Noticing a surge in motorized users illegally riding trails that were closed to motorized use, an Idaho BHA member from Mountain home contacted Idaho BHA to discuss what could be done about it. The result was a 2-day effort from BHA Idaho volunteers and USFS staff from the Mountain Home Ranger District to build burly gate structures and 'buck and rail' fencing to deter the illegal motorized use. Members from Wilder, Kuna, Mountain Home, Boise and Ketchum busted out shovels, spud bars and work gloves to sink railroad ties 3' deep into the ground so that a concrete footing could be poured to discourage people from tearing down the posts.
During the course of the volunteer work, members saw chukar and mule deer, elk sign and one volunteer even managed to sneak in a few minutes of successful fly fishing. The second crew of volunteers also encountered several motorized users that were riding towards the closed area. The BHA work crew politely informed the riders that the area they were heading towards was indeed closed to motorized use.
One of the volunteer teams also came across a large dead tree that was blocking access on a road that was open to motorized access, so the team utilized their tools and group strength to move the tree and improve legal access for all public land users.
About Idaho BHA
The Idaho chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is a group united by a passion to protect and conserve public land forests, mountains, prairies, streams and lakes that support our hunting and angling traditions.