OHV 4X4's ATTACK NATIONAL FOREST LANDS
A CRIME OF DISTRUCTION ON YOUR PUBLIC LANDS
19 INDIVIDUALS CHARGED AND FINDED
ARTICLE COURTESY OF THE
CASPER STAR TRIBUNE
STAFF WRITER BRODIE FARQUHAR
PHOTOS COURTESY BIGHORN NATIONAL FOREST

A group of Sheridan four-wheelers pleaded guilty last week to damaging roads and natural resources in a mudd-bogging spree through the Bighorn National forest last June. The 19 Sheridan residents. all in their twenties, pleaded guilty on March 1st before U.S. Magistrate Bob Conner and were ordered to pay a total of $7,750 in fines and $12,900 in restitution for resource damage and road repair.

District Ranger Craig Yancy said a Forest Service volunteer traveled into the Telephone Pole Park area on June 4, to investigate rumors of vandalism at a campground. The volunteer carried a video camera to document damage, Yancy said, and noticed a convoy of four-wheel -drive pickups driving across a water-logged open park meadow. According to Yancey's investigation, 30 to 40 people driving four-wheel-drive vehicles intended to drive through snow covered Forest Service roads between Red Grade and Highway 14 - an annual "Spring Run" across the Big Horn National Forest.

Several drivers drove off the road and down into a near-by riparian and creek area, while others watched and encouraged the wheel-spinning, mud-flying, and rut-digging activity.Yancey daid several trucks got sttuck, resulting in deep ruts, before they were towed out by other trucks. Called mud-bogging by four-wheel drivers, the activity is a nightmare for biologists and public land officals, because it causes extensive damage to wetland, riarian areas and stream channels, Yancey said. Damage includes sedimentaion that decreses water quality and damage to the riparian habitat.

Do you have these peoples permission to post their names on the internet? I doubt they pleaded guilty to their crimes, more like plea bargained for a lower fine. If you are going to put an end to this then get off your butts and put an end to boats in rivers that dump more oil, gas, fuel and garbage into the river then some "Harmless" fun those kids were doing in a meadow that does not drain into a river or lakebed. Also get off your butt and design a vehicle that runs on hydrogen power or a reliable electric powered car that does not pollute. Guarantee you own a car and drive one yourself so that right there makes you a hypocrite. I call you that because your car will leak fluids of some sort onto the ground which in return gets washed into a drain by rain water in return goes into a river in return harms fish and other wildlife. I also noticed you are too lazy to do the video taping yourself or to chicken.

I myself am a 4 wheeler/mud bogger and I practice a tread lightly policy and what ever I pack in I pack out and I clean up my lost fluids, gee don't imagine you doing that as you drive down the road. Better hope you never see my solid steel bumper in your rear view mirror. I really feel sorry for people who are so closed minded towards the world.

JD
jdblazer454@earthlink.net

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I enjoy the sport of fourwheelin/offroading I practice Tread Lightly as do most of the offroading community . I find this groups actions to be wrong . But I would like the chance to say that this is in no way typical of the Offroading Community . Offroaders enjoy the outdoors and the wilderness and the majority of us want to protect as best we can

....After all were do we enjoy our sport? So it only makes sense that we enjoy the land
responsibly so that it is available to us in the future . We are not Earth
Destroying Heathens. Please do not base your opinions of us on the actions
of a misguided few Thank you for your Time and consideration

Gus Symons (yellowK20) , LaLuz NM

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