come on guys leave the quads at home.

[jstone]

Gate says NO MOTOCYCLES OR FOUR WHEELERS thats what it means. I talked to a rider last year, sayed the fine wasnt much and EVERBODY does it. BS

[GoldTip]

I use my four wheeler a lot for hunting, saves on my truck, but I use it only if and when it is legal for motor vehicles.  In my opinion they can be an invaluable tool when used properly.  Some of the stuff that I think pisses a lot of guys with four wheelers off and gets them just riding where ever they can get their quad is the fact that even on many forest circus roads which are open to truck, cars, motor homes, it's actually illegal to ride a quad?  Hell, logging trucks can run up and down the road, followed by 400 pickups and 72 motorcycles and 40 foot motor homes but it's illegal to ride your quad on the road?  WTH?  Makes no sense at all, and some guys then just ride them wherever they wish.  Thats not me, not saying I won't ride it down a road thats open to all other motorized traffic, but if it's closed to motorized traffic, then yes, they should be fined extensively if they are behind a locked gate, and you'll never find me in that position. 

In Idaho all Potlatch timber land is open to vehicles less than 48" wide, so make sure you read the signs before you go flattening a tire behind a locked gate that you walked in on.  First he may be there legally, second what the hell you gonna do if the guy is truly disabled and can't walk out the 5 miles he's in behind a gate illegally and you flatten his tire?  You may have just signed his death warrant, for what?

[JackOfAllTrades]

ok,  This isn't Idaho.. We know there are legal places for ATV's in this state. -Even hunting. I'm unaware of a 'Disabled' ATV permit in closed ATV areas.  The reason for the closed logging roads to ATV's is the almighty dollar for licensing and that ATV's are not street legal in the sense of lights and tires. It's a safety thing.. Blame the people that write laws to protect ourselves from ourselves.  If you read the rules for BLM and USFS, ATV's are often allowed on roads that are closed to vehicle traffic. (not gated, but birmed up) Just not on the roads are open to licensed vehicles.

I use my dual purpose motorcycle a lot for scouting an area or just to get to an area that I want to hunt/hike during season. Saves wear and tear on my truck. But I keep it to the roads and not behind gates. Also, not at 50mph! It's spark arrestor is still in place.

I know where Strutnrut was yesterday, and what's getting to be worse in that area than the ATV's is the mountain bikers blazing trails through the woods.

-Steve

[GoldTip]

Jack I'm not blaming anyone about the rules, they are wrong and thats that.   It's either open to motorized traffic or it's not, that's all I am saying.  If it's not then you won't find me or my four wheeler there, if it is then you might.

I wasn't insinuating that there is a "disabled" atv permit for closed area's.  What I was saying is quite simply to someone who insinuated that they might flatten a tire as these people don't carry a spare, is "what if", even illegally the person whose tire you flatten is someone who is disabled and because you've flattened there tire, they can now not leave.  That was the point I was trying to make.  I am all for taking pictures of the license or resgitration or ORV tag, have it time dated and stamped, but if you vandalize the vehicle, then you are no better than the person who rode around the gate.

[BLKBEARKLR]

I use my quads or my dual purpose bike when ever possible, if it is legal I will use it, it is just another tool for me. Like said it saves on the wear and tear of the truck.

Like said I would not be somewhere where I am not supposed to be.

The problem now is some people even where they are allowed to be are doing stuff to the bike or quad because I guess they either don't know the rules or can't afford one 

[saylean]

I dont think the issue was "If its legal, leave the quads at home," I think the issue was, "leave the quads at home, if its gated/marked, red dotted, even though you can get around the gate on your own risk".

I personally have no issue whatsoever with anyone who uses motor bikes, trucks, quads, tanks, etc, where legal

Its the "hey I can just drive around the gate, or I know someone with a key" folks who make me want to  in a gas tank.

I am willing to bet, most of those fools arent on this site too often anyway, as we seem to have a fairly decent bunch on here.

[bow4elk]

For the record, I would not vandalize anyone's personal property...slashing tires is no better than a guy's quad behind a gate.  I was being sarcastic and shouldn't have suggested that with what I wrote. 

[strutnrut1984]

thats why i hike back gated rds to try and get away from others. this wasnt even a rd. a veryold grown over logging rd that had huge rocks bullbozed up at the entrance.pretty clear to me they are there to prevent atv,s but i guess some people dont care. i guess maybe the state needs more designated areas for off road vehicles. i have nothing against them if they are riden were they are supposed to be. just frustrating hiking back into areas 4-5 miles, and having people blunder in on quads.

[jeepasaurusrex]

My Dad and I both have quads. They are unmodified, and we keep them as quiet as we can. My Dad has a bad hip, and I have had 3 knee surgeries on my right knee. neither of us can hike very far (talk about a gimp group )

That being said, we don't ride them anywhere your not supposed to. If its gated, barricaded, posted etc. We don't go down it. I use it to get closer to an area I want to hunt, but will park it, and hike the rest of the way. If we see someone in the distance, we will stop and not go any further down the road etc. I have had someone on a 3-wheeler (remember those?) drive right past me while Elk hunting. I don't think he even saw me. It just takes respect. If I had my way, I would hike everywhere, but anything over a mile, I wont be doing so well. 

[seth30]

There is so many variables in this discussion, and both sides will have valid argue points.  It just comes down to plain ol common sense!

[DeKuma]

I am with Jeepasaurus.  If it is legal and open, we use them to get my old man to where he can hunt, but if there is someone already there, or parked on the trailhead, whatever, we go someplace else.

[PolarBear]

About 15 years ago in the Colville Natl. Forrest, I ran into a riderless quad 4 miles in on a horse trail on my way back out .  After about 10 minutes of determining that the rider was far enough away, I took it out of gear, rolled it about 50 yards down a little ravine, hid it and let the air out of all 4 tires.  When I got out of the trail I found the game cop who had been writing tickets and confiscating quads all week and told him where to wait.  He came by our camp the next day and said that he confiscated the guy's quad not only for being in a restricted area but for shooting and undersized buck.  The prick deserved everything he got!
I don't have a problem (well, a little) with them if they stay on the roads but if I catch them where they are not legal, watch out.  I'll probably get shot over it someday.  Leave the quads for the disabled and elderly, otherwise get off of your sorry ass and hike!!!!

[Rufous]

I call them quadripelegics.

[duckkiller]

WOW, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS A TREE HUGGERS MESSAGE BOARD.

[boneaddict]

I think Dekuma has it figured out.  If its legal they can be a useful tool, though I have no use for them.  Too many people use them to cheat and break the law.  I really get sick of those that abuse them for shedding season.  I also don't like how some people tear the country up with them.  I would think it boils down to policing your own I guess just like any other user group.  There are bad apples.
Duck.....I wouldn't consider myself a tree hugger, but thanks for your input.