Fourwheelers?

[Getanet]

I understand that. I don't remember the exact rule, but when we could ride wheelers it was supposed to be within a certain time frame of sun rise and sunset. But there would always be a few guys who either didn't know or didn't care.

That's why I would support a less forgiving reg. Such as, no riding between the hours of 5:30 am and 6:00 pm. Or even, only to retrieve deer after 6:00 pm. I'm not tied to those exact hours - whatever would ensure they were only used in the dark and not during shooting hours.

[DinnerPail]

I personally like my Atv and wouldn't be hunting where I am without it. It's a 4.5 mile ride to where we park and then another 1.5 mile walk depending on what stand you are heading to. There is another group that hunt past where we stop and they go another 1.5 miles beyond us. We never run into anyone else as no one wants to be that far from their truck. Yes it sucks when the weather is bad and you have to wait until legal time to ride out but I can live with that.

I do have issues when I hear about others riding where and when there no suppose too. I have politely informed a few of it in the past, some just didn't know and thanked me for pointing it out and others that just didn't care and kept going. Thier numbers we're reported but don't know if anything became of it.

[Musky Buck]

Getanet the old rule was 11-2 between those hours, unsure when it changed.

[Getanet]

Seriously? Two weeks later which one of the two can you tell drove by?

ATV's definitely have a place and time. I love our ATV's. They're work horses, and I'll be honest, I never thought I'd need one, or own one for that matter. Now that I've been an ATV owner for many years I don't know what I'd do without one.

The only thing I ever use my ATV for while hunting is 1) retrieving a deer off of private land (with landowner permission) and 2) hauling a trailer full of decoys into and out of the field (with landowner permission). Beyond that, I don't really need it for anything else.

If you own the land, hey, ride wherever you want...on your land. But State and Federal lands are reserved for EVERYONE, and as such we need to be good stewards of the land, and respect others while there. We don't have the right to damage, manipulate, or alter these properties in any way, shape or form, even if that makes it a little easier for a few people to enjoy the resource.

Hey, I hear ya on being good stewards CanopySam. But how far are we willing to take the "don't damage, manipulate, or alter these properties in any way, shape or form?" The only way to truly accomplish that is for humans to not step foot in the woods in the first place.

[monstermoose78]

Like I said i ride on the trails only now. I go out extra early to try not to bug anyone. I do not leave the woods until after hunting hours. I do help people if they are dragging a deer out by hand. I do not ruin the forest. Like I said I dare you to try and find the tree I pout my stand in next summer. I have never seen a rut from my groups wheelers because its so much rock in North East part of the state. I understand not bugging someone else but I go out of my way to not bug them. I have not had anyone walk back to where I was hunting. I did have a S-10 drive back there one year. No I have had other wheelers come racing in there during shooting hours. But hey they are the same slobs that leave trash on the lakes I bet.

[CANOPY SAM]

I think therein lies the answer to your problem. If the laws are set to allow "a little" there's always the folks who take a little more, etc., etc., etc..

It's just so darn easy to overstep the boundaries on an ATV. They can go pert near anywhere, and thru pert near anything. So what's stopping you? The only real barrier is laws, and in the face of a grossly understaffed group of law enforcement, when no one is looking, nothing is stopping you.

Not everyone cheats, and I respect that some of you are doing your best to obey the current ATV laws, and continue to be good stewards of our natural resources. But again, there has to be a line drawn somewhere. As an ATV owner and operator, I have no problem with obeying the rules that have been decided upon by a bunch of people way smarter than me on how to best protect our natural resources.

You asked for my opinion...there it is.

[CANOPY SAM]

Not to be argumentative, but honestly, comparing the impact of walking thru the woods vs. driving a 600 lb. 4-wheeled machine with giant knobby tires thru the woods? C'mon man! Seriously?

[DinnerPail]

Getanet the old rule was 11-2 between those hours, unsure when it changed.

Still the same 1/2 hour before sunrise, 11-2 and 1/2 hour after sunset. Been that way for quite a few years. In the hunting regulations page 21 and in the Hunting and ATV's brochure

Using Motor Vehicles During Deer Season

To reduce disturbance during the prime deer hunting times, operation of off-highway vehicles and snowmobiles is restricted during the regular firearms deer season:

• Licensed Deer Hunters

A person licensed to take deer must not operate an off-highway vehicle or snowmobile on public or private property in an area open for the taking of deer by firearms on a day that they are licensed to take deer in that area except:

o Before legal shooting hours (one-half hour before sunrise)

o From 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

o After legal shooting hours (one-half hour after sunset)

o On property that they own

o On someone else’s private property with the landowner’s permission

o Under a permit issued by a conservation officer to operate these vehicles in an emergency, medical, or other unusual situation during the restricted hours

Motor vehicles licensed for and being operated on public highways, or farm tractors being used for agricultural purposes, are exempt from this restriction.

