With more than 30,000 off-highway vehicles in use during the 2007 hunting season, officials with Fish, Wildlife and Parks are reminding those drivers to follow laws regarding where they ride.

In a 2006 survey, 58 percent of the 400 hunters responding said they have traveled off legal routes on OHVs to retrieve harvested game.

In addition, while most of those OHV users surveyed said they follow and agree with state and federal regulations for vehicle use, between 15 and 30 percent -- depending on the laws -- ignored them.

"We want OHV users to be cognizant that they're being scrutinized by hunters and landowners, and to ratchet up the attention a little bit," said Tom Palmer, FWP spokesperson. "They'll face more regulations if things don't change."

Craig Sharpe, executive director of the Montana Wildlife Federation, said that organization is in the midst of a survey of 800 private landowners, and abuses by hunters riding OHVs seems to be one of the biggest reasons access is being denied.

"Typically, there are two or three categories of problems, the first being just asking permission," Sharpe said. "The other part is abuses by motorized vehicles. Some of those surveyed are writing that they prefer foot traffic over motorized traffic, because some of the OHV riders are going where they shouldn't be going, or they're using roads in poor weather, creating problems."

With few exceptions, traveling cross-country on public lands is illegal, as part of an ongoing effort to better protect wildlife and to limit soil erosion. Designated routes are available on state and federal lands, as well as on some private property.

In the FWP survey, nearly 30 percent of the respondents said they only occasionally, or even never, avoid riverside areas and wetlands to protect those environments.

Fifty-six of those surveyed said they hadn't had any OHV safety training, and one-third said they never wear a helmet. However, 38 percent reported they always wear other safety equipment, like gloves, goggles and chest protectors when riding OHVs.

Information from hunter check stations show that people using OHVs typically are less successful than others. FWP notes that elk use and numbers decline in areas adjacent to roads open to motorized vehicles.

Heidi Annau, administrative coordinator for the Montana Trail Vehicle Riders Association, said her group also promotes responsible use of OHVs.

"Our motto is to create a more positive future for OHV use, by telling riders to stay on trails, obey the rules, dress in proper gear and learn proper etiquette," she said.

Sharpe, Palmer and others aren't trying to completely discourage OHV use, since this often is the only way elderly and disabled hunters -- as well as non-hunters -- can get into the forests.

They just are appealing to OHV riders to stay on the designated routes so that further restrictions aren't put on legitimate users. They've also undertaken an education effort to improve relationships with landowners, and put together a hunter/angler code of ethics.

"Hunters are being disturbed and landowners are being disturbed," Palmer said. "We are trying to get OHVers attention that there are some behavioral problems."

Reporter Eve Byron: 447-4076

or eve.byron@helenair.com