What do you think about ATVs?

[Grunter]

Tell us how you feel

[Taxman]

I voted absolutely, but I do not mean to suggest that common used trails should exist. Our job is to preserve nature and tearing up the bush for the sake of riding should be restricted.

When there's work to be done, then by all means.

Mike

[calgarychef1]

I didn't reply as the choices don't provide a middle ground. I'm in favour of using them to get fallen game. We use them up north where there is no other way in. However I only use them as transportation to camp after that I'm strictly on foot or in a canoe until I'
m ready to pull a moose out.

I think that around Calgary we could actually hike into a lot of areas that atvs are used. I suppose a network of properly thought out trails would be a good alternative. Maybe something that would get a guy within 4-5 miles of a good spot. Then a quick call to the game warden to get permission to go in and retreive an animal. That would help with the hunting fraternity but would **** off the off roaders who like to go for a ride wherever they want to. We've all seen a lot of damage to the land and I think it has to be regulated a bit as the population increases (ug) it will only get worse.

the chef

[Grunter]

You asked for it - you got it! It's all about the middle ground!

[Taxman]

Wish I could change my vote now! :loser:

Mike

EDIT

I just found out I can! Man these moderating powers are great! Anyone else want to change theirs?

[Taxman]

Hey Grunter,

I'd also combine the last two options as they can be viewed as essentially the same!

Mike

[Grunter]

Done!

[Taxman]

:thumbsup:

[Mikey]

as an Avid motorized recreation enthusiest .... Its against my better judgement to respond to this thread ...because it sounds like youve made up yer mind about the recreational users .... They have the same right we as hunters do to being on crown land .... if abuse it ...we lose it .... its that simple.

I personally am all for responsible use ...... 95% of the trails that ATVs use are old seismec or logging lines .....I am also in favour of a shared responsibility when it comes to stewardship of crown land ... I myself have helped organized backcountry stewardship events and the only representation from the hunting community are those that are active in both (or more)communitys

also the OHV industry in a Multi Billion ....yes thats Billion ...with a B ...industry here in Alberta with 2 billion dollars pumped into the economy in 2002 ....so yea they have the right to use crown land .... Provided the do so in a responsible fashion .......

Oh and I have seen the remanents of pack horses on banks of streams where the bank is torn to S#!T doing alot more damage than few quads being responsible would do .....

Mikey

[grizzly]

I'm all for 'em, but used responsibly as has been mentioned already. We set up camp over 10 miles from the road so we have to haul all of our stuff in by quad and trailer. Then, we also split up once we're hunting and everyone goes a different direction so as not to crowd each other. For the most part we don't hunt off of the quads, we just use them to get from A to B, usually on old seismic and logging roads. Of course, it has happened that we have run into moose or deer while leaving camp or returning at night, those are just bonus animals if you can actually get them down close to a trail.

I motored by a hunter a few years back when I was moose hunting around McBride Lake, Sask. He was having lunch by the trail and had a little fire going so I stopped to see how his hunt was going. Big mistake, I got a 15 minute lecture on how ATV's are spoiling the beauty in the forest and scaring all of the game away. I left him there and continued on my way, when I returned to camp that night I passed where he had been having his lunch and fire and guess what..........chocolate bar wrappers, sandwich bags and a coke can were lying by the fire. Yeah, my quad is taking away from Mother Nature's beauty, but his garbage wasn't I guess. Hypocrite! :****ed:

Grizzly

[crazy_davey]

as an Avid motorized recreation enthusiest .... Its against my better judgement to respond to this thread ...because it sounds like youve made up yer mind about the recreational users .... They have the same right we as hunters do to being on crown land .... if abuse it ...we lose it .... its that simple.

I personally am all for responsible use ...... 95% of the trails that ATVs use are old seismec or logging lines .....I am also in favour of a shared responsibility when it comes to stewardship of crown land ... I myself have helped organized backcountry stewardship events and the only representation from the hunting community are those that are active in both (or more)communitys

also the OHV industry in a Multi Billion ....yes thats Billion ...with a B ...industry here in Alberta with 2 billion dollars pumped into the economy in 2002 ....so yea they have the right to use crown land .... Provided the do so in a responsible fashion .......

