There are a lot of bounties out there- the Randi challenge, the Willow Creek challenge, the Olympia beer reward, the Bushnell challenge, etc. There is no conspiracy surrounding these. They all offer big payouts because they're confident they won't have to pay up.
With all the reported sightings that have been documented, how many of those areas have been restricted? None of the ones I've been to have had any restrictions. No government agencies anywhere in sight, no road blocks, even areas with lumber companies have just let me pass around them.