ATV owners, time to wake up!

[pianoman9701]

How proactive are ATV owners and clubs in policing their own ranks? I've had the same experience of hiking way back and having an ATV go buy me. It's maddening. Are there ATV organizations which offer rewards for convictions on illegal activity, etc., or have eyes in the woods type programs to turn in law breakers?

[Mudman]

If you guys grew up with your grandfathers when freedom was still around you would see things differently.  When you regulate freedom special interests prevail and we fight over whats fair because we lost our rights..  All this crap-regs, greenies, weyco, fees, bickering, is a result of them taking our freedoms.  Argue over any point from land ownership to environmental damage the results are the same.  WE ALL LOSE something.  Unite and support freedom in all aspects whether it benefits you or not and we all win. Some whine "I hiked 99 miles and an ATV blew by me."  Well I say 50 years ago your Grandads were ALL in their trucks!!!!!  Get my point yet???  Quit damn whining and bickering and fight for our full access again, that's the damn answer!!!!!!!!!!!  Divide and conquer, they are smart enough to see it.  We aren't.

[pianoman9701]

Just because someone's a hunter doesn't mean they have to support unlimited ATV use. It has nothing to do with divide and conquer - two separate activities. And, it seems you're justifying someone blowing down a closed road in an ATV. Sorry, that dog just 'aint gonna hunt. That's selfish and wrong, and it affects others negatively. I don't think ATVs should be banned all over the place. But illegal activity shouldn't be tolerated, especially by the ATV community. It's in your best interest to pressure your ATV buddies to follow the law.

[CAMPMEAT]

The 3 clubs I used to belong to in Washington, we did police our own and others too. One thing I'd like to bring up is. In all 3 clubs, the average age of ATV owners were mid 50's and up and I can tell you, we didn't tear up any hills or mudholes. We stayed on maintained ATV trails the WE maintained for the forest service in Okanogan County, so all ORV users were welcome to use them. We did litter patrols, free of charge. I didn't see one person there that said, I'm a hunter and don't own an ATV, but I'll pitch in as much as I can. Never happened once. So, I really don't like hearing all this anti ATV crap, when in fact, you never participated once, in good relations with a club or the FS.

[rtspring]

I can do a hell of alot more damage in my truck than my v-twin 1000 quad could ever think of doing..

I hear a lot of people hating on quads, you too can go buy one instead of bitching about those that do have them.   

Typical hunters against one another. 

Its all about money for the sorry state of Washington! 

[pianoman9701]

All due respects, RT, but I haven't heard anyone "hating on quads".  It's got nothing at all to do with hunters against one another. It got to do with some people find illegal activity OK and others don't. Personally, I'm not a fan of poaching and I'm not a fan of illegal ATV use.

[Mudman]

Just because someone's a hunter doesn't mean they have to support unlimited ATV use. It has nothing to do with divide and conquer - two separate activities. And, it seems you're justifying someone blowing down a closed road in an ATV. Sorry, that dog just 'aint gonna hunt. That's selfish and wrong, and it affects others negatively. I don't think ATVs should be banned all over the place. But illegal activity shouldn't be tolerated, especially by the ATV community. It's in your best interest to pressure your ATV buddies to follow the law.

You shouldn't whine he drove past me and I walked in.  Few years back both of you would have driven in comfortably in your trucks.  That's my point.  Instead bicker amongst ourselves over who is holier than thou.  How is that working for you?  Let me tell you how-300$ permits, closed lands, so many regs you cant stay legal if you tried!  So it is what it is and in the end we are all screwed.  Proof is in the pudding.  20 years from now your kids will not be in these woods until they pay the 3000$ permit, 500$ tags, and take an environment preservation course for 900$ and wear their gps locator and body cam so they can be tracked while out and to prove they are following all laws.  Its done.  They continue to win.  Too many hipocrit know it alls sacrificing their voice to maintain their priviledge status. Ironic they end up losing it all in the end.  Stand up for all-or nothing.  I'm tired of losing to greenie do-gooders.  Slough and ferns will grow back for Christs sake.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

The greenies shut down JEEPS from using routes and roads since the 50's now they are attacking ATV's. I own two Jeeps and one ATV. We use them on our own land any way we want. On public land we follow all laws very closely. Do I like it NO!  Idaho favors it!