Oh and I have seen the remanents of pack horses on banks of streams where the bank is torn to S#!T doing alot more damage than few quads being responsible would do .....

Mikey


X2

Mikey did a good job explaining how I feel, so no sense in typing it again :mrgreen:

But we do own horses as well, and I will leave it at that because I can see where this is going. Nuff said :mrgreen:

[petew]

The abuse we see from ATV's is beyond reason.
It seems the owners never think about the damage they do.Thottle's are not on off switches.They are capable of moving without spining the tires.The world is not a race track.
Other users are out there that act responsibly , however the majority do not.
We see them running the dirt roads at full speed, and they don't have insurance to cover this.They are not licensed to drive on roads, and insurance does not cover them while doing this.
Who pays for my vehicle when an ATV runs into it on a county road?
Who pays my medical bills lost wages when this happens?
This fall I saw a very large number of ATV's cruising the roads "ROAD HUNTING" , bows on the front racks at the ready. I even met a young kid that had just shot a moose from the road , from the ATV.

The abuse has to stop.
They are great vehicles capable of "Tread Lightly " operation but nobody does it.

It is time the owners smarten up and use some common sense.

ATV owners have a bad reputation that was earned from iresponsible use.

After hiking back 2 miles on a cut line to hunt I hear an ATV coming along, he can see me for a long distance , so instead of turning around and letting me walk/hunt in peace, no ,he drives up, bow in the rack, release on the wrist , starts a conversation and then roars past me. So much for getting back away from the road hunters.!
Show some courtesy guys.

I did have the use of one this fall when I shot my Elk. It was great to use for recovery, after I hiked 1 1/2 miles back to camp to get it.

I am not against ATV's I am against the way most users use them.

2 weeks ago I was just leaving the truck to go hunting when 2 vehicles and 4 ATV's parked beside me, unloaded and began to have "Race Day " I had to leave and go elsewhere to hunt.
An hour later they arrived 5 miles down the road where I moved to and tore up every trail there too. They got to where I moved to by driving county roads too.
What do the responsible ATV owners say the rest of us should do?

[bdoa]

Yeah to the quad use...

I was terribly upset to lose the Ram Falls to a bunch of tree hugging bureaucrats from the city. people that prob never set foot on the land. I am not very happy with the weekend warrior rec users that use these mountain zones and decide to make their own trails. I was hunting the Ram fall one year it was around 11am, and as I was preparing lunch I heard some quads approaching, I looked over because of the voice of the people where becoming louder than the quads. There was four quads..with 14 people. I could not believe my eyes there were people all over these machines.

And I am not very happy with the horse people that have their head so far up there own A$$'s cause they figure that horses don't cause damage to landscapes.

Things in life would be so much easier if we could count on our fellow outdoor enthusiast to be responsible users, and except that not every one likes quads, and not everyone can own a horse.

[Mikey]

The abuse we see from ATV's is beyond reason.
It seems the owners never think about the damage they do.Thottle's are not on off switches.They are capable of moving without spining the tires.The world is not a race track.
Other users are out there that act responsibly , however the majority do not.
We see them running the dirt roads at full speed, and they don't have insurance to cover this.They are not licensed to drive on roads, and insurance does not cover them while doing this.
Who pays for my vehicle when an ATV runs into it on a county road?
Who pays my medical bills lost wages when this happens?
This fall I saw a very large number of ATV's cruising the roads "ROAD HUNTING" , bows on the front racks at the ready. I even met a young kid that had just shot a moose from the road , from the ATV.

The abuse has to stop.
They are great vehicles capable of "Tread Lightly " operation but nobody does it.

It is time the owners smarten up and use some common sense.

ATV owners have a bad reputation that was earned from iresponsible use.

After hiking back 2 miles on a cut line to hunt I hear an ATV coming along, he can see me for a long distance , so instead of turning around and letting me walk/hunt in peace, no ,he drives up, bow in the rack, release on the wrist , starts a conversation and then roars past me. So much for getting back away from the road hunters.!
Show some courtesy guys.

I did have the use of one this fall when I shot my Elk. It was great to use for recovery, after I hiked 1 1/2 miles back to camp to get it.

I am not against ATV's I am against the way most users use them.

