Permit needed to camp in the Wilderness?

[montysano]

Hi all,

I've been poking around the Sipsey for 25+ years, but this was news to me.

I'd called the Forest Service office in Double Springs to check on deer hunting dates in Zone A (i.e. the wilderness).  The woman I spoke with said "Don't forget: during deer season, you need a permit to camp in the wilderness."  She said she'd mail me a permit, and that I needed to bring it by the Double Springs office (or mail it in) before camping.  This is in effect from now until 1/31/09.

Is this new?  I've never done anything except park and walk off into the woods (almost always bushwhacking). 

Does everyone else observe this rule?  Is it enforced?

[toph]

I've never bothered nor seen it enforced.  Come to think of it, I've never seen a ranger anywhere but at the trailheads and that's pretty rare.

[Nalgene Ninja]

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/a...ests/bankhead/index.shtml

Halfway down. Can't comment on enforcement, only been kicking around Bankhead/Sipsey in the last year.

[elbowman]

A couple of weekend's ago when we camped, I called the office and she faxed the form to me. I filled it out and faxed it back to the ranger office. The form states that it must be with you in camp at all times!?? It did not make sense to me either, as my buddy and I have spent 16 days/nights over the course of the summer and fall, and have yet to see a ranger anywhere. But I do notice their large fleet of vehicles parked behind the station as I drive by.

[Nalgene Ninja]

Back at the Alatrails B-day campout, the ranger came by the campsites at Brushy Lake checking permits/reciepts.

[Joshua Szulecki]

I knew of the permit requirement during hunting season. It isn't a big deal, so I wouldn't bother fussing too much about it, I'm guessing it has something to do with the dangers of camping during hunting season, combined with their restrictions on where hunters can camp.

As an aside, the only places I've seen rangers is at Borden Creek Trailhead, and the picnic area. I wish they'd make themselves more visible, especially in highly popular backcountry areas like the big tree, so that less idiotic behavior would be successfully carried out.

[montysano]

I've never seen a ranger in all my years over there.

However, about five years ago, a friend of a friend had an incident.  They were camped on Riddle Creek, and a ranger showed up at their campsite.  He'd seen their car, a VW camper of course, at the trailhead.  It was covered in Grateful Dead stickers and other hippie signage, basically screaming "I have weed!  Bust me!". He searched all their packs and equipment, then marched them back to their car and searched it too.  He found nothing and let them go.

That's why I drive an old Volvo wagon with no bumper stickers