Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Offers Reward for ATV Violations

Posted August 24th, 2007
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ATV

After a string of conflicts involving irresponsible off-road vehicle riders on the Bitterroot National Forest, the Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers has created the first-of-its-kind reward program aimed at stopping the abuse of pubic land by motor vehicle anywhere in Montana. “Bad guys abuse public land. Good guys take care of it,” said Joe Hundley, a member of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers from Darby. “We are seeing too much lawlessness and damage on Montana’s national forests.

It’s time for Montanans to stand up for the land that belongs to all of us.” Hundley said, to the best of his knowledge, the new program from Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and 1-800-TIP MONT is the first reward system in Montana specifically targeting motorized abuse of national forests. The reward program fits with the long established hotline, 1-800-TIP-MONT. Primarily aimed at catching violators of hunting and fishing laws, the hotline is already a network between Montana Department Fish, Wildlife and Parks game wardens and law enforcement officers at the U.S. Forest Service for general law enforcement.

BHA has pledged to enhance any reward to a citizen who provides information leading to a conviction for anyone who abuses public land with a vehicle. People who call the hot line may remain anonymous if they wish. Coupled with other reward programs, tipsters can be rewarded $1,000 or more depending on individual case circumstances. The BHA reward is valid for any incident on national forests anywhere in Montana. FWP TIP MONT/License fraud coordinator Debbie Lewis, in Helena, welcomed the new reward program.

“Complaints about motor vehicle violations on public lands are not just a hunting season problem, they are a year-round problem,” she said. Too-common violations include riding ATVs on trails or areas closed to motor traffic and cutting cross-country off established routes.

In recent months, several incidents have garnered public attention in the Bitterroot National Forest:

  • In early spring, mud-boggers in four-wheel drives made a muddy mess in the headwaters of Arasta Creek.
  • Later this spring, a retired and disabled police officer from Hamilton was the victim of a hit-and-run accident by an ATV driver. That incident occurred on a road closed to motor vehicles.
  • In June, a horse rider reported ATV riders on another closed road spooked her pack string.

Hundley noted that former Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth called unmanaged recreation one of the greatest threats to national forests. Former head of the Bureau of Land Management, Jim Baca, called misused ATVs the greatest threat to public land.

Hundley encouraged the Bitterroot National Forest to implement fair and clear rules that protect water, habitat and traditional outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, hiking and horse packing in natural peace and quiet.

To learn more about Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, visit www.backcountryhunters.org. BHA is a national group that advocates high-quality hunting and fishing traditions in a quiet and natural setting.