2 weeks ago I was just leaving the truck to go hunting when 2 vehicles and 4 ATV's parked beside me, unloaded and began to have "Race Day " I had to leave and go elsewhere to hunt.
An hour later they arrived 5 miles down the road where I moved to and tore up every trail there too. They got to where I moved to by driving county roads too.
What do the responsible ATV owners say the rest of us should do?


well Pete ... If they Ban ATVs ...what are they gonna ban Next .... Vibram soled Boots????

lol

Seriously ..... I still choose to maintain that the majority of ATV users are educated and responsible...... and if a quad hits your car on public roads (ie: Numbered Alberta Rds) their insurance will cover your damages (all are required to have PLPD)..... However if you are on a privatly maintained lease rd its treated like any other accident ...as ATVs are allowed on private maintained lease rds ..... as these are private lands ....

[Dillershortbow]

As fer as insurance in bc you are supposed to have 2 million liability to ride on forest service roads but most don`t unlessyou belong to the bcwf you get that with your membership i have several quads and ride them hunting but i do not road hunt much i use them to get around. What tiks me off with quad riders is they will try to go up a steep hill and spin 2 deep ruts that will never go away or they will get up to the alpine and spin all over vegatation up there takes years to grow . there great but tread lightly

[guido]

After hiking back 2 miles on a cut line to hunt I hear an ATV coming along, he can see me for a long distance , so instead of turning around and letting me walk/hunt in peace, no ,he drives up, bow in the rack, release on the wrist , starts a conversation and then roars past me. So much for getting back away from the road hunters.!
PETEW,
You do not own the mountain! There are times when he should maybe turn around, but maybe he had a hotspot to hunt further down that trail. Just because your on foot does not give you the right of way.
If you would have run into a hunter, while on the way to pick up your kill, would you have turned around.
These are all outdoor activities, it's not good to condemn everyones outdoor activities just because you don't agree with them. There are already to many ecological reserves and Peter Lougheed parks where access is limited. Maybe that's where you should do your hunting.
Pretty soon the gun hunters will be against archery and then compound guys will be against traditional and walking hunters will be against horses and everyone will have to join PETA. By the way I DO own a quad for the last 4 years. I have yet to use it to hunt with.

[othmar]

I voted absolutely. Because I hate the rate new laws being made all the time taking our freedom and rights away.

People using ATV's should use them with commonsense and not to tear up the land and race each other without any regard for other land users and nature.

I am a great believer in commonsense but also in very severe punishment for those who do breake the laws.

[FLYBYU44]

After seeing all the damaged caused by idiots with no regard for nature I don't feel to good about ATVs. I know there are responsible ATV owners out there, but to be honest they are few and far between. People hunted and camped without ATVs for many years before they came out, and they managed to survive. I'm not a hardcore tree hugger. I think that hunting and fishing are great, but I don't like to see nature torn up in the wake of a bunch of selfish idiots on quads. Just my opinion, I don't like new law either, but in this instance someone has to step in before these things get out of hand. Alberta is probably the worst province of all the Western provinces I've spent time outdoors, in regards to ATVs.

[acearchery]

Wanna see pictures of horse damage!....

[dropzone]

AC,

Please elaborate.

[FLYBYU44]

Wanna see pictures of horse damage!....

I have no doubt that you can find pictures of horse damage. Everything that ventures into nature leaves behind a trail, some leave a harsher trail then others. I have seen horse damage as well, but it isn't nearly as common as ATV damage in my experience. I've hiked and fished in most of West Central Alberta and ATV damage is a huge issue, you can turn a blind eye to it if you want but it is there. I'm sure you like driving your ATV and that's great, I just hope that you ride on proper trails and ride it in a responsible manner. When I see ATVs ripping through bogs that have been there for hundreds of years untouched and see idiots chasing elk and deer on ATVs it makes me very frustrated and angry.

[GopherBroke]

I agree that there are probably alot of responsible users out there that are getting a bad reputation, and are having their sport threatened by the irresonsible actions of the few. Anybody that hunts MUST be able to sympathize with THE RESPONSIBLE GUYS, as we face the EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH ANTI HUNTERS.

However, for the dickheads that tear around and rip up the bush... :flipoff: . I wish there was a way to take their machines away. Honestly I think the bikes are the worst abusers. Loud machines with captain dipstick going as fast as he can down the trail at the wheel (and again, as with quads, I'm sure there are responsible bikers out there too).

