We do not need more wilderness and national monuments. Very few national monuments are open to hunting and in some cases-such as Wyoming-wilderness is closed to non-residents, unless they hire a guide.
National monuments designated on public lands that are managed for multiple use, such as those managed by the BLM and the Forest Service, are almost all open to hunting. Those managed by the National Park Service usually are not. The difference is that large monuments are designated to protect landscapes, wildlife habitat and ecosystems. Most existing roads are left intact and codified in the designation.
NPS-managed monuments tend to protect small parcels with unique features--either natural or man-made. Most are geological formations, prehistoric sites, historic sites and other cultural features. Few are large enough to allow hunting, and NPS managed lands are closed to hunting, anyway.
