Some people don’t value these gifts. They use these lands to dump household trash, left over debris from construction or remodeling projects, old tires, old appliances and other unsightly junk. Or, they use signs as target practice or tear them down, vandalize picnic areas or drive their vehicles off road where they aren’t allowed.

"Some people feel they can do anything they want on our WMAs," said David McChesney, acting wildlife director for the KDFWR. "They feel it is government land and its okay."

This attitude is reflected in the amount of trash left behind in high use areas on these lands. "The litter at parking areas and around our fishing ponds is bad," McChesney said. "People will open their doors and clean out their vehicles in the parking areas. This kind of activity comes from all user groups such as picnickers, bird watchers, hikers, hunters and anglers."

Difficult to dispose items show up in isolated spots of our wildlife management areas. "We have a dumping problem with old tires, remodeling debris, roofing work leftovers and other construction debris," McChesney said. "The stuff that is hard to get rid of, or you have to pay to get rid of is often dumped on wildlife management areas. People find it easier to find a remote area to dump this stuff."

These same remote areas tempt people to try out their four-wheel drive truck or all terrain vehicle. "We have a problem with people driving vehicles off the road where they are not allowed," McChesney said. "They see a tractor path and think it is okay. They are destroying habitat work when they do that. Those paths are for us to get access to a project such as a dove field, a fescue eradication project or native grass stands we planted."

McChesney said vehicles are only allowed on maintained roads and in the parking areas. All terrain vehicles (ATVs) are not street legal for use on public roadways and therefore are not allowed on wildlife management areas.

Vehicles driven off maintained roads not only destroy habitat, they disrupt wildlife and create a nuisance for other users.

"It is hard on our law enforcement officers to be there constantly to enforce it," McChesney said. "We hope users will police themselves."

The distinctive brown signs with white lettering seen at WMAs seem to be too tempting a target for some people, whether it is target practice or a target of theft. "We have a big problem with people shooting signs and stealing signs," McChesney said. "You just don’t know why people take signs or shoot them or spray paint them or just tear them down."

Concerned citizens may help stem this activity on wildlife management areas. If you see dumping, vehicles off maintained roads, shooting of signs or any other form of destructive activities, call 1-800-25ALERT to report it.

Colonel David Casey, director of law enforcement for the KDFWR, said those who report destructive activities should write down the license plate number of the vehicle driven by the person committing the acts. He also said for the person reporting the destructive act to try as best they can, without getting involved, to observe the person for identification. All reports to the 1-800-25ALERT are confidential.

KDFWR wildlife management areas offer the only access to lands for outdoor activities for many citizens of Kentucky. Mistreatment of these lands reflects badly on everyone who uses them.