I'm a big fan of quads, I have 2 myself, but I can honestly say that I really hope the government continues to close the OHV areas, because they really are getting destroyed by the numnuts out there. If I gotta pack my Elk out on my back, so be it, itll taste better and I'll prolly need the calories!

[FLYBYU44]

I agree that there are probably alot of responsible users out there that are getting a bad reputation, and are having their sport threatened by the irresonsible actions of the few. Anybody that hunts MUST be able to sympathize with THE RESPONSIBLE GUYS, as we face the EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH ANTI HUNTERS.

However, for the dickheads that tear around and rip up the bush... :flipoff: . I wish there was a way to take their machines away. Honestly I think the bikes are the worst abusers. Loud machines with captain dipstick going as fast as he can down the trail at the wheel (and again, as with quads, I'm sure there are responsible bikers out there too).

I'm a big fan of quads, I have 2 myself, but I can honestly say that I really hope the government continues to close the OHV areas, because they really are getting destroyed by the numnuts out there. If I gotta pack my Elk out on my back, so be it, itll taste better and I'll prolly need the calories!

I don't discount the fact that there are responsible ATV users like yourself. It's sad that this is something that is yet again being ruined by idiots. I've consoled myself to the fact that the world is full of them :)

[acearchery]

Horse Damage: Go up the Panther River into the Four Corners.....

2 foot horse rut all the way.... horse manure in pristine water, weeds, soil compaction, grazed off areas.... I do not agree with the idea that quads do less damage than horses....if ridden responsibly. On Both counts!....

I feel that if quads not allowed then neither are horses.

If quads have to stick to designated trails then so do horses.

Of course I have toyed with idea of getting horses to access some back country currently unavailable to any other vehicle!... except shank's pony, and helicopter!....

I do agree that ATV users can potentially do more damage because there are some things a horse just won't do!:laugh: ie ripping up bogs, chasing game etc.

Unfortunately all managment programs have to consider the lowest common denominator. It is really easy to recognise the irresponsible quad rider..... to recognise an irresponsible horseperson takes another horse person!.....

Owning a quad is only a weekend commitment,

Having a horse requires more expense, commitment and responsibility... Which brings us back to the operator's!.... and the differences!.....

[scooter]

How about cattle? What about the beautiful piece of bush with tons of deer that got bulldozed for a new subdivision south of stony plain?

How about all the fertile farm land that's getting eaten up by development?

What about oil leases? What about logging?

What say ye about those?

[othmar]

Thousands of acres of land and many more acres get badly damaged by the industry. As annoying as it might be to see ATV and horse damage it nothing compared to the damage that occurs daily in the name of “progress”. A smallish but deer rich public land woodlot I used to hunt is now gone and overbuilt with houses and each time I pass by that place I can see more land is swallowed up by progress.

[FLYBYU44]

How about cattle? What about the beautiful piece of bush with tons of deer that got bulldozed for a new subdivision south of stony plain?

How about all the fertile farm land that's getting eaten up by development?

What about oil leases? What about logging?

What say ye about those?

The title of this post was "What do you think about ATVs?". I gave my opinion regarding ATVs because that is what the post title asked. I don't agree with development, oil leases and most logging either, but that doesn't take away from the fact that we should protect what few untouched natural areas we still have left. That is what annoys me the most about ATV riders that are irresponsible, they tend to find the most untouched areas that they can and then destroy them. I have personally taken photos of ATV riders spinning donuts on a protected alpine meadow and chasing geese through a river, and there are countless other instances that I have witnessed while fishing and hiking that really anger me.

[cdn-redneck]

As fer as insurance in bc you are supposed to have 2 million liability to ride on forest service roads but most don`t unlessyou belong to the bcwf you get that with your membership

You are close Diller you require $200,000 liability to ride on forest service roads. BCWF only covers you when you are actively hunting or fishing. You are not allowed to ride on public roads even if they are gravel, just forest service roads. It is best to get a private policy in BC.

