Gentle Use Guide

Gentle for a Reason

Are you a Gentle User? It is imperative that all horsemen using the wilderness educate themselves to become Gentle Users. We must be sensitive as to how we use the back country resource in order to eliminate the need for more regulations that affect stock use. The future is in our hands! We must become Gentle Users!

Courtesy and Common Sense are the key words to remember as you strive to become a Gentle User.

Gentle with Other Users

Follow the Golden Rule in relations with other users. Be of assistance when a need arises. Greet everyone you meet with a smile and a friendly hello; respect their rights to enjoy the backcountry as you do. Help improve our image as Gentle Users by acting as gentle persons.

Gentle on the Trail

Take it easy! Stay on the trail! Never cut switchbacks or take short cuts. Remove deadfalls whenever possible to avoid creating a new trail.

Get off and walk once in a while and toss rocks off the trail

Gentle on the Ears

Noise pollutes too! Keep it to a minimum. Use as few stock bells as possible. Play your tapes or radio softly so that others are not di Avoid loud talk or yelling. Sight in your firearms before you go on a back country hunting trip. Target practice is not an appropriate activity in the back country.

Gentle with Wildlife

We must especially respect wildlife as we share its habitat. We must take special precautions to avoid disruption of feeding, resting, and nesting areas. Practice the "Catch and Release" ethic when fishing.

Gentle on the Eyes

Select pack covers, tamps, and tents with colors that blend into the surroundings. Keep your camp site and tethering area neat and tidy at all times. Set up your camp out of sight of the trail whenever possible.

Gentle on the Forage

Camp only where there is ample forage for your animals. Allow half an acre per animal if possible. Avoid wet or boggy meadows. Ideally, it should be an area that allows the animals to graze free with movement limited by terrain, drift fences, or fenced pastures. Limit your stay in order to leave feed for the next stock user.

Gentle on the Campsites

If possible, camp in a formerly used site well off the trail. Never set up camp on grass. Use a fire only if there is abundant fuel in the area, and then keep it small. Burn only paper and wood. Keep foil and plastic out of the fire.

Camp at least 100 feet from any body of water. Keep soap out of lakes and streams. Dispose of dish and wash water in a shallow trench after sifting out any food particles. Emulate the cat; dig a hole and bury all human waste at least 200 feet from water and well away from camp.

Pack out not only your trash, but any additional found in the camp or while on the trail. Leave the site as natural as possible- - raking fresh needles and twigs over the area helps to disguise your use of the area.

Gentle with Your Animals

150 pounds maximum is recommended ride and pack well, using equipment that fits properly.

Gentle Animal Control

When YOU must picket your stock in camp overnight, take every precaution to minimize your impact on soil, plants and trees. Always use a picket line when tethering animals near camp. NEVER TIE TO TREES for more than a few minutes. String the picket line between trees over dry mineral soil. Place it at least 100 feet from camp and out of sight of any other camps in the area. When departing, make sure that any disturbed soil is replaced and that all manure is buried or scattered.

A portable electric fence makes a great temporary pasture. Use tape instead of wire for inproved visibility and safety. Fence at least a half acre. Stock must be introduced to the tape prior to your trip, and care must be taken that it is moved often to avoid over owing an area.

Before Departure

  • I have acquired a wilderness and fire pennit if required and am familiar with regulations for the area of backcountry I will be visiting.
  • I have a good topographic map of the area and know how to read it.
  • I have determined that my stock and I are fit enough for the rigors of back country travel.
  • I have planned my tnp to travel as light as possible.
  • I have the proper equipment to assist me in cam cleanup, such as a light, P weight rake and shovel.
  • I have trained my stock well in order to minimize mishaps.
  • I have advised a responsible party of my route and date of return.

Setting up Camp

  • I have located my campsite, a picket line and an mm for personal sarntation at least 100 feet from any body of water.
  • I am using a picket line to tether my stock in an appropriate area.
  • My camp is neat and tidy, and I am using colored tarps and tents that blend into the surroundings.

Leaving Camp

  • I am packing out all my trash plus any I have found along the way or in the camp site.
  • I have removed all manure from the campsite and have scattered or buried all manure near the picket line area.
  • I wn leaving the site as natural or better than when I arrived having removed or smoothed over any visible impacts of stock use.

Backcountry Manners

  • OFFER ASSISTANCE -- to all backcountry travelers when a need is encountered.
  • PACK OUT ALL TRASH after you bum only your paper.
  • DO NOT TIE TO TREES except for a few minutes while packing and unpacking or stopping on the @l.
  • USE A PICKET LINE -- which is away from camps, trails, lakes or smms -- 200 feet or more is best.
  • DO NOT BATHE IN LAKES OR STREAMS -- and do not allow soap to get into the water.
  • STAY ON THE TRAIL -- and do not cut switchbacks or take short cuts.
  • CONSERVE FIRE WOOD -- by keeping fires small and using propane or gasoline stoves where wood is scarce.
  • KEEP MANURE OUT OF CAMPS -- and remove when found.

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