A popular road in the Boise Foothills used by hunters and other recreationists has new gates and “no trespassing” signs as the billionaire Wilks brothers of Texas continue to exert their private-property rights in Idaho.
Forest Service road 374 — also known as Boise Ridge Road — crosses Wilks-owned property between Bogus Basin and Harris Creek Summit. The summit is north of the ski area and 13 miles east of Horseshoe Bend. Two gates recently were installed on the road, raising questions about whether the road will be closed to the public.
On Tuesday, the gate on the northern end of the property was open but “no trespassing” signs were in place. The sign on the gate also said “private road” and large trenches were dug to each side of the gate, apparently to prevent vehicles from driving around it.
The signs include the initials “DFD,” for the Wilkses’ DF Development. Attempts to obtain a comment from DF Development on its plans were unsuccessful.
“The physical barrier is irrelevant,” said Brant Petersen, the Boise National Forest’s Idaho City district ranger. “If it’s posted (no trespassing), it’s posted.”
General deer hunting along the Boise Ridge Road begins Oct. 10. Elk hunting begins in November.
The gated stretch of road has been privately owned but publicly accessible for decades. It provides access to neighboring public lands and a network of secondary roads.
“It’s one of the most heavy-hit areas in the state (by hunters),” said Brian Brooks, the executive director of the Idaho Wildlife Federation. “This is going to cause some trouble but it’s also going to start an interesting debate. … That road has been public for so long.”
The Boise Ridge Road gates have prompted more than 20 phone calls and emails to the Boise National Forest, Petersen said. That volume of public contacts usually only happens with major wildfires, he said.