Just got back from Elk hunting in Colorado.  And the first thing I can think about is David Peterson is right.  There were Quad-runners everywhere.  They were off the established trails and in areas where there are no such vehicles allowed.  This can only equal stressed out elk and hunters.  Had some hunters that were so lazy they illegally used ATV to retrieve there game.  I'll never hunt opening weekend in that place again!

It's tough, but you just have to walk farther and farther into the woods. Just how it is these days.

We put some boot leather down.  The mid 80's at the beginning of the week didn't help either.  No bugles until the last days evening hunt.  Learn a lot of lessons that I will post when I get a copy of the digital pics to tell the story.

The USFS has chopped up many 4-wheeler trails in my neck of the woods to discourage illegle ATV use. The lazy slob "hunters" just make new trails.....frustrating. We're gonna have to live with it.          :confused:

4 Wheelers.. MY pet peeve...

Yep 4 wheelers and jet skis, two things I cannot stand. Now it is law they cannot ride off the road in our gamelands. But the jet skiers can still mess up good spec trout fishin.

Course I ride a jet ski when doing water rescue sometimes but thast is part of my job!

Jason

Will add I just wish I was in elk country!! LOL

Bear Heart.  It's not just opening week, it's all season.  The slobs are everywhere.

Since I can't afford "luxuary" gas I was hoping it would dispel others.  Guys running around here must have deep pockets.  Darn things are everywhere!

I'll take atv's over the 1000's of sheep we have here anyday of the week.

I have an ATV...hardly ever gets cranked during hunting season...NEVER ride it off trail/road...I mostly use mine for work...It may be the worst thing that ever happened to hunting...A few years ago, I was talking to a friend of mine on the phone one night during deer season...He was telling me that he was having a really tough time seeing anything, which I thought was odd because I was hunting the same piece of property about 3/4 mile from him and I had been practically overrun with deer. Well, we were talking and he was telling me about how he was riding his atv into the tree that he was hunting out of, and parking underneath and climbing up into his stand. And he was wondering where all the deer were...

David

It's frustrating to me that you can ride an ATV with a gun in a gun rack and that's not considered hunting from a vehicle. There's way too much money involved (just look at RMEF turning a blind eye to rampant misuse) to change policy, but an ATV violation should be a motor vehicle violation. If you ride illeagally once, they should fine you. If you ride illeagally for repeat offenses, they should take your drivers license. JMHO, but once you've had hunts ruined by the moto-hunters you turn to harsh judgements.

I'm told that ATV users caught in the wilderness areas of Wyoming are not only fined heavily, but the ATV sits right where it is stopped, not allowed to drive out.  In other words, along with the steep fine, if the abuser wants to keep his machine, he packs it out, one piece at a time.

I heard an ATV drive up to my yard yesterday and thought I better take a look. Some idiot was headed through my yard and into my woods. When confronted he said he was just trying to find a way down the hollow and heard it was OK to ride on my land.

When I got done with him I am sure the last place on earth he will want to ride is on my land.

I have confronted so many ATV riders in the last few years I am probably known as the most militant anti ATV trespassing person in the county. I suspect someone set this guy up and told him to ride on my land as a joke.

That said, I own an ATV and think it is just great to carry my chainsaw and drag logs out of the woods. Don't ride it where I hunt.

The answer is tire spikes!   ...I don't mind them for going from point "a" to point "b", get off and hunt but way too many ride them where they shouldn't or use them as a hunting method. NM has helped by passing laws that require registration, helmets, minimum ages, ect...The vast majority of the abusers are out of state so the registration thing keeps many on the trailer....O.L.

i like Bowfiend's idea.

Anyone read the article in TBM about ATVs in Elk country and how it impacts their life-cycle and breeding?

This is borrowed material but I love the saying and saying it.... Only Quads I ride are attached at the hip.

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Stick & String or Cap & Ball
Trad Rag
Longbow: ACS-CX 58@28, GT5575 Traditionals, 2-blade Magnus, 530gr. total weight.

The Forest Service is in the process of developing an ATV mandate that will show all the ATV roads and trails that can be used. If caught on any other road or trail or off road there will be fines. This is a step in the right direction. The problem is enforcing this. I am curious to see how severe of a fine will put with this! It ruins all of our hunting.

I honestly feel that ATV's are the worse thing that's ever happened to hunting.  I truly believe if they made it illegal to use them at all during hunting season people wouldn't be able to keep up with the number of deer here in PA.  They blame low deer densities on the Game Commission but if every hunter (other than legitimate handicapped) had to walk in and back out the deer herds would flourish.  I see people now where there were never hunters before just a few years ago and all of them got there becuase they could ride most of the way.

Where's Paul Brunner when you need him? Rich Potter(nut)