A lot of you moved to Montana for our vast wealth of public land. Please respect it and don’t leave a mess. You will often hear gunfire when you’re out recreating. A lot of us love to go target shooting. Rest assured, no one is getting murdered. It’s not a backcountry robbery, no need to panic and call the sheriff. It’s all good. But if you decide you’d enjoy partaking in this plinking pastime, make sure you know what’s behind your target! There are people everywhere enjoying our public lands, don’t assume you have the place to yourself.

And if you’re driving around looking for a place to camp, don’t roll right up next to someone else’s site. It’s absolutely rude. There’s plenty of room for us all to spread out.

If you’re headed out to a trail in your boots or on a bike, be prepared for anything. Things can get really “western” in a hurry out here. The weather can change on a dime. When you head into our forests, you are no longer at the top of the food chain. Our mountains are steep and the rocks are sharp. The rivers are swift and cold. Understand your limitations and pack appropriate gear. Don’t put the rescue personnel or other trail users at risk by being reckless or ignorant. And please, I beg of you, if you bag your dog’s poop, DO NOT leave the bag on the trail or down at the trailhead. No one else is going to pick it up for you. This shouldn’t need to be stated, but apparently it does.

Sometimes, you’ll be cruising down a road and come across a bovine roadblock. Ranchers need to move their cows often, and occasionally that means on a highway. Don’t freak out and start honking at the cows. Let the cowboys do their job. They want their beef off that road as much as you do. Be patient.

It seems that some of you are moving here to be around your like-minded, right-leaning peers. Please understand that Montana is, and always has been, a purple state. Jeanette Rankin from Montana was the first woman ever elected to the US House of Representatives (1918). She was a pacifist and a women’s rights advocate. Very progressive. We’ve recently had several Democratic governors and senators. Unfortunately, we’ve fallen victim to the politics of fear (“the commies are going to seize our guns and melt them down to make dildos for the gays!”). Although unfortunate, keep in mind that there are plenty of homegrown liberals here as well – and we also like to shoot guns. Let’s have a beer and talk. At worst, we can agree to disagree.

And if you moved here as a liberal and are hoping that you can enlighten us hayseeds, you might want to reconsider. You will meet a lot of resistance if you come in hot and try to wag your finger at those who don’t agree with your politics. Be kind and maybe try a friendly conversation about issues. Don’t be combative. You’ll be surprised how open-minded Montanans can be.

All in all, just be kind and courteous to all of your fellow Montanans. Hold the door open for strangers. Help a senior citizen out to their car with groceries. Feed your neighbors when you know they are in a tight spot. Shovel the snow off a stranger’s sidewalk. Just try to be an example of why we are considered such a friendly state. It’s pretty easy to do, and it keeps our little corner of the world the Last Best Place.