Pigeon River & Beyond - Back Country Horsemen, Michigan

  I just got the Hearld Times, a local paper, it list the state forest campgrounds the DNR are thinking of closing ( they will close them )  for  Antrim, Cheboygan, Crawford, Montmorency and Otsego counties.  these are the counties that the paper covers. ( this means all other counties have their own list ).  I believe that every State Forest Campground in these counties are listed. Including  Four Mile Horse Camp, Goose Creek Horse Camp, Walsh Road Horse Camp, Elk Hill Horse Camp, and Johnson's Crossing Horse Camp ( this one is all ready closed ).

     The paper says the lack of use will determine if it is open or closed next year. At  Elk HIll over labor day the group camp had only one group with about  35 rigs. the open camp was full  ( ALL 10 SITES ).  but most of the summer it has been empty because the road was closed because of a bridge out and the detour road was just plan very very bad ( da no horse campers )  The other regular camps in the pigeon were mostly empty fo the same reason.

    This week we Horse Camped near Goose Creek and was told the horse folks are camping at Goose Creek Horse Camp,  in big numbers, "BUT NOT PAYING"  I do not belive that, but I do belive that the DNR is tell that tale to keep the numbers down. 

    My reason for posting this is because I believe that the DNR is going to close all the horse camps, instead of opening more both horse camps and regular camps to make money and offer something to the people of michigan who want to use all the state land that the DNR is closing to use.

    I feel help less and would appreciate everyone posting here their comments. The camping is BIg business for all types horse, atv, regular ect.  So why is the state TURNING THEIR BACKS ON BIG MONEY INCOME FROM ALL THIS ??"

    "THIS JUST HAS TO STOP OR THERE WILL BE NOTHING LEFT

       Jerry Cokewell    Gaylord, Michigan

Thanks Jerry for your HEADS UP again on this issue.  Sept. 14, which is today, is the deadline for our comments on State Campground possible closures....The DNR are asking for your imput on what to do and how we can improve them.....Well, personally I feel that like all of their past decisions have already been written in stone and they know which campgrounds will be closed but they must follow prodical and ask for the citizens to comment......I feel that if they really want things to improve, then close them all down and turn the responsibility of operations to the county in which the camps are....this way, the money that is received will stay in that county helping the local economy, not going into the big pot of the DNR to be watered down and spent recklessly.  I went to the Gaylord Herald Times website and found the article talking about the possible camp closures then clicked on the link to show the camp list.  It was also stated that the cost of getting each campground ready for opening each year is $7,000!  What?  We pay $35 to have our wells tested....and I know that the outhouses are not pumped yearly-if so--maybe they should look into another company to do their pumping.....There are many ways to cut costs to save the state money...but again, it's not about the money-it's about CONTROL!  By turning all these camps over to the private sector to run-they could layoff lots of DNR personnel and save even more money!  Just a thought!

And for the comment about horse people using Goose Creek and not paying the post......again-SHOW ME PROOF!

Speaking for myself!

Connie

Don't know too much about all the legislation, but will find out more.  Just thought I would say we camped at goose creek this past weekend and what a place to stay!  We loved it.  the kids enjoyed every trail they could find and hope to enjoy more in the future.  We usually go to south branch , but decided to try goose creek this year.  Boy are we glad we did.  It would be a shame to shut down access to all of our trails for the equine users.  the state should open their eyes to the possible tourism they could bring in from other states and put some money in michigans pocket.  we have some great parks and trails to take advantage of.  By the way we made sure we paid for our camping!!!!

I had a phone call earlier today from someone that read here that people had not paid for camping.

This person was at Goose Creek over the 4th of July weekend. She told me that a member of her group took the last envelope before noon on Thursday - July 2, 2009. This individual wrote some notes on her envelope when she made her payment. She wrote that the envelopes had run out and that there were more than 60 rigs AND many tent campers (non-horse camping) that came in after she did and left on Sunday. She said that there were no envelopes until sometime around 4 or 5 pm on Sunday, July 5. In other words, she wrote that there were people camping that did not pay because there were no envelopes.

She called her legislators and those on the outdoor rec / nat resource house and senate committees.

She was told that she could have simply dropped her money (cash) or check into the pay post. However, she and I agree that that is not a very good thing to do for various security reasons. And if the DNR did come through and check rigs for stickers, how would they know who paid cash with no envelope and who didn't?

She is afraid that perhaps it was her letter to the DNR about the lack of envelopes that is the ammunition being used against campers. Keep in mind, this was not only equestrians, but tent campers too. She thinks that maybe with 4th of July being a long weekend with some people getting Friday off and some people having Monday off, perhaps not enough envelopes were left to begin with.