Winter closures in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest won't affect visitors this year, but if people don't respect the closures, they may be out of luck in the future.

Forest officials, in conjunction with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, have restricted motorized access on nearly 60,000 acres on the forest designated as crucial big game winter range.

The areas are in the Snowy Range, Sierra Madres and Laramie Peak areas. Closures are in effect Nov. 15 to April 30.

There are some roads within those areas that are open to motorized vehicles, but people must stay on the roads.

"There's not too much that's going to change for most users that are using roads in that area," said Rich Guenzel, wildlife biologist with Game and Fish. "If problems develop, we could ask the Forest Service to change that. Our recommendation is to do a case-by-case basis. We can go ahead and have an exception (to winter closures) with the caveat that they should stay on the road. If not, something else has to be done."

The closed areas are part of the Medicine Bow's newly revised forest plan, signed in December 2003. The closures had been in effect in years past, but updated boundaries were drawn with the revision, to include more areas identified as crucial winter range.

"These areas are managed to provide adequate amounts of quality forage, cover and solitude for deer, elk and other species," said Nancy Clarke, spokeswoman for the Medicine Bow. "These areas will provide sufficient habitat and protection from disturbance to support the population and management objectives for winter deer, elk and other species."

Clarke said roads that remain open within the closures were suggested by Game and Fish.

One of the most popular roads that will remain open unless people leave the roadway is the "512 Road," or the Boat Creek Road. Guenzel said that road goes through crucial winter range, and it is popular with snowmobilers.

Despite some past problems with people disturbing wildlife, Guenzel said Game and Fish elected to leave the road open in hope that more signs and public patrols would hold people to the roadway.

The Forest Service always has the option of closing it if people don't respect the closures, he said.

Other roads go through winter closures but come out in open areas, such as the Fox Creek Road going up the south side of Sheep Mountain, Guenzel said.

Winter closure areas can still be accessed, for the most part, with walk-in access. It is just motorized access that is restricted.

The closures will be in place every year from Nov. 15 to April 30. The areas will be patrolled, but there will not be additional patrols, forest officials said.

Environmental reporter Whitney Royster can be reached at (307) 734-0260 or at royster@trib.com.