Sportsmen, upset with proposed legislation in Minnesota that would transfer the White Earth Forest to the White Earth tribe, gathered in Ogema on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, to talk about fears the legislation would impact public lands that are used for snowmobiles, UTVs, hiking, fishing and hunting. A controversy is brewing in the region that is pitting sportsmen against the Minnesota Legislature and White Earth tribal leaders. Proposed legislation out of St. Paul would return the White Earth Forest to the White Earth Tribe. The 155,000 acres that span Becker, Clearwater and Mahnomen counties are an attraction to those who hunt, fish and drive snowmobiles and UTVs on state forest trails. Sportsmen are fighting back against the plan. Tribal leaders say the sportsmen are overreacting. Ogema’s main street was packed with pickups on Tuesday, March 5, as people gathered to share their thoughts on the matter. “If it goes to the tribe, (it will) most likely get put in tribal trust. Once it’s in tribal trust, there (are) no taxes collected, none of that type of stuff. What are we, as in we the public, going to do?” Scherzer said. “My concern is, basically, the businesses that are not going to be in business. Which, in turn, is revenue for the county, and this is a tourist area,” Charlie Chadbourne, with USA snowmobile club, said. Minnesota State Sen. Mary Kunesh, DFL-New Brighton, is one of the bill’s sponsors