I have been hunting in the @ White River National forrest in Colorado for the past 20 years. Several years ago the last several miles of several jeep trails were closed to only foot and horse traffic.  This year we had atv/side by side vehicles going into these areas to retrieve elk. I did talk to a young dow officer in town and he said it was ok to go past the signs to get an animal. If the land is federal, who has the authority. Has this happened to anyone else. One of the times I was spiked in about 4 miles and in elk, The side by drove right past my camp. Sorry long post, still a little aggravated.

You better check with the US Forest Service. The DOW can't over ride the USFS. We have a lot of places closed because of beetle kill that the forest service is cutting and it's closed for everything even if you have a license to hunt the area

I know on my USFS maps it says it is ok to use atv's to retrieve game.  Look on your maps and you will see it.  Seems like it says you can't carry a weapon.  It also might say something about the time of day you are allowed to do it.  Going off memory here if you can't already tell.

Thanks' I will take a look at my maps.  I will also contact the forrest office.