Southwest Montana's vast landscape of snow-capped mountain ranges, icy rivers and streams and wild backcountry landscapes are the treasures I grew up with right out my backdoor in Anaconda.

With my father, I prowled the meadows and woods with rifle or shotgun and worked the streams, fishing rod in hand. They are some of my most treasured memories.

I believe in access for all. However, I have seen an unsettling change on our national forests. The Forest Service has not kept up with the growing number of visitors and their penchant for toys. Now is the time for the Forest Service to act, before we lose our freedom to enjoy the backcountry in peace and quiet.

Forty percent of all elk taken by hunters in Montana come from the hunting districts (HD) of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge. It is the source of legendary trout waters: the Big Hole, Rock Creek and Madison. No other national forest is larger or more important to Montana hunters and anglers.

That is why I will be commenting on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest final forest management plan, which will guide management for the next 10 to 15 years. The agency will accept comments until March 31.

My comments will ask the Forest Service to protect the traditional values shared by most Montana hunters. Access to mountain areas -- beyond the reach of roads and traffic -- where every hunter worth his salt finds the best hunting experience.

Unfortunately, wild mountain areas on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest are diminishing as ORV use expands. The explosive growth of off-highway vehicles that illegally cut new routes across previously unroaded landscapes continues. The Forest Service lacks resources to enforce existing regulations, and OHV users have done a dismal job of policing their own ranks.

There is room for ORVs on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge. My concern is that, left unchecked, these growing crowds on increasingly powerful machines will change the very face of Montana. We need to think of the future.

Hunters who have a "favorite spot" in southwest Montana should be concerned about what the agency is proposing. Many of the Fish, Wildlife and Parks HD are restricted to brow tine bull regulations for elk, including all of the Region 2 HDs. These restrictions are the result of deteriorating security cover effectiveness, and they are the last step before hunters are restricted to shorter seasons or limited permits for bull harvest -- serious consequences that hunters can avoid by requiring the Forest Service to adopt strong elk security cover guidelines.

The revised plan goes in the wrong direction: Illegally adding 1,500 miles of predominately user-created ORV routes to the forest road system in the Big Hole, Pioneers, Rock Creek and across the forest. These roads change the traditional character of these landscapes without regard to impacts to the landscape, habitat or public need and acceptance.

Forest records show there are currently 4,157 miles of open forest system roads -- roads legally planned by the agency with their impacts to fish and wildlife considered and the public opinion evaluated.

Elk habitat standards based on local science are discarded for weak standards in legendary elk country such as the Big Hole, Pioneers, Sapphires and Rock Creek. When elk habitat loses, elk hunter opportunities are proportionately lost.

Under this plan, habitat for mountain goat, wolverine, elk calving and key trout headwaters in the Pioneers and Pintlers remain vulnerable to motorized disturbance and destruction. Mountain goat populations have seen drastic declines in the past decade, and their habitat requires better protection.

There is some good news. Trout fishing will benefit from excellent aquatic standards. My comments will urge Forest Supervisor Bruce Ramsey to:

-- Adopt strong elk standards as they have on the Madison Ranger District.

-- Keep and conserve secure backcountry areas and wilderness in wild gems like the Pintlers, Pioneers, Snowcrest, Sapphires and along the Continental Divide.

-- Think to the future and protect the best of Montana for the majority of us who enjoy traditional fair chase hunts; fishing in waters with healthy populations of native fish; all in a landscape that can sustain these activities for future generations.

Chris Marchion was born and raised in Anaconda and is president of Montana Wildlife Federation.