Useful Information

This page presents some information that may be useful to MT 1000 participants planning their trip in the "wilds" of Montana.

1. Montana State Motorcycle Laws (on and off road)

Laws, including helmet rules, sound limits, etc pertaining to Motorcycles in Montana are summarized by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) here.

2. Permits and Rules for Off Highway Vehicles (OHV's) in Montana

A call to the USFS clarified (for me, anyway) that "OHV stickers are required on trails, regular license required on roads." A "trail" is anything restricted to M/C or ATV (generally 50" or less wide); "roads" are open to any motorized vehicle. Note that SPARK ARRESTORS are required on on exhausts ANY TIME YOU ARE ON PUBLIC LAND (roads or trails). This is a good one - it's dry that time of the year. Don't forget to service yours, either.

Some details and useful links including application for temporary nonresident OHV stickers follow:

    • From the Beaverhead-Deelodge NF: "In Montana, an OHV Registration decal is needed to ride trails on National Forest, Bureau of Land Management, or State lands. Vehicles must be street legal with license plates if you plan to ride on public roads, including two-track 4x4 roads." Browse here: Off Highway Riding and Camping

    • From the Montana FWP site: "OHVs that are properly registered in another state may operate in Montana for up to 30 consecutive days. Nonresidents with OHVs that are not registered may purchase a Nonresident Temporary Use OHV Permit that is valid for the calendar year. The Nonresident Temporary Use OHV Permit allows OHV use on trails only. OHVs must be street legal to be riden on roads." Browse here: https://fwp.mt.gov/activities/off-highway-vehicles .

    • My understanding is that "properly registered" means registered for off-highway use. Note the image of the required permit on the page linked to above.

    • My suggestion, for what it is worth, is to buy the temporary permit for $5. Our Fish Wildlife and Parks is supported exclusively by fees and licenses and, in my opinion, does an excellent job of managing the State's recreational resources, so there's a feel-good factor as well. The application is here: https://ols.fwp.mt.gov/ .

    • Note also, that in general you may drive up to 300 feet off a road or trail only to reach a temporary camping spot, but otherwise you must keep your wheels on the road or trail in most areas.

    • One of the biggest threats to motorized use of public lands is excessive exhaust noise, so the AMA position might also be of interest to inmates.Montana sound limits are here with other applicable laws. My opinion is the quieter the better, for what it's worth.

    • Speaking of exhausts, Stovebolt offered this "... exhaust headers reaching the temperatures of the interior of our Sun is a significant threat to be watchful for. When we dismount to camp, watch out for tall grass before riding through it - long before you even swing a sidestand down. It doesn't take much with tinder dry conditions and that header pipe brushing by to risk a conflagration. ... Don't want to cause no fires. Fires are bad." Anyone who lives in the semi-arid West knows how right he is! Others, please believe!

    • Finally, Putts has indicated that there is a group size limit before a permit is required on Federal land. I think he said 24 max in a group, so we riders want to spread out.

3. Camping Tips

    • Water: Water will not necessarily be potable outside of developed camping areas due to the presence of e-coli, giardia, etc. So, you should prepare to purify the water (e.g. by boiling), or bring water with you to primitive camping areas.

    • Garbage Disposal: Of course, everyone who chooses to camp in undeveloped areas will practice the "pack it in - pack it out" ethic. Bring bags for your garbage and take to a garbage can or dumpster.

    • Human Waste: But, what about disposing of human waste in undeveloped camping spots? First, you will want to bring biodegradable camping toilet paper (TP) with you. Second, you will need to dispose of the TP and the waste. Burying may be a possibility for small numbers in some places, but you should consider "packing it out" as well.

There is a great product manufactured in Bozeman, MT called "Wag Bags" that contain an enzyme (Pooh-Powder) for breaking the waste down and keeping it from stinking. Everything is biodegradable so you can just dispose of the bags in trash cans, dumpsters, etc. I can attest to the fact that it WORKS! Used it at our cabin pre-outhouse. Here's a link to a description: http://www.modernoutpost.com/gear/de...pe_powder.html.

Wag Bags are available in most outdoor shops in MT and there are competitors, of course. Wag Bags are described at REI here. Note that the kits include TP hand sanitizer, etc.

    • Washing Up (from Snr Moment, Putts)

Use bio-degradable soap (like Dr. Bronners - available in most healthfood stores). But, many bio-degradable soaps still have phosphorous in them. Don't do it (wash up, that is :) ) in the stream. Proper procedure is to bring a container of water a good distance - 50 ft. from the water source. Soap yourself up using a little of the water, then rinse off. Works best if you have a couple of buckets and a partner.

I carry a collapsable bucket and they're handy for other things like dousing the campfire and washing dishes (not in the stream!). The object is to keep down destructive human environmental impact.

4. Dealing with Bears and other Wildlife in Montana's Backcountry

The March 31, 2010 Dillon Tribune included several references and web links, mostly concerning dealing with bears in the wild. A couple of links to the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP) sight might be of interest.

    • Be Bear Aware - There are links under the "Bear Safety" heading on what to do if you get in an encounter, and the proper use of Pepper Spray.

    • Living With Wildlife/ - Under the "Wild Things" link on the FWP home page (www.fwp.gov) there are links to both Black and Grizzly Bear info.

    • IGBC Bear Spray Recommendations - Provides recommendations for Grizzly Bears. According to the Tribune article, the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) "stresses the importance of following proper bear avoidance safety techniques and recommends bear spray as effective tool for personal safety in bear country."

5. Fishing the Big Sky for Non-Residents

If you want to catch a trout in Montana, you need a conservation license and a fishing license. Non-resident fishing license fees are very reasonable: $10 for a conservation license plus either $15 for two consecutive days, $43.50 for 10 consecutive days, or $60 for the season. Information from Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks is here.

6. Private Land, Cows:

There are a couple of conventions here in Montana that may not be known elsewhere:

    • Many highways (and all dirt roads) are open range. That means that cattle and other livestock have the right-of-way. Be careful.

    • Private land is often (but not always) marked with orange paint on the fence. This is the same as a No Trespassing sign, although it is the rider's responsibility to know when he is on private land and to have permission, the exception being public roads through private land.

Revised 02/04/2011