Landowners in the Kalispell area say vandalism of private property is on the rise during hunting season, especially as more people use all-terrain vehicles.
Warden Lee Anderson of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks says more than 24 gates were either broken or vandalized in the Thompson River area.
Stoltze Land and Lumber Co. and Plum Creek Timber Co. both allow public access on their private timberlands. Neither company plans to close access for now, although both say they’ve seen more damage on their properties.
Anderson says his office issued more than 40 citations on Plum Creek lands in the past year. He says some government foresters believe private landowners should close public access to stop the problems.