More rant than anything productive- Found on National Forest land in Montana this weekend while chasing bears.
A destroyed fence to allow ATV/snowmobile access to a road closed for dangerous conditions.
A homemade trail building tool left on an illegal mountain bike trail.
And finally- a gate bent up with a high lift jack to allow ATVs underneath the gate and down the closed road. The lower embankment next to the gate is so eroded from side-travel, that you cannot safely take an atv around the gate. Two riders met me about two miles back (on my way out)- they eventually turned around and were apologetic back at the gate, claiming they had a "bad map". I kindly explained that Forest MVUMs are free, and directed them to an open road not too far away. They were nice, just uninformed- would gladly share a beer with them anytime.
After they had left, another hunter with his young son took off down the same road. Unfortunately, I then witnessed a true "winner" make a couple loops on his racing atv to see all the gated roads, only to come back and duck under the bent one I was parked next to, and then really open it up. He undoubtedly overtook the hunters that had recently left. This guy didn't stop to chat on his way out, after I believe he got an earful from a well-armed, well-informed hunter down the road.
Overall- I was very annoyed with what I saw. Old car parts, cases of empty shotgun shells, beer cans, candy bar wrappers, and general abuse including non-compliance with closures resulting in damage to the roadways. There was not one single National Forest sign, of any kind, that was without bullet holes- from a 20ga slug down to a .22. It mostly looked like .30-caliber rifle of some variety, with a fair bit of .45 and 9mm thrown in. Some were then driven over for good measure.
I'm headed back to look for a bear again in two weeks, and I'm hoping some trees fall across those closed roads during these thunderstorms that are so frequent right now. Probably going to a different access, though- not much sign of any kind in those areas.
I'm probably just salty I didn't see any bears, but there's no excuse for the level of disrespect for the public resource. Rant over.
A destroyed fence to allow ATV/snowmobile access to a road closed for dangerous conditions.
A homemade trail building tool left on an illegal mountain bike trail.
And finally- a gate bent up with a high lift jack to allow ATVs underneath the gate and down the closed road. The lower embankment next to the gate is so eroded from side-travel, that you cannot safely take an atv around the gate. Two riders met me about two miles back (on my way out)- they eventually turned around and were apologetic back at the gate, claiming they had a "bad map". I kindly explained that Forest MVUMs are free, and directed them to an open road not too far away. They were nice, just uninformed- would gladly share a beer with them anytime.
After they had left, another hunter with his young son took off down the same road. Unfortunately, I then witnessed a true "winner" make a couple loops on his racing atv to see all the gated roads, only to come back and duck under the bent one I was parked next to, and then really open it up. He undoubtedly overtook the hunters that had recently left. This guy didn't stop to chat on his way out, after I believe he got an earful from a well-armed, well-informed hunter down the road.
Overall- I was very annoyed with what I saw. Old car parts, cases of empty shotgun shells, beer cans, candy bar wrappers, and general abuse including non-compliance with closures resulting in damage to the roadways. There was not one single National Forest sign, of any kind, that was without bullet holes- from a 20ga slug down to a .22. It mostly looked like .30-caliber rifle of some variety, with a fair bit of .45 and 9mm thrown in. Some were then driven over for good measure.
I'm headed back to look for a bear again in two weeks, and I'm hoping some trees fall across those closed roads during these thunderstorms that are so frequent right now. Probably going to a different access, though- not much sign of any kind in those areas.
I'm probably just salty I didn't see any bears, but there's no excuse for the level of disrespect for the public resource. Rant over.
