The Proper Use Of ATVs In The Hunt

i'm probably going to regret this, but i'm going to comment anyway.

i agree wholeheartedly with following a well defined set of rules when it comes to the use of ATV's. there are numerous occasions i can think of when i was glassing my next potential trophy when the sound of ATV's spooked everything into the next county. however, it must be said that as long as i can remember in years past, there have been almost as many occasions when a caravan of mongo lifted jeeps and trucks have done the same thing. even in areas i didn't think there were any roads.

i can't speak for Montana, but here in Nevada in the last 15 or twenty years, the BLM and the Forest service have closed down an awful lot of roads and large areas of land by turning them into wilderness areas. there are ten side issues i could get into related to land management in the west, but i'll stick with the ATV issue.

in these areas i have backpacked into and spent considerable time summer scouting and planning, there are numerous areas and occasions when i've had outfitters (some out of state) on horseback do the exact same thing. on one occasion the exact animal i was zeroed in on, waiting for a one shot one kill opportunity, was opened up on from 1000yds away, and missed three times by one of their party, negating anyones chance at it.

my point is this, this is the united states of america. these are public lands, however well or poorly managed, they are here for all of our use. no matter how much you regulate something, or attempt to even enforce those regulations, everyone will at some time or another invade what we all believe to be your space. it's only going to get worse. does that mean we should shut it off to only those sierra club members who want to go in with their audobon brothers and take pictures or protect the wolves and bears?

it all comes down to sharing!! we are all going to have to learn to do it or lose it. in the end whether we are hunting, ranching, managing, studying or just recreating on our public lands unless we just want to get shut out or limit access to an elite few we are going to have to stick together and apply some of the moral and ethical principals we should have all been taught as kids.

as i get older i can already feel the pinch of prejudice that comes with age. in fact i've probably been guilty of it myself in the past. you know the old "hey if you can't get out of the truck stay home". or "those guys on ATV's are too lazy to get out in the woods" . well this year i'm staying home cause the knee gave out and i refuse to road hunt. but that's my choice. it shouldn't be everyones choice just because i think so. everyone should have the opportunity to get out in the hills when they can. who am i to deprive anyone the simple pleasure of putting one's own meat on the table.

if we all apply common sense, common courtesy, and ethics outdoors i see no reason why there is even a need for more rules and regulations. there will never be enough enforcement personnel out there to make them stick and do we really want to spend our money that way anyway. if we make it so difficult adding more hoops to jump through for people to enjoy the land, our young people are just going to lose interest. it will just be too much hassle.

 big business will always find a way to use what they need of the public lands to access oil and other natural resources. there is too much revenue to be made. should they be the only ones to benefit?

nuff said, but i could go on for hours on this one. i'll get off my soap box now.

hope i'm not misunderstood, but i've watched and been affected personally by overregulation (jet ski ban) and just wonder where will it all end??!!

Seems like this always entails three separate issues:

1.  environmental destruction from tires.

2.  noise to game and/or other hunters.

3.  and, attitude of ATV drivers.

Seems technology and some simple laws changes could fix #1.  non-skid tires; and limiting horsepower and speed would solve the rutted fields and subsequent erosion problems.  A chip in the ATV to make it public hunting ready would cost $10 or less.

By the same token an electric drive or mandatory high suppression mufflers could greatly reduce the obnoxious sound  #2.

#3 are ATV riders less responsible than horse or walk in hunters.  Or do the walk-in guys just see them that way???

Quote by Gary. "The problem is that ATV'ers have the right to ride when and where they want BUT some of them don't have any ettiquet or common courtesy towards others. "

Not true, ATVers' do not have the right. Any type of operation of any type of motorized vehicle is a granted privelge. If it was a right, licneses and registration would not be required.

I use my atv to get me to the hunting area, to pack out game if im lucky and get me back to camp. I hunt on foot, and never take my four wheeler off of a defined road or trail.

I have also installed a second, extra noise limiting muffler on my rig, It attatches to the factory muffler. it cost $ 160.00 but its worth it not to spook someones game.

Acess to public land is and will continue to be restricted.  We have just too many people to "over use the land" and a level of intense use that destroys the wild areas.

i note that a federal judge has changed  the outer banks area to outlaw "driving on the beach", a fishing tradition.  Supposed to "protect" some spieces of bird???