C180 pilot experiences a rough running engine in mountainous terrain and elects to land at a closed airport after contacting personnel on the ground.

Narrative

I left my hunting camp in the C180 and it was performing OK. Then it started sputtering like the engine was fuel starving. Changing mixture setting helped at first then it started running rough and sputtering. Adding carb heat didn't help so I circled the airport. I was intending to fly to a nearby airport but didn't want to get stuck in the canyon and have the engine quit. I called the ground person and said I was circling to see if I could fix the engine sputtering. Also; I heard a State Patrol pilot in the area but he never said anything back to me. When the engine didn't improve; I asked the ground person if he could clear away any workers from the runway so that I could land even though the airport is officially closed. The ground person told me to go ahead and land and he met me with the truck at the taxiway and had me follow him to the hangars. When I got out of the airplane I thanked him and also talked to the electrician working there. I said I hope I did not cause any one problem. They both said everything was ok. Now a few days later; I was told that an anonymous complaint was made about my endangering people.