[cdn-redneck]

The title of this post was "What do you think about ATVs?". I gave my opinion regarding ATVs because that is what the post title asked. I don't agree with development, oil leases and most logging either, but that doesn't take away from the fact that we should protect what few untouched natural areas we still have left. That is what annoys me the most about ATV riders that are irresponsible, they tend to find the most untouched areas that they can and then destroy them. I have personally taken photos of ATV riders spinning donuts on a protected alpine meadow and chasing geese through a river, and there are countless other instances that I have witnessed while fishing and hiking that really anger me.

In BC there is a law trying to stop this type of damage and the fines are quite hefty

July 26, 2007
Ministry of Forests and Range

NEW LAW IN FORCE TO PREVENT ECOSYSTEM DAMAGE


VICTORIA – Effective immediately, people who cause environmental damage to public forest and range lands through recreational activities such as mudbogging will be subject to financial penalties and prosecution, Forests and Range Minister Rich Coleman announced today.

“I hope this new legislation will stop people from harming the environment by mudbogging or recklessly driving ATVs through sensitive alpine terrain and range lands,” said Coleman. “We want to encourage the public to act responsibly on Crown land when they go out and enjoy the great outdoors.”

On May 31, the Forests and Range Statutes Amendment Act received royal assent. The act introduced a provision that makes it illegal for individuals to cause environmental damage. Previously, only industrial users of Crown land were subject to these prohibitions. Regulations deposited this week bring the law into effect, and update the definition of environmental damage to include any change to soil that adversely alters an ecosystem.

Under the new provision, individuals found to have caused environmental damage may face penalties of up to $100,000. Criminal convictions carry maximum fines of $100,000, up to one year in jail, or both.

“As a long-time proponent of off-road vehicle management, I strongly support any steps toward increased protection of B.C.’s grasslands, alpine and riparian areas,” said East Kootenay MLA and BC Outdoor Caucus Chair Bill Bennett. “Our public land in B.C. is an incredible resource, and although I support motorized recreation and enjoy it myself, we must balance motorized recreation with other values. There is room for everyone out there if we use common sense.”

Irresponsible use of off-road vehicles in ecosystems can easily damage soil, the ecological foundation of natural areas. For example, repeatedly driving or driving at certain times of the year in wetlands can change the structure of the soil, making it difficult for plants to take root and grow because of a lack of air or nutrients. In addition, off-roading in wetlands kills birds and amphibians. Generations of wildlife can be impacted due to a lack of plant life and clean water.

In fragile alpine areas and dry grasslands, off-roading can quickly erode the thin soil layer so that plant life can no longer be sustained.

An information brochure, titled “Is your mud worth $100,000 and a year in jail?” is available online at: www.for.gov.bc.ca/hen/reports/index.htm . For photos illustrating damage to ecosystems caused by off-road vehicles, please see www.for.gov.bc.ca/pab/media .

The public is encouraged to use public forest and range lands responsibly. Report any suspected forestry contraventions or crimes to a local Ministry of Forests and Range office, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.


-30-


Media contact:
Jennifer McLarty
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Forests and Range
250 387-4592

[Dillershortbow]

You are close Diller you require $200,000 liability to ride on forest service roads. BCWF only covers you when you are actively hunting or fishing. You are not allowed to ride on public roads even if they are gravel, just forest service roads. It is best to get a private policy in BC.

I`am kinda confussed about the public roads needing liability. What public road can you drive anything on with out licence and insurance ? do you need any liability to drive on fsr not i run my skidder up and down fsr roads all the time. sometimes the forest com. that maintains the road requires some .

[othmar]

I am not surprised to see Rich Koleman’s name attached to that statement. He likes to get though on the little guys but lets the big ones do whatever they want. In that regard he is you typical Liberal. He is also the guy that pushes hard to introduce a law that all ATV users need to have a license, similar to car drivers license.

While I wholly agree that offenders should be paying a hefty fine for tearing up the landscape with an ATV or 4x4 truck. I also agree that our government should apply the same laws to the industry that tears up environment with large equipment and causes just as much if not more damage. But with Coleman on the helm we can wait for an equal law until pigs can fly. Remember that is the guy who made a law that young drivers cannot carry any passengers in the cars. His version of stopping victims of drunk driving accident victims, he made that law right after defending vehemently Campbell after he got arrested in Hawaii for driving under influence. Go figure.

[cdn-redneck]

I`am kinda confussed about the public roads needing liability. What public road can you drive anything on with out licence and insurance ?


