ATV use on Closed Roads

[pianoman9701]

I think we should be more like Idaho, they get to utilize their quads on most roads, with some walk in only roads. Unlike this state where most are gated with some quad roads.  The 113 unit has a ridiculous amount of gated roads, as I get older the more I’ll be limited to my hunting ability, the use of my quad opens up much more possibilities.  I’m not supporting illegal use of quads, I’m saying there should be more legal use roads!  Question for you guys, if they were using a quad behind the gate at night to get their animal out, ( because of their limited physical ability) would you turn them in?  I’d be pissed too if I walked in for miles and they drove by, but at night after hunting is over and they just need to utilize the quad to retrieve game, I’m all for it.

If you cant retrieve your game without your atv then you shouldnt be hunting up a closed road in the first place.

some people have disabilities and use their ATVs, respectfully

...and people with disabilities are also allowed to use ATVs on a lot of closed roads, as they should. 

[Angry Perch]

On a more mellow note, in summary, I support freedom of use to OUR public lands.  I choose to follow the laws so you wont see me riding wheelies behind closed Wa gates on FS lands.  I exercise my right to speak for freedoms both lost and given.  I will comment to the guy on atv "Ya know that's not allowed right?" and keep walking.  I wont be taking pics and plates or calling it in for poaching points like a slimeball hiding behind the law for my benefit.  I wont be whining about it either.  Yes it has happened to me several times.  Oh well, their choice to do that.

Should there be no restrictions on what we can do on "our" land? Cut trees? Dump trash? Build a cabin? Dam a creek?

[Stein]

Legally, it isn't our land, it is land held in a trust for the benefit of the citizens (state or federal, depending on the land).  The land managers manage the land based upon guidance.  It's also managed for everyone and the future, not just one interest group, and the funding is consistently being cut at the federal and state level.  The management priorities and regulations change over time as our society changes, just like hunting regulations.  It's not a perfect system, but it is the best system out of any country I have been in or read about. 

On the flip side of that coin, hunters and fishermen are some of the worst offenders when it comes to trespassing, garbage, shot up dishwashers, left out targets, brass, beer cans,  horrible camp messes left behind and generally behaving like pigs, so a good first step would be to clean up our collective act.  A lot of closures of roads and areas are due to consistent problems where the agency doesn't have the money to patrol or clean up after us and closing it is the best option for the land.

[Angry Perch]

Legally, it isn't our land, it is land held in a trust for the benefit of the citizens (state or federal, depending on the land).  The land managers manage the land based upon guidance.  It's also managed for everyone and the future, not just one interest group, and the funding is consistently being cut at the federal and state level.  The management priorities and regulations change over time as our society changes, just like hunting regulations.  It's not a perfect system, but it is the best system out of any country I have been in or read about. 

On the flip side of that coin, hunters and fishermen are some of the worst offenders when it comes to trespassing, garbage, shot up dishwashers, left out targets, brass, beer cans,  horrible camp messes left behind and generally behaving like pigs, so a good first step would be to clean up our collective act.  A lot of closures of roads and areas are due to consistent problems where the agency doesn't have the money to patrol or clean up after us and closing it is the best option for the land.

Well said. We are our own worst enemy in many respects.

[Mudman]

I would almost say 100% IF nobody dumped trash, abused lands, vandalized etc.  The lands would STILL be closed!!!  Argue this but ya know I am right.  That is just excuses to justify and sway public opinions.  I do agree its a big problem but I don't think its the real reason.  I think its more about greed and liability.  Lawsuits, enforcements, public image etc.  Conservation groups are a big part of it as they want to keep them OUT!  The whole USA isn't like Wa., heck East Wa isn't like Wa.  Am I to believe we in W Wa are the only pigs and thiefs?  Nah.   We are the Hub for liberals and conservation peta groups and such.   We are full of hikers on trails on PUBLIC lands with their hiking Permits in hand {$REVENUE) whining about a frog or salamander of owl or gopher or fern of whatever the heck else they think is in danger.   These are the people who know best, who know more than we do, who influence votes and elections, from their penthouse in Redmond.   Wake up n see the light folks.   WHine about Dems and Pelosi in congress chasing Trump yet support same crap at home and not even realize it. IMOP.  I support common sense regs.  common sense restrictions and protections.  NONE of which occur in Wa.  I support our freedoms.  Same people who don't allow motor vehichle access  and such allow tribal vehicles?  Explain that?  Are we the only ones who scare animals?   Are we only ones killing or littering?  Politics people.  Power and $ is name of the game.   We bicker amonst ourselves.   Stupid.   Divide n conquer 101.   Don't be a dummy, stand up and yell!!!!!! No Mas.

[Stein]

It's the same Forest Service in WA as in ID, and it happens to be led by Vicki Christiansen who was appointed by Sonny Perdue who was appointed by Trump, so you could say the entire operation is run by hand picked Trump Republicans.  That's the same party that has guys like Jason Chaffetz of Utah that are big proponents of selling off the public land to one of the nearly 600 billionaires in the US.

I wish it were as simple as red vs blue, but it's a big issue.  Both parties have siphoned off Forest Service money for pork projects to repay their donors.  Zinke and Trump proposed something like a 21% cut in Forest Service money which certainly doesn't help maintain roads.  They also tried to steal LWCF money which fortunately was stopped largely by the left along with public land users.

