Idaho Wilderness Hearings

Statement:

Mr. Tyler. Thank you, Senator. I wish to apologize for being late. I was here earlier and I misjudged the amount of time this was going to last today. I'd like to take just a moment to express my views on wilderness in the southern Lemhis and talk about Tyler Peak, specifically. I have a special feeling of affection for this peak because it shares my last name. And I've' taken the liberty of bringing a picture of what it looks like because I figured that prob ably few people here are familiar with it or have ever seen it. I think that is typical of area in the Lemhis between Saddle and Dia mond Peaks, and has some special qualities about it which are comparable to any of the wilderness areas in the State that have already been designated. The area used to be a bighorn sheep range, and when I was up there last summer I found an old horn from a bighorn sheep. And last fall, I think, the Idaho Fish and Game people introduced 18 bighorn sheep to try to reestablish a herd up there. And I think that it would really be great if that herd takes and establishes a viable population and can be hunted and provide a source of recre ation for some of the people here. There's also a herd of over 100 mountain goats, cougars, bears, and I've seen elk there above the timberline, too. Basically, I think it's a beautiful area that deserves inclusion, in my opinion, in your wilderness bill. Thank you. (The prepared statement of Mr. Tyler follows:] Statement of Robert Tyler, Idaho Falls, Idaho I would like to talk about Tyler Peak which is in the southern Lemhi Mountains. This area is also in the Diamond Peak Roadless Area and is part of the Challis and Targhee National Forests. Last year I hiked up Tyler Peak and found an old horn from a bighorn sheep ram. The southern Lemhis used to be bighorn sheep range and the Idaho Fish and Game Department reintroduced 18 bighorn sheep to the area last fall. Hopefully, this mag nificent and shy animal will expand its numbers sufficiently enough to become a turntable population in the future. The southern Lemhi's also contain a herd of over 100 mountain goats. I have seen elk browsing above timberline and I am told that bear and mountain lions are also present. Due to its rugged beauty and big game animal population, I think it would be very appropriate to classify the southern Lemhis as wilderness.