You are only allowed to ride on FSR roads. If it is a publicly maintained road then you can't ride an ATV on it. You need the liability to ride on FSR roads. The legislation is in the works that would require licensing and registration of all ATV's in the province. I don't know all the details of this, but I believe that the machine will need to have a plate or decal like a snowmobile as well as insurance. I think they are shoot for 2009 to implement this. I hope I didn';t get you more confused. You also need to be 16 years old to ride on FSR roads. I am heading to Vegas tomorrow so I will check back on this when I get back.

[GopherBroke]

pushes hard to introduce a law that all ATV users need to have a license, similar to car drivers license.




I think this is a GREAT idea! :thumbsup:

[GopherBroke]

Remember that is the guy who made a law that young drivers cannot carry any passengers in the cars.


I think this is a good idea too, but in my opinion..... would be best tweeked to read "Drivers 16-18 can only carry one passenger during daylight hours and no passengers after sunset".

Just my opinion... and way off topic at that. When I was a 16 year old kid, young dum and full of..... well anyway....... I know I showed off to my buddies a couple times driving like a friggin idiot, and I see it happening every day in Calgary too. Boys will be boys....

[othmar]

I think this is a GREAT idea! :thumbsup:

If hunters have to fork over more money to go hunting we will lose even more in the future. Statistics show that the number one cause for folks to shy away from hunting is that there are to many obligations and requirement combined with having to spend to much money.

[othmar]

I think this is a good idea too, but in my opinion..... would be best tweeked to read "Drivers 16-18 can only carry one passenger during daylight hours and no passengers after sunset".

Just my opinion... and way off topic at that. When I was a 16 year old kid, young dum and full of..... well anyway....... I know I showed off to my buddies a couple times driving like a friggin idiot, and I see it happening every day in Calgary too. Boys will be boys....

I am off topic too, this it will be my last comment on this subject. The law has put more young people on the road. Rather than riding together in a car they now have each their own. As of this writing I do not have the statistic handy and thus cannot tell you exactly how many percent more young drivers are on the road but it's considerable. Since that law was enforced the actual accident death involving driving under the influence among young drivers has sharply risen.

Back to ATV’s it is my opinion that licensing and over regulating don’t work because slobs will not obey laws. What does work is hard punishment in form of hefty fines and ATV confiscation. But I am sure this would not be agreeable with our soft hearted courts, so lets make laws under which the innocent have to suffer more then the ones that caused the law to be proposed in the first place.

I do not own or have driven an ATV yet but from what I see when out and about the damage caused by ATV’s and the interruption of other hunters is in my humble opinion vastly overrated. Me thinks that some folks get way to upset about ATV riders because they may have an opportunity blown at a game animal or their sense of tranquility has at one time been interrupted by a roaring ATV engine. In other words, I don’t think that ATV’s are a big problem in the outdoors.

[Mikey]

Alberta has been doing this for a while to a point ... Making all OHVs on Crown land be licened and insured ... just like a car ...and how does one get registration and insurance ...you need a drivers licence ....

as far as implimenting an OHV licence .... I Imagine it would be same idea as a boat licence where anything over 10 ponies(or something) you need a licence to operate ...on a the Topic of OHVs I imagine it would be anything over 50 cc ....like a Class 6 drivers licence

[Dillershortbow]

Who in BC is going to police this ? It will be no small task it will be a total waste of money as there only a million miles of unmaintaned forest service roads. I`am sure i could ride my quad up a visit BZ mikey and cross 1 public road. would take awhile

[GopherBroke]

The biggest problem as I see it, is enforcment and/or the lack thereof. A mandatory OHV license (imo) would be a great idea, but as Othmar pointed out, there will almost certainly be yahoos not abiding by the law and continuing to abuse the bush. Since there is already an obvious defecit of fur and feathers officers out there, enforcment would be issue #1. But... that being said... once they actually do catch one of the idiots red handed without a license, it should be an open and shut case when it comes to charges.

