Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1233627
17 farm406 Niels Hansen, who is a Wyoming rancher and vice president of the Public Lands Council writes, "Public land ranchers understand beer than most the privileges we as citizens enjoy in this country, and that includes access to public lands. Whether raising livestock like me or enjoying the outdoors, we are responsible for respecting these resources. I encourage anyone who has an opportunity to enjoy nature to take it, but it's important that they remember with that privilege comes the responsibility of taking care of the land and animals that live on it. If you bring it in, take it out. Stay on established roads and trails. If you go through a gate, close it. Leave the land and animals the way you found them or even beer than when you arrived." The Public Lands Council (PLC) is a non- profit group that advocates on behalf of the western ranching industry. This includes cattle and sheep producers who operate on federal lands. PLC is not an individual membership-based organization. Rather, state public land councils submit dues to PLC based on the animal unit months in their state. Each year they collect voluntary donation-based dues through a mailing. So, if you operate on public lands in the west, you are represented through the group regardless of whether you have donated. The DNRC rules and regulations for Montana state trust lands can be found at http://dnrc. mt.gov/divisions/trust/recreational-use-of- state-land Niels Hansen, Vice President of the Public Lands Council. Brile wire fencing and burned posts call for the rebuilding of fence. is will be costly to Doran but will be required if cale are to be put on the land again next spring. Doran must decide if he is going to continue to lease the land. Shawn omas, who coordinates DNRC state lands said, "e legislature wants to give Montana residents the privilege of accessing state lands that they own. It is always a balancing act between the lessee and the public. Each needs to be aware of his own responsibilities and to fulfill them." Doran is discouraged and has the right to be. He shouldn't have to live next to this land to protect it, and game wardens shouldn't have to be called. Whether he or someone else leases the land in the future, they need the courtesy from the public to learn the rules for always leaving public land they have accessed and used for some recreational purpose in the condition they found it. Shot gun shells strewn on the ground. Photo courtesy of Jaclyn Roberts of Public Lands Council Photo courtesy of Jaclyn Roberts of Public Lands Council