ATTENTION PEACHES RIDGE VIOLATORS

[Skillet]

why should a horse be legal and not my quad?

Because the game that I'm hunting doesn't get spooked by the sound of a horse doing donuts while tearing up a mountain meadow on the other side of a draw. 
Or because hunting with horses is the culmination of a year long committment to care for, train and feed them.  They're family members - not machinery that sits in the garage unthought of until needed to make hunting easier for you than the next guy who chooses to follow the rules.
Or because the tracks of a horse aren't nearly as destructive as the tracks of a quad.
Or because I don't want to hear the sound of your quad buzzing up and down trails while I'm trying to enjoy my limited time hunting in the woods.  I like to hunt behind gates/in wilderness to avoid the intrusion of the modern world (yes, I even get little irritated when in the wilderness areas and I can hear an aircraft buzzing above).
Just a couple of reasons to add to the ones above.  I could go on... serious pet peeve of mine.

[grundy53]

About 8 years ago I was hunting out of state in Idaho and had a rutting bull screaming in with a rifle. Hiked in about four miles and parked at the gate. All of a sudden the bull shut up and disappeared. About the same time, I hear two 4 wheelers coming up. My hunting partner and I let them know how pist we were. The worse part was the came up the road knowing we were up there walking in. I will throw down with someone over it.

You can legally take quads behind most of the gates in Idaho.... so your going to throw down with someone for doing something perfectly legal?

[woodrat]

You spoil someone's hard earned hunt that he hiked in for, because you're too lazy to walk in yourself, and that person is going to be PO'd at you, whether you're breaking the law or not. Lots of things are legal that are still rude and disrespectful. As far as horses vs quads goes, horses are quiet, and usually the people with them are going to be quiet and respectful as well. Quads are noisy and loud. And it's not like there's not tons of places for people to truck and quad hunt if they want to. Why can't quad owners leave some places quiet and undisturbed for people who want to hike? Does every single acre of public land have to be open to the internal combustion engine?

On a brighter note, though, one of the days during deer season this year, I hiked way around up over a ridge to get to a roaded clearcut the back way, quietly, hoping to have a better chance at catching a deer in the open at dusk. I was sitting up on the top of the cut by my trail, glassing the cut, when here comes a truck coming in on the road. The guy caught sight of me up there, stopped the truck, checked me out with the binocs, and actually backed out and left! That was the first and only time I've ever had a truck hunter actually yield to me when I was on foot. I wanted to give the guy an award or something.

[grundy53]

You spoil someone's hard earned hunt that he hiked in for, because you're too lazy to walk in yourself, and that person is going to be PO'd at you, whether you're breaking the law or not. Lots of things are legal that are still rude and disrespectful. As far as horses vs quads goes, horses are quiet, and usually the people with them are going to be quiet and respectful as well. Quads are noisy and loud. And it's not like there's not tons of places for people to truck and quad hunt if they want to. Why can't quad owners leave some places quiet and undisturbed for people who want to hike? Does every single acre of public land have to be open to the internal combustion engine?

On a brighter note, though, one of the days during deer season this year, I hiked way around up over a ridge to get to a roaded clearcut the back way, quietly, hoping to have a better chance at catching a deer in the open at dusk. I was sitting up on the top of the cut by my trail, glassing the cut, when here comes a truck coming in on the road. The guy caught sight of me up there, stopped the truck, checked me out with the binocs, and actually backed out and left! That was the first and only time I've ever had a truck hunter actually yield to me when I was on foot. I wanted to give the guy an award or something.

I totally understand where you are coming from and for the most part I hike in too. Also if I was riding and saw you I would turn around too. I've done it many times. But I feel if you knowingly walk behind a gate that allows quads you should expect quads to be back there so don't think you have a right to get pissed let alone confrontational. You knew the deal going in. It was your choice. If you don't like it then do what I do.... hit the brush and get off the road.

[Raul Duke]

 

yes, hang 'em high.

x2

[woodrat]

the area I was scouting that now has quads and trucks in it specifically has big signs way back on the first part of the road system that say that off road vehicles are prohibited. people don't seem to think that applies to them.

That said, I'm not about to confront armed jerks on quads over their bad manners. And calling the sheriff around here will get you exactly nothing, which is probably why these guys feel free to ride quads behind signs that prohibit it.

[Wenatcheejay]

Grundy, if you are walking where it is legal to ride quads it is kind of like being mad at a car for driving on the Highway. I would not be to hot to "throw down." Most gated roads are still legal for ATV's in Idaho. On the Gate there is a little sign that says what type of traffic is legal. I had a guy go bannans on a friend of mine when we were driving up the main road that led to a major forest road and, they were logging heavy on anyway. He felt that since he parked on the road everyone must park and walk in behind him. (On the main road.) He said, "Have some respect for the walking man." (Mind you it would be illegal to even start to hunt yet because we were not off the main road.) His walking on the road, if he were to shoot at something would be a crime. I told him, "Hey man, have some respect for the lazy road hunter. Get off the road and stir something up for us would you?" Oh God, he was pissed.

We were hiking in about 10 miles past where he was. Where there is first a decommissioned road, to a trail, up the mountain and down into a hole. I understand the frustration with to much road traffic. But, that is why we get (far) off the road. In Idaho locked gates keeps out most trucks but not ATV's.

[grundy53]

the area I was scouting that now has quads and trucks in it specifically has big signs way back on the first part of the road system that say that off road vehicles are prohibited. people don't seem to think that applies to them.

