During spring breakup, the newspaper published photos of Arasta Creek, churned into a muddy bog by some knucklehead with a four-wheel drive. Then this week, the papers featured my friend Bill Burgund, a retired cop who was injured by a hit-and-run driver aboard an ATV on a road set aside for foot and horse traffic.
Ravalli County Sheriff Chris Hoffman added his own observation: “I hunt here. I've been miles behind a locked gate and seen people drive by on an ATV. It makes me madder than hell, too.”
ATVs and other machines are popular with some Montanans. There are thousands of miles of roads open for their use. But they are very powerful tools. They have the power to change Montana's backcountry traditions forever. We have a responsibility to maintain a balance out in the woods. Right now, I'm here to tell you, the balance is far out of whack.
One first step is individual accountability. When we drive, we all have license plates on our cars and trucks. Time has come when all ATVs operated on public land should be required to have a visible license plate. People simply act more considerate when they know someone might have their number.
The little registration stickers now required are simply too small to do any good. If motorized recreation groups are serious about cleaning up the “bad apples” in their ranks, they would stop obstructing and get behind such a common-sense regulation.
At the same time, there is also the need for the Forest Service to take responsibility. We hire them to protect our national forests from abuse. Former Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth called unmanaged recreation one of the greatest threats to our national forests.
It's time for the Bitterroot National Forest to dedicate itself to resolving this problem. The public needs clear rules that are enforced swiftly and fairly. The agency needs to identify important places like wetlands, big-game winter range and calving areas and steer ATV traffic away from them.
One does not have to be run over to have an outdoor outing seriously harmed by motorized recreation.
The Forest Service needs to recognize that the vast majority of people who visit our national forests go there to enjoy the peace and quiet of nature. Motorized recreation has its place, but that minority does not have the right to ruin the experiences of everyone else. For example, I can't tell you how many people have told me of stalking a bull elk or buck mule deer with bow and arrow, only to have the stalk spoiled by some inconsiderate rider.
Western Montana is growing and changing fast. If we do nothing to address this problem, we can expect more crowds, noise and dust on our national forests.
Montanans want responsible access to our national forests. If we live in a world where “anything goes,” soon there will be nothing left.
Joe Hundley is an avid hunter and horseback rider and a member of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and life member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Ravalli Fish & Wildlife Association. He lives near Darby.
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