignorance is bliss. Glad to see you try, but these people are selfish, think the BWCA belongs exclusively to them and all the reason in the world will never set them straight. They are nuts for lack of a better term.

justaxnspendSep. 29, 11 7:59 PM Ok.....If fire is so damn good, why don't we start and burn down the whole state from Duluth north....(sic)!_________ We should, and if we did we would have much healthier forests for both recreation and for industry the likes of logging. For centuries prior to our taking control the forests of the world grew and thrived with regular fire that went uncontrolled by man.