That said, I'm not about to confront armed jerks on quads over their bad manners. And calling the sheriff around here will get you exactly nothing, which is probably why these guys feel free to ride quads behind signs that prohibit it.

And if there is a sign saying they are prohibited then they shouldn't be there and they are in the wrong I was commenting on the gates in Idaho that usually allow quads behind them. Like I said if its LEGAL then you can't bitch.

[grundy53]

Grundy, if you are walking where it is legal to ride quads it is kind of like being mad at a car for driving on the Highway. I would not be to hot to "throw down." Most gated roads are still legal for ATV's in Idaho. On the Gate there is a little sign that says what type of traffic is legal. I had a guy go bannans on a friend of mine when we were driving up the main road that led to a major forest road and, they were logging heavy on anyway. He felt that since he parked on the road everyone must park and walk in behind him. (On the main road.) He said, "Have some respect for the walking man." (Mind you it would be illegal to even start to hunt yet because we were not off the main road.) His walking on the road, if he were to shoot at something would be a crime. I told him, "Hey man, have some respect for the lazy road hunter. Get off the road and stir something up for us would you?" Oh God, he was pissed.

We were hiking in about 10 miles past where he was. Where there is first a decommissioned road, to a trail, up the mountain and down into a hole. I understand the frustration with to much road traffic. But, that is why we get (far) off the road. In Idaho locked gates keeps out most trucks but not ATV's.

Couldn't have said it any better. 

[bushmaster]

We need to turn every punk hunter in for breaking laws and rules! It does everyone a favor by getting these losers out of the woods. Take their guns,trucks and fine them, strip them of their rights for life!! when this *censored* happens, call the cops asap. Game wardens are a part of wsp. If there is no warden available they will send out a trooper. Turn them in, help me and you and all the other REAL hunters out there. We dont need these dicks in the woods! I have turned in a few people for poaching, all of whom cant hunt in this state anymore! I sleep great at night knowing I helped get people like this out of the woods. The practice of turning in law breakers is your civic duty, would you watch your local bank get robbed? Or would you call the cops? Oh yeah, and the state gives you incentives for turning in losers, they give you a lot of points and cash. It might be the cash from the perps bank account, or the sale of their *censored*, so when I put in for a special hunt with 15 points given to me by turning in a puke, it makes me feel good, I get to hunt again, and they dont!!!

[Wenatcheejay]

We need to turn every punk hunter in for breaking laws and rules! It does everyone a favor by getting these losers out of the woods. Take their guns,trucks and fine them, strip them of their rights for life!! when this *censored* happens, call the cops asap. Game wardens are a part of wsp. If there is no warden available they will send out a trooper. Turn them in, help me and you and all the other REAL hunters out there. We dont need these dicks in the woods! I have turned in a few people for poaching, all of whom cant hunt in this state anymore! I sleep great at night knowing I helped get people like this out of the woods. The practice of turning in law breakers is your civic duty, would you watch your local bank get robbed? Or would you call the cops? Oh yeah, and the state gives you incentives for turning in losers, they give you a lot of points and cash. It might be the cash from the perps bank account, or the sale of their *censored*, so when I put in for a special hunt with 15 points given to me by turning in a puke, it makes me feel good, I get to hunt again, and they dont!!!

Agreed.

And; imho

Eyes In The Woods is a good program. Take information plates, & descriptions; Be careful about direct confrontation. We are not Law Enforcement,  if you contact/confront someone armed it can end badly for you in more ways than one. Seriously, leave confrontation of armed law breakers to the Professionals. And, when a person does, enjoy the additional preference points! 

[bigtex]

Game wardens are a part of wsp. If there is no warden available they will send out a trooper.

WDFW Officers are not a part of WSP. They are just simply dispatched by WSP. All state and some federal agencies are dispatched by WSP, but only troopers work for WSP.

[bushmaster]

well Im glad we got that cleared up! Call 911 and have the wsp dispatch an officer! I wish everyone one this site understood how rampant violations and poaching is in this state. The police cant be everywhere all the time. They realy on help from US to help them get these thieves out of the woods. Poachers are the offspring of daddy's who sit down to piss and cant get their big boy pants up! They are right there with the corn in my *censored*! Would you let any of your kids go hunting with them? If so, I will laugh my ass off as I collect the points for turning them in!!

[buckmaster_wa]

Over deer hunting on the tops above the snake river breaks is insane. I would bet 95% of the people over there just chase deer down on there quads. I dont see that as hunting. It really pisses me off to see this but they are doing it on private land and the only way they can get in trouble is if the warden were to ticket them for wildlife harassment and maybe if they were seen shooting off of the fourwheelers. On a good note though the last three years the people on the neighboring property have chased deer on theyre quads just shooting away at them and the deer have ran right to the canyon I am sitting in and I usually get a nice easy shot. This year the buck in the group came in acrossed the canyon from me and he just stood there looking back at the quads which were just sitting at the edge of theyre property line. Then they got to watch me drop the buck in his tracks. I then waived at them and yelled (Thanks) and they sped off all pissed.  

[bigtex]

Poaching and overall violations are rising in this state. You can blame it on several things, most have been discussed before. I have a feeling that things are only going to get worse due to the state budget deficit, WDFW will inevitably take another hit in the enforcement program. And these days everyone knows how small WDFW Enforcement is and the likelihood of getting caught is small. Some counties don't even have an officer living in them. So it really depends on us to report violations! And seeing something "fishy" and reporting it to a WDFW officer a week later really does not do any good, if you see someone up to no good call it in immediately, WSP dispatch works 24/7/365.