Recreational Activity

A.  Camping. Overnight Camping, other than camping on private lands with the owner or occupant's permission, is permitted on the reservation lakes, $10.00 per night; maximum of 7 nights at one lake is permitted for self-contained units only. The following regulations shall be followed at tribally owned campgrounds and reservation lakes:

• Care of Property. The defacement or destruction of signs, tables, or improvements is prohibited.
• Vehicles. All wheeled vehicles, including trailers, must be kept on the designated campsite parking areas.
• Firewood. Only dead and downed wood in designated areas may be gathered for firewood. Campers should check with the campground manager to locate these areas. Bundles of firewood may be purchased at or near concessionaire facilities.
• Disturbance of Plant or Animal Life. Plants or animals shall not be disturbed in any way. The driving of nails into trees or the stripping of bark, leaves or branches from trees or shrubs is prohibited.
• Digging. The natural terrain shall not be altered in any way. The leveling of the ground or digging for any purpose is prohibited.
• Dogs, Cats and Pets. All dogs, cats, or other pets must be kept on a leash or under physical restrictive control at all times while in a campground.
• Draining and Refuse from Trailers. Trailer owners must provide receptacles to contain waste water. Such water shall be disposed of only at public restrooms, at holding tank disposal units in major campgrounds, or at tribally owned disposal units for a fee. Any other disposal is prohibited within the boundaries of the Reservation.
• Quiet Hours. Quiet must be maintained between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.. During these hours, radios, generators, television sets, and any other noise-producing devices must not be operated to the annoyance of others.
• Clean Camps. Remember, this is bear country. Campers are responsible for maintaining a clean camp at all times and for cleaning their campsite, including the removal of all camping equipment, food, debris and refuse before leaving.
• Food Stuffs.

• (1) All people shall make all food, including garbage and livestock food (excluding hay) unavailable to bears.

• (2) During daylight hours all camps should be attended or otherwise food shall be stored in a bear-resistant manner.

• (3) During nighttime while camping, all food not in use or being prepared shall be stored in a bear-resistant manner.

• (4) Bear-resistant manner--means stored in resistant containers, suspended at least 10 feet above the ground and 4 feet from any support structure (tree trunk, etc.), unavailable due to human attendance, or any combination of these.

• (5) Bear-resistant container--means a securable container constructed of solid material. When secured and under stress the container will not have any cracks, openings, or hinges that would allow a bear to gain entry by biting or clawing. Wood containers are not considered bear resistant unless they are reinforced with metal. Locked vehicles with closed windows are considered bear resistant.

• Garbage. Garbage shall not be buried while camping. Garbage shall be removed and placed in a designated disposal container.
• Unattended Camps. Camps may not be left unattended for more than 12 hours.
• Use of Hydrants. The cleaning of fish and washing of dishes or clothes at water hydrants is not permitted.
• Overnight Camping at Lakes. Overnight Camping at lakes shall be allowed by means of previously stated restrictions.

B.  Watercraft.

• Watercraft Definition. "Watercraft" shall be defined as any boat or floating device of rigid or inflatable construction which is designed to carry people or cargo on the water, and which is propelled by machinery, oars, paddles, or wind action on a sail; exceptions include makeshift contrivances constructed of inner tubes or other floatable material and not propelled by machinery, and personal flotation units held in hand or other objects used as floating or swimming aids. Float tubes, belly boats, pontoon boats and kick boats are considered watercraft.
• Permits. It is unlawful for a non-tribal member to fail to possess either a valid BFWD Recreation/Conservation Permit or BFWD Fishing Permit while using watercraft on the Reservation.
• Water Craft Rules. Any violation of these rules shall be unlawful.
• Personal Flotation Devices (PFD's). Children 12 years of age and under must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD on all watercraft. There must be a wearable U.S. Coastguard approved PFD for each person on any vessel. All persons being towed by a boat, windsurfing, or riding a personal watercraft must wear a PFD. Note: The use or presence of a PFD is not required but is highly recommended while using a non-motorized belly boat or float tube on Reservation waters.
• Use of Motorized Watercraft. It shall be lawful to use electric motors on all lakes and reservoirs EXCEPT for Flattop Lake. Use of gasoline fueled internal combustion motors shall be allowed on the following waters: Duck Lake, Four Horns Lake, Kipp Lake, Lower Two Medicine Reservoir, Lower St. Mary Lake, Mission Lake, and Swift Reservoir. Any use of gasoline fueled internal combustion motors on any body of water not listed above is strictly prohibited. Exceptions include BFWD or other administrative or emergency response use.
• Speed Limits. The speed limit for watercraft shall be ten (10) miles per hour on Duck Lake, Four Horns Lake, Kipp Lake, Mission Lake, and Swift Reservoir.
• Use of Alcoholic Beverages. It is unlawful to operate a watercraft while under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, or other intoxicating substances whose use is prohibited on the Reservation.
• Water Skiing. Water skiing is only permitted on Lower St. Mary Lake and Lower Two Medicine Reservoir. Water skiing on any other body of water is prohibited and both watercraft driver and skier may be cited for a violation.
• Sail Boating. Sail boating is only permitted on Lower St. Mary Lake and Lower Two Medicine Reservoir. Sail boating on any other body of water is prohibited.
• Wind Surfing. Wind surfing is allowed on Four Horns Lake, Mission Lake, Lower St. Mary Lake, Lower Two Medicine Reservoir, and Duck Lake. Wind surfing on any other body of water is prohibited.
• Passing Rule and Right-of-Way. It is unlawful to fail to act in the following manner when passing, approaching, or overtaking another watercraft.

• When two vessels are approaching each other head-on or nearly so, so as to create the risk of collision, each vessel shall bear to the right, and pass the other vehicle on its left side.

• When vessels approach each other obliquely or at right angles, the vessel approaching on the right side has the right-of-way.

• One vessel may overtake another on either side, but shall grant right-of-way to the overtaken vessel.

• When a sailboat/windsurfer and motorboat are operating so as to involve a risk of collision with each other, the motorboat shall yield the right-of-way to the sailboat in all cases.