Bass Creek Recreation Area

Forest Order

Bitterroot National Forest

1801 N. First

Hamilton, MT

Special Restrictions

Bass Creek Recreation Area

Stevensville Ranger District, Bitterroot National Forest

Ravalli County, Montana

Pursuant to Title 36 CFR 261.50(a) and (b), the following are prohibited within the Bass Creek Recreation of the Stevensville Ranger District, Bitterroot National Forest. These restrictions are in addition to those enumerated in Subpart A, 261 Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations and become effective when signed and will remain in effect until rescinded or revoked.

This order applies to the following areas:

• Bass Creek Recreation Area: West Zone.  The boundary between the West Zone and East Zone is as follows.  The line begins on the north section line of Section 29 near the middle of section 29 T10N, R20W, PMM on trail 129 and runs south until joining Forest Development Road (FDR) 1316.  The line then follows FDR 1316 approximately ¾ mile to the Jct. of FDR 1136.  The boundary follows FDR 1316 uphill south and west to the west section line of Section 32 at the west section line of Section 32 T10N, R20W, PMM the boundary runs South on the west section line to the end of section 32.
• Bass Creek Recreation Area: East Zone.  East Zone is east of the West Zone boundary in the Bass Creek Recreation Area as shown on the attached Exhibit A.
• The East and West Zone areas are designated on the Bass Creek Recreation Area map attached as Exhibit A and hereby made a part of this order.

Prohibited Acts in the West Zone:

36 CFR 261.56 – Use of vehicles Off National Forest System Roads

1.    Possessing or using a motor vehicle, including snowmobiles, off National Forest    

       System roads (36 CFR 261.56).

36 CFR 261.58 – Occupancy and Use

1.      Discharging a firearm, air rifle or gas gun (36 CFR 261.58(m)) except in the pursuit of game birds and other game animals during the legal hunting season.

2.      Predator (including but not limited to coyote, weasel, skunk and civet cat) and all non-game wildlife (including but not limited to badger, raccoon, rabbit and fox) trapping year-round (36 CFR 261.58(b)).

NOTE: The Bass Creek Recreation area is closed to furbearer trapping as per Montana Trapping and Hunting Regulations.

Prohibited Acts on the East Zone:

36 CFR 261.52 – Fire

1.   Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire (36 CFR 261.52(a)), except for fires inside the fire rings provided at designated campsites. 

36 CFR 261.55 – Forest Development Trails

The following are prohibited on Forest Development Trails in the East Zone.

1. Using any type of motorized vehicle (36 CFR 261.55(b)).

36 CFR 261.56 – Use of vehicles Off National Forest System Roads

1.    Possessing or using a motor vehicle, including snowmobiles, off National Forest    

       System roads (36 CFR 261.56).

36 CFR 261.58 – Occupancy and Use

1.  Discharging a firearm, air rifle or gas gun (36 CFR 261.58(m)).

2.  Camping except in designated sites at Charlie Waters Campground, Larry Creek Group Camp and the disperse sites at Larry Creek (36 CFR 261.58(e)).

3.   Predator (including but not limited to coyote, weasel, skunk and civit cat) and all non-game wildlife (including but not limited to badger, raccoon, rabbit and fox) trapping year round (36 CFR 261.58(b)).

NOTE: The Bass Creek Recreation area is closed to furbearer trapping as per Montana Trapping and Hunting Regulations.

Exemptions:

1.      Persons with a permit, specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission (36 CFR 261.50(e) (1)).

2.      Any federal, state, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty (36 CFR 261.50(e) (4)).

Done at Hamilton, Montana this 3rd day of December 2012

                                                                                    By: /s/ Julie K. King                                        

                                                                                           JULIE K. KING

                                                                                           Forest Supervisor

                                                                                           Bitterroot National Forest

Penalty:

Violations of these restrictions are punishable by a fine of up to $5000 or imprisonment for up to 6 months, or both (16 USC 551).

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