Public land

I was think'n again the other day (ya it could be dangerous) about a small blowdown sale I once had on the back side of Owl Loop Road. Some big larch had went down near the edge of a old clear cut. There's a lot of that goes to rot along the edge of some Plum Creek boundaries.

Rick Trembath did up some simple paper on it. I paid for it and salvaged 2 loads there don't ya know. Rick was always easy to work with and had good common sense. Steve Feucht was logg'n in the area and sent his skidder to deck'um and everything went as planned.

Doug Russell opened the gate and left it open for a few days. Even for firewood cutters cause they was some dead fir right handy by the road. Doug was another Forest Service man who had plenty of common sense. I think Doug should be head honcho for the entire Forest Service in Montana.

Perhaps we've been conditioned to think that Forest Service land is somehow government land and not PUBLIC LAND! But don't ya see it is public land. And suppose to be administrated by the Forest Service for multiple use – timber, recreation, grazing, mining and so on. They don't need to lord it over us.

There's no reason gates can't be left open for a couple of weeks in huckleberry picking time and firewood cutting at the same time.

The bears won't mind, they can have first dibs. There's plenty of room for all of us to enjoy and use – if we can get to it. With this crazy virus mak'n life miserable and dangerous for everyone and we're suppose to keep our distance from each other, what could be healthier then gathering up your berry pail and bear spray and head'n out n' the woods. Or the old chain saw and gather'n winter's wood.

It's now time for all good people in charge to take the bull by the horns and do what's right for all of us in our public lands. And we promise to wash our hands.