Kathe Hayes, coordinator for Ghost Riders and the Wilderness Information Specialists, educational programs affiliated with the Forest Service, said that during the fall their primary focus is on hunters using horses and camping. This season volunteers will stand at trailheads in the San Juan Mountains handing out garbage bags and requesting that hunters pick up trash left behind by others. Hayes said that most hunters plan their trips well in advance. Our specific interest is to provide hunters with Leave no Trace information before they arrive at their hunting destinations. Hunting is one of the largest uses of public lands in Colorado, she said.
Nobody likes regulations, including the land management agencies.
But if unacceptable impacts to the environment persist then regulations are necessary to ensure responsible use, she said. Hayes said that the majority of hunters bring horses and motorized vehicles. Horses can also negatively impact wildlife habitat, she said. Hayes recommends that people tie a line or rope between two trees to restrain horses. Litter is also a problem in the backcountry, Hayes said.