There are a lot of folks who will grow pot and cook meth on public lands. This is because if they are caught doing it on their own property, everything can be seized -- the property, the cars, the house, and everything in the house. So the usual method is to go to a "remote" area of public land (national/state park, national forest) and do it there. Usually they'll have some old beater car or truck. If they are doing it on public land, the only property to be seized is the truck and whatever is in it.

Over the years I have been involved in a lot of operations to clear these guys out of the national forest (mostly in California). The guys growing pot are generally - though not always - harmless while they are in the woods. They know the threshold between a misdemeanor garden and a felony garden and they are always a plant or two short of a felony garden. There was a time that they went in the woods armed and set booby traps, but that was an escalation that they soon discovered they couldn't win. 99 times out of 100, if they feel that their garden was compromised, they will abandon it. Usually, it is one garden out of several dozen. They'll gladly sacrifice a half dozen plants rather than risk being arrested. While I say that these guys are harmless, I'm referring to their being a threat in the woods. Their product goes on to fund organized crime - or gangs if you prefer. While they may not be gang members, they are being paid by gangs and are supplying them with product that they used to finance their operations. Anyone who doesn't see the harm that the gangs are doing needs to wake up. (that's a discussion for a different forum)

The meth guys are a different breed. Cooking meth is an adventure in hazmat land. These guys cooking meth out in the woods are typically armed. Since they aren't doing it behind locked doors, they feel paranoid. They also usually dump their byproducts on the ground, which is a serious hazmat problem. Their operation doesn't take months, like growing pot, so they usually stick around the area, or don't wander far. Meth cookers aren't the witless schmo's that the pot growers are. They are usually part of the gang and will usually be confrontational if confronted in the woods.

The worst I ever saw a pot grower armed was with a little .410 shotgun. I've seen meth guys with AKs. You did right to get out of the area and report it.

My advice to everyone who hunts public land during the warmer, more pleasant weather is to look up the phone number for the law enforcement office of the park service or forest service. They are the ones who will take action... they are sworn federal law enforcement officers and are prepared to deal with criminals. The conservation officer and park ranger generally are not the ones to confront these folks... and similarly, don't confront them yourselves.

Folks, we've got to take an active role in reclaiming our public lands. There is no reason or right for these folks to be conducting criminal activities in places where you may be taking your families. They think that they are going "deep into the woods" - but most of the time their less than a mile in from the road.