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/destinations/ohv/hunting_and_atvs_brochure.pdf

[ClownColor]

Pro ATV use here! They cause damage some say? I laugh-We had a nice 4' foot wide atv trail near our camp. Some local ATV club jumped all over it and wanted to restrict the use and fix it up so they could get grant money. They restriced and closed some trails cause they thought ATV's were damaging the forest. Then, get this, They plow a 12' wide trail, take out all trees, and place gravel all over the forest floor...now you tell me what was causing more damage. This was done to "prevent" ATV damage and promote easier walking.

Some of you say some people can't follow the rules? Well what about the people that say guns kill people and we should ban them?

It's simple right? Guns don't kill people, people kill people!

Respect the rules and we'll all get along.

[jay83196]

Perfectly stated!

[Pinusbanksiana]

Quote :

Hey, I hear ya on being good stewards CanopySam. But how far are we willing to take the "don't damage, manipulate, or alter these properties in any way, shape or form?" The only way to truly accomplish that is for humans to not step foot in the woods in the first place.

There is actually a term for what you speak of, it is called "Untrammeled by Man". I suggest you all read from Aldo Leopolds writings if you are interested in ethics of hunting and ethics of how land is treated. I know some of you have read his stuff, but he really was the father of a land ethic being a philosophy.

[monstermoose78]

600 pound atv vs multi ton logging machines, semi trucks, and skidders. HMMm loggers can cut trees but hunter cant cut trees HMMMM!

[Wensel]

The rule and the times are perfect, I cant figure why someone that shoots a deer at 8 cant wait till 11

In our area the wheelers have destroyed many trails, almost to the point where you cant walk on them, summer fun... blowing thru water puddles and bye bye road..

I owe 2 I drive 2 miles and walk one....

The DNR would write hundreds of tickets in our area....problem...they are too busy

So, lets have all ATV's have 2 license plates, double the size of the plate.

Email a time stamped photo to the DNR and wammo Joe ATV gets a $200.00 ticket or goes to court where me the photographer would be happy to testify.

[Boar]

I gota kia sportage an a geo traker for wheelers, work great for hunting an ice fishing pretty much the same size as a ranger , fully enclosed with heat an sterio. loved the fact i could drive right intot eh woods a pick up my deer right where I shot it. couldnt tell I wa s there but for a ghopher mound with my tire trak on it.

[i'majigger]

What amazes me is they closed some of the trails I used to ride my ATV on because they said we were rutting up and destroying the trail,HUH! I haved walked some of these same trails that are still open for 4 wheel drive pick-ups and now they ARE RUTTED UP. Good job DNR right on the ball as usual!!!

[Getanet]

Not to be argumentative, but honestly, comparing the impact of walking thru the woods vs. driving a 600 lb. 4-wheeled machine with giant knobby tires thru the woods? C'mon man! Seriously?

I love being argumentative. I'm not talking about driving a 4-wheeler over the river and through the woods, I'm talking about driving a 4-wheeler down a logging trail that has already been cut through the woods, is regularly used by heavy duty logging equipment, and driven on regularly by DNR pick-up trucks.

[DinnerPail]

Good job DNR right on the ball as usual!!!

You can't blame it all on the DNR, the counties have a big part in the decision of how lands are managed and have created OHV plans for them. This is where it becomes confusing at times as different counties have different rules. I ran into this a few years back when out riding and crossed from one county to the next on a trail that we rode for years and found it closed to ATV's, called the DNR and was informed that it was a county plan that closed the trail as counties where tasked at that time to create land management and OHV plans. If you check with the county land departments you might get better info than with the DNR.

As far as clubs creating trails, it is not the club who creates or establishes a trail. It is either the state but in most cases it's the county that does this. Once the trail is completed a local ATV club will adopt the trail and maintain it.

[CANOPY SAM]

Pinusbanksianna....I am still so puzzled by that internet handle I can't get my mind around it...

The writings of Aldo Leopold, and John Muir both come to mind in this discussion. A Sand County Almanac is still one of my favorite reads. This should be required reading for everyone taking a firearms safety course, or planning to purchase land for recreational use.

I'd be willing to wager almost everyone involved in, or employed in natural resource management can recite many passages from this book by memory.

[Thermos]

I have been hunting the north side of the Woodtick Trail in the Chippewa National Forest for the better part of 30 years. Its a shame what ATV's have done to the North Country Trail, which was intended for horse back and walking trail only. Even though this trail has been burmed up with dirt or large rocks, ATV's simply drive around it. I dont mind people using ATV's while hunting, if they are being used within the limits of the law. But all too often while grouse hunting, do I see ATV's and there riders completely caked in mud, riding on designated walking trails. It really is a shame. Would these people do this on their own property? I think not.....

[CANOPY SAM]

I think so.....

[Getanet]

CanopySam, if you haven't seen it, you may want to search out the PBS series "Alone in the Wilderness." I think you'd enjoy it.

[Musky Buck]

If that rule hasn't changed I assumed it must have then wow what a zoo some years. Thankfully not this year.