The Rancher Stewardship Alliance Weed Committee, with support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Missouri River Conservation Districts Council, completed two weeks of free weed washes for hunters entering the CMR National Wildlife Refuge.  The first weed wash event was the week of Sept. 16-24, prior to the opening of bow hunting season.  More than 80 vehicles took advantage of the free wash station and several more used car wash coupons, provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to ensure their vehicle undercarriages were clean prior to entering weed-free hunting areas in south Phillips County. 
   The second weed wash station was set up and operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Strike Team out of Great Falls during the week of October 20th, prior to the opening of rifle hunting season. 
   With research showing that vehicles driven through weed infestations can carry up to 2,000 weed seeds, the portable wash stations and car wash coupons may have already prevented over half a million new weed infestations!   
   In addition to the free undercarriage wash, hunters were provided with noxious weed identification and control information.  Kara Utt, Weed Scout for the South Phillips County Weed Prevention Area, noted that the weed identification and control information was well received, with several hunters returning to request additional information. 
Many thanks to the hunters, landowners, and agency weed coordinators for their participation.  Special thanks to Shilo Messerly and Kara Utt for keeping it all rolling!