On the other side of the aisle, we can't cut trees and have to study the study then prepare for the lawsuit, so I'm glad I don't work there because I don't see how they have a path forward.  Don't fund the Forest Service and don't allow them to generate revenue = closed roads, lack of enforcement, no new roads or trails and limitations on how everyone can use the land.

When we destroy the land on top of all that, it just makes the process easier.

[Mudman]

Your argument makes mine.  Vicki runs both states eh?   Then why are we locked down and Id isn't?  Politics...………    Ya defund em, ya bet ya.  That's our solution.  The pocketbook.  Not this garbage "oh we lose roads and stuff"  NO we lose Buearecrats and red tape.  We lose signs warning us of "Deer crossing:" or some other waste of $.   Trump knows this.   $ yanked = people access and use due to less enforcement.  Les FS off getting deputized by sheriff to harass people with silly Tickets instead of stopping poaching turned into Jerky.  I disagree with you 100%.  BEst thing they could do is get out of the way.  Let roads go to crap, allow jeeps or atvs to access with the horses.  RESPOND when we call em to report a poacher.  Good roads only allow subarus and Lexus to go to the mnt and view elk from 1000yards at the approved viewpoints.

[Mudman]

Many disagree with my views but let me tell ya something guys....  MANY agree.  They aren't rich, they aren't affluent, they don't live in Seattle and they voted for Trump.  Many are older folks who know more than us younger people.  The ones who fought for our freedoms decades ago roll over in their graves as we willingly give it away.

[fishngamereaper]

 

This got interesting..

My only  is that I feel like the odd man out because it seemed like everyone was running side by sides,razors, etc last week  in 336/ 340 except me...and most of those guys where enjoying the skinny peddle way to much...

[KFhunter]

We used to have some nice mud bogs on the lake Roosevelt when the water was drawn down each spring, hella good times! I use to ride my dirt bike out there and mudded an old Ford with a 351 Cleveland block built up a bit. 

They they closed it, and for what?  The carp make huge nests everywhere and pot hole it all up, what good can come of closing it to having fun?   Each summer the river come back up and all the trails would disappear by next spring


the gestapo are systematically shutting down one fun thing after another until all we can do is hook our brains into a computer and live in some city somewhere having virtual fun

[Threethirtyeight]

A closed road is a closed road.  It means some people can't or won't hunt it and some people will have extra opportunity.  You can still hike in, bike in most of the places or ride a horse.  If you look at the impact of vehicles, closing a road creates more net hunting opportunities as the elk will use more of the woods than if trucks and atvs were moving down the road.

Besides, nobody on this board road hunts, we all hike in 5 miles minimum.   

If I closed road is a closed road why would it be ok to walk or bike on it? If it needs to be closed that bad it should be closed to all transportation.

I don't see why you think you have more of a right to use a public road then the next guy just because he chooses to travel the same ground different than you.

You are only interested in letting special interest groups use the roads? You must own a horse. I'm tired of everyone wanting to close public areas to activitys other than what they are interested in or have whether it be youth and fitness or a bike or horse that they don't have to pay any license or fees to use on public roads or public properties like ATV and vehicle owners do.

Here's an idea If you don't want to run into people on atvs dont walk on a road . There is the whole rest of the forest you can use.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[trophyhunt]

We used to have some nice mud bogs on the lake Roosevelt when the water was drawn down each spring, hella good times! I use to ride my dirt bike out there and mudded an old Ford with a 351 Cleveland block built up a bit. 

They they closed it, and for what?  The carp make huge nests everywhere and pot hole it all up, what good can come of closing it to having fun?   Each summer the river come back up and all the trails would disappear by next spring


the gestapo are systematically shutting down one fun thing after another until all we can do is hook our brains into a computer and live in some city somewhere having virtual fun

100% agree with this and most of what madman is trying to get across, we are losing access more and more.  The elk do just fine in Idaho (pre wolf) with gated roads that allowed quads for many years. We will always have places to roam that quads can’t go to, but places where quads can go are dwindling in this commie state. 

[NOCK NOCK]

A closed road is a closed road.  It means some people can't or won't hunt it and some people will have extra opportunity.  You can still hike in, bike in most of the places or ride a horse.  If you look at the impact of vehicles, closing a road creates more net hunting opportunities as the elk will use more of the woods than if trucks and atvs were moving down the road.

Besides, nobody on this board road hunts, we all hike in 5 miles minimum.   

If I closed road is a closed road why would it be ok to walk or bike on it? If it needs to be closed that bad it should be closed to all transportation.

I don't see why you think you have more of a right to use a public road then the next guy just because he chooses to travel the same ground different than you.

You are only interested in letting special interest groups use the roads? You must own a horse. I'm tired of everyone wanting to close public areas to activitys other than what they are interested in or have whether it be youth and fitness or a bike or horse that they don't have to pay any license or fees to use on public roads or public properties like ATV and vehicle owners do.

Here's an idea If you don't want to run into people on atvs dont walk on a road . There is the whole rest of the forest you can use.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

1. I like the last sentence

2. I saw more elk while driving to and from hike in hunting spots than I did while actually hiking.

3. ALL ungulates use the road system ALOT. Several well known valleys have roads that completely cross the valley....EVERY migrating buck has to at some point cross these roads. 

[Mudman]

 

[MADMAX]

Sh*t
I just gotta say it

I’d be happy if I could just ride my street legal licensed quad on the dang forest roads
Never mind a closed road