[pianoman9701]

  It's possible that if you're pointing fingers at and chastising people for following the law, you're likely part of the problem. Just sayin'.

[Mudman]

I follow the laws that all the do good me first freedom stealing selfish minded Subaru driving tree hugging spotted owl loving righteous idiots in this state created.  Hope nobody on HW is one.  When we cant even drive our vehicles who is gonna get the blame???  Natural progression of laws and regs.  Or close/destroy roads?  WAIT that's already happening isn't it?  Carbon tax?  Hmm.  I guess I will support all laws that benefit me in my individual recreation while empowering the same laws to later screw me and others as well.  Not smart.  No thanks, I will stand for everbodies rights to use lands in their activity.  So don't worry I wont complain if you are breaking a rule.  I will mind my business and try to stay within the rules.  Your welcome.  To bad people don't do more of that.

[kellama2001]

I don't want to participate in any drama, but I do see atv riders as the pariah of the hunting community. Personally I hunt on foot and atv for recreation. But this state keeps taking away recreational opportunities and it's getting harder and harder to find places to ride. Conconully was the last best place I knew of and now Okanagan county is being forced to close roads to perform some bs environmental study before reopening them? The entire state of Idaho is atv friendly, as are montana, south Dakota and other states, and they have been for years. Don't you think if atvs had a negative environmental impact they would have proven it by now? I think this is is nothing more than the greenies having a louder voice and our state trying to take away freedoms as usual. Those of you opposed to atv land use are going to wake up too late to realize that this is just the first step to more land use freedoms that will be stolen, until the public land becomes the King's Forrest and none of us will be allowed to use it at all. 

[hunter399]

I will say that it is proven that locked gates and closed roads have better hunting , when you walk in your expecting that , to have atv driving by is not right ,sometimes I confront them,sometimes say nothing,sometimes they turn around and leave knowing that there not allowed in there.In my two cents they need more enforcement and stiffer ticket fees for people that don't follow rules,rules have change from 20-50 years ago that's how it is.If your gonna ride atv behind the gates ,why don't you just bust the gate open for everybody ,nobody wants to do that because they want to get to good hunting and less people.We need more enforcement, and higher fines,maybe loss of hunting rights for a few years ,would stop some of this,and yes I do own atv , but rarely use for hunting,stays at home for plowing snow etc.

[kellama2001]

People keep bringing up running into atvs behind closed gates. That's not the issue being discussed, we're talking about open roads that are used by vehicles and that used to be open to atvs in certain areas, that are now being closed to atvs, but still open to vehicles. Yes it sucks seeing an atv ride through what took you 2 hrs to hike to, and yes, that violation needs to be enforced. But we don't need to close atv access to open roads that vehicles already have access to. It's ludicrous and nothing but a power grab by the state

[hunter399]

Atv ridders need to stay on roads and trails,i don't think they can even enforce a atv being on a road that you can drive a vehicle is allowed to drive on.I think a judge would have to let you go on that.And if was the case , then just drive your truck I guess ,tear the road up even more with it ,it's legal that way. The only reason I bring up closed gates is that is the biggest problem in my county with atv ,all county roads we allowed to use atv,paved,dirt ,dosent matter,tear up banks,make your own trail,doesn't bother me at all in till your behind locked gate .

[kellama2001]

I think we're agreeing and saying the same thing. As a "boots" hunter, I don't agree with atvs behind the locked gates. Myself and the group I ride with stay on marked trails and legal roads. Nobody I know is trying to tear up the banks, mudbog, or make their own trails.  I'm sorry you're having to deal with d bag's that don't follow the law, but this thread is about county roads 35mph and less that are remaining open to vehicles but closing to atvs. They can and are enforcing atv use on those roads. A judge wouldn't have to let you go on that, if it's closed to atvs it's closed. End of discussion. But you're absolutely right, atvs behind closed gates should not be tolerated....but the answer is not limiting the already legal use of atvs because of the idiot minority. Again, just my