Now...that being said... as pointed out, our soft hearted courts probably won't apply the necessary penalties anyway, so where does that leave us? :bang:

[Mikey]

Who in BC is going to police this ? It will be no small task it will be a total waste of money as there only a million miles of unmaintaned forest service roads. I`am sure i could ride my quad up a visit BZ mikey and cross 1 public road. would take awhile


yep ...

but Merv I live on the north side of PG ...way up the hart ... and on the west side of the hwy ...so you will need to cross 3 public roads to get to my house from from Salmon Fin .... Fish dont have arms :lol: according to google earth :beer:

[Dillershortbow]

Mikey if i ride that far you can drive down to the willow and pick me up.... i think i would need a new bike.

[acadian]

I absolutely need my atv ,, more for fishing then hunting.
I fish in REALLY remote places and fishing last alot longer then the hunting season so , for me it's a necessity.
I can't stand it when these treehugers complain about the conservation of our land and this and that ,,
that to me is bull**** , because what do they do to help conserve our nature other then complaining?? ------NOTHING!
,, 70% of the money that is put into conservation is from the hunting community. :yo_sup: ,
That's alomost as bad as the people that say hunting is cruel and bad ,,while eating a fat juicy burger ,,, ignorant basterds.
I say that if respected , an ATV is a great TOOL ,,,
it CANNOT be worse then a timberjack tearing through the brush for logging reasons.
Just my 2cents.

[doubleh]

i think ATV's are fine but...there is waaaaaaaay too much access in the green zone (thank you industry), little to no enforcement, and not nearly enough public places for hunters that aren't afraid to walk/hike. As a result, Alberta's hunting opportunities are a shadow of their potential.
Habitat fragmentation is a huge problem here, and i would bet the majority of hunters don't even know what it means. i suggest we just keep doing the same thing because alberta is a resource whore-i've given up on public land:throwup:

[Bearcat]

as an Avid motorized recreation enthusiest .... Its against my better judgement to respond to this thread ...because it sounds like youve made up yer mind about the recreational users .... They have the same right we as hunters do to being on crown land .... if abuse it ...we lose it .... its that simple.

I personally am all for responsible use ...... 95% of the trails that ATVs use are old seismec or logging lines .....I am also in favour of a shared responsibility when it comes to stewardship of crown land ... I myself have helped organized backcountry stewardship events and the only representation from the hunting community are those that are active in both (or more)communitys

also the OHV industry in a Multi Billion ....yes thats Billion ...with a B ...industry here in Alberta with 2 billion dollars pumped into the economy in 2002 ....so yea they have the right to use crown land .... Provided the do so in a responsible fashion .......

Oh and I have seen the remanents of pack horses on banks of streams where the bank is torn to S#!T doing alot more damage than few quads being responsible would do .....

Mikey

You have provided the answer to the problems that causes many people to dislike theses machines. The problem is not the ATV but the last "Nut" that is put on the machine by the retailer. It seems like many folk have lost the concept of common sense. ATV's are a fantastic tool and a great deal of fun but when used carelessly they can be a highly destructive toy......

[jcrayford2001]

As one person that's just looking at picking up some used quads for the first time in his life, I would have to agree with *most* of the comments here....

I've hunted all my life, and bow-hunted for the last 13 years. After dragging an Elk for 1 mile for a period of 5 hours 2 years ago, it's been on my mind more and more.... I don't agree with carrying a weapon on board (and will never do so, unless I'm trying to get somewhere at about 4am - read the laws; no weapon on board between sunrise and 12pm), but I do agree with using them for a one time purpose of recovering/transporting game back to your vehicle to save your back/arms/legs/etc.... :sos:

BTW, I'm very physically fit, play a lot of sports and feel that hiking up a mountain is the ONLY way to hunt, but if given the choice of having to do 4 or 5 trips up that same mountain to recover an animal (and possibly spoil meat due to warm weather, or lose some to predators/scavengers) VS making one trip on an ATV to prevent lose - what would you do???

[gsambr]

I think they fine if use with respect to the land and other hunters. They do cut fuel cost.They sure can save your back when you haveto haul an animal out to your truck.:super_hap

[Badger]

ATV's
Used responsibly, definety.
For some people they live and breathe Motocross or quads or even 4x4 trucks.
They just need guidance to prevent our natural green areas from being destroyed.
They have their share of bad apples and we are seeing more restrictive ATV use areas every year. I have a had cart.......................it has wheels.

