The Sweet Grass Hills Weed Management Group
Vehicles spread weeds. It's a fact landowners in the Sweet Grass Hills Weed Management Group clearly understand. The group, which also participates in Montana's Block Management Area hunter-access program, knew that allowing hunters onto their property jeopardized their own weed control efforts. But they didn't pull out of the program.
The landowners saw it as an opportunity to spread knowledge about weeds. To hunt on their land, hunters follow a few simple rules. For example, hunters are asked to wash the undercarriage of vehicles before entering. Vehicles and ATVs are restricted to established roads. Weed-seed-free hay is required for hunting stock.
Most hunters gladly comply and feel good about their role in helping ranchers and wildlife. "Once they know what to do, hunters often make weed control a habit, here and other places they hunt," says landowner Lance McDowell. "They go from being a part of the problem to part of the solution." That's not just stopping the spread. That's spreading the fight.
Discover the power of Cooperative Weed Management Groups. Contact your local weed professional and find out what areas are near you. Go back to the home page and locate current news releases on this topic. Pick up your 2006 Montana Noxious Weed Calendar at your local county weed district office.