[sparky85452]

well I think you guys have covered most of it but want to say I do approve of the use of atv's on public land I use mine to go down old logging roads or tote roads but do not hunt from the machine it is only a tool to get me where I want to be. If I am lucky enough to harvest an animal it sure is nice to have a means of retrieving it a whole lot closer than where I left the truck,this old body gets weary easier than when I was a young man and anything that can make my hunt easier for me I think is a good thing.Of course there are always the others who cause havock and give those opposed to the use of atv's the ammo they need to have their use restricted or stopped all together. but for the purposes of the poll I vote yes use 'em and can only hope those who do will use them with care and consideration. thank you........sparky

[jimhenderson]

I posted my vote on this poll a year or so ago but did not post a comment till now.
Most outdoor rec. users and hunters come to the bush for the weekend or book days off from work to get out and enjoy their limmitted time off inthe bush with there personal expectations of how things should be , and not take into cosideration that there are a lot of other people out there for many other reasons.
I am an avid bow only hunter who hunts nearly every day from the first Wed after Labour Day till Oct 31 st. and use my quad very little.
From the first day of November till the last I use my quad almost every day on my trapline , most days it's right from sun up to late afternoon. Many rifle hunters that venture out to fill their tags in the general season are hunting at the same time I'm out working on my trapline ( trapping , keeping trails up , and making new sets) and weather it is the noise from my quad ar chainsaw or just my constant presence sure annoys the weekend users very much.
Last November I had more then 1 encounter with upset hunters claiming " I had no right to interupt their hunt with my quad while they were on my trap line trails , trails that I cut and maintain with my own blood ,sweat , and money.
No amount of reasoning could sway their oponion that without me and my hard work there would'nt be a trail there for them to even walk on.
So the moral of this long winded speach is , the next time you are out enjoying the bush and find someone else in the same area enjoying the same piece of bush stop and think , they may not be there for the same reasons you are there. It my be me just trying to make a living doing what I love and giving you nice trails to hunt on.:D

[Dillershortbow]

Well in the last 2 days i have seen something worse then ATVs and thats mountain bike`s. Three different mountains i have seen these trails . They ride up on logging roads and then come straight down. They are crazy some of the trails are about 60% and some of the jumps are 12 feet high. but some of the rut are 10in. deep

[Tazinator]

I have no problem with arc as long as u use respect. I drag my animals to the closest cutline and load them on my quad from there, I don't drive thru the bush to recover.
And as for licenses for quads my daughter is 8 and her quad is 110 cc but only rated for 60 kg so it's hard to say that over 50 cc they have to have a license.

[safariguy]

Being in the ATV/Snowmobile Business you would think I would have wide open arms to all that is recreation,,, but no I do not,,,,,,, all laws, rules are set out because of negitve feed back from the public,,,, and with ATV's and Snowmobiles that is from naturalists, and public as well as in many areas of Alberta, the oil patch, logging companies and Ranchers. I have seen many pictures of loosers with and without machines camping right on leases and pipelines with garbage littered all over, trails rutted to the point that I can't use them anymore,, and I was the one who cleared the fallen trees so I could use it for tours,,,,,RRRR!!!! The laws are coming,,, I was warned a few years ago and I am getting geared up for it,,,, Random camping and free for all riding will most likely be the way of the past,, Designated trail,,, and permits will likely come into affect,,,,, for riding and camping,,,,, you want to go hunting in and area,,, get a permit for your quad,,,,,, if it gets the nitwits out of our woods that are destroying it, I dont mind doing it.

[257weatherby]

I love my ATV..

[Standing Bear]

Only ways to get a moose out of the bush here is either by chartering a helicopter and or finding a lake somewhere that a float plane can safely land in and load up the meat. Other than that, your quad is the only way out. That's the reason why I invested in these Camoplast Tatou 4S tracks, they are amazing and create less of a foot print due to the minimal ground pressure they have as compared to tires.

[Oletrapper]

For years I hated them. Thought they were a real nuisance in the woods. Scaring off game and such. Then one day, I found that I was too old to climb the mountain to my usual turkey hunting location. Well, you know the rest of the story. I love my Honda 4/trax. Couldn't hunt the mountains without it. It has allowed me to pursue my hunting passions with ease and comfort. At least for a few more years, good Lord willing. OT