After doing several forays into the wilderness over the course of a few days, our group had a horse camp set up on the EDGE of the Big Blue Wilderness near Lake City, Colorado this last week, truly one of the more beautiful places on earth. We were enjoying a quiet moment in camp and recounting the day’s ride over drinks towards the end of the day when it happened….

Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrrrrrrrrrrrr….
You could hear them for 15 minutes before they arrived on their ATV, two bowhunters all decked out in camo came up the trail to our dead end camp. They said they had drawn “hard to get” tags and were scouting for huge mulies and wondering if we had seen any. After talking to us they left the end of the trail and kept going, not into the wilderness but definitely off any road or trail and cut across country near the wilderness boundary creating yet another “ghost trail.” 20 minutes later they came back going the other way, still “scouting” I guess.

We had seen the game they were looking for; however, we sure weren’t going to share it with them even though we don’t hunt in that area. They were going to have to work a lot harder than that before they even came close to finding their quarry AND they'll need to lose the "noise pollution."

The same two fellows either on foot or on horseback, would have arrived like a ghost in the darkness and departed the same way.... no noise and little or no trace and no track.

If only the government would open up an ATV season for ATV's that stray into "off limits" places. I think a front half mount would have lookednice.

Yeah, 4 wheelers drive me nuts!!! I get a kick when people are all decked out in camo too, and riding the things?? Doesn't make any sense to me at all!! I really can't say I have never used, or been with someone who usesa 4 wheeler. Friends of mine do, and I do when I am with them, but we use them for retrieving game and going down two track roads and walk from there rather than tear the trucks up. Some people, though have no common sense and are more of a hindrance to their own and other peoples' hunting than they are any good. I guess its not the 4 wheelers to blame, but how society has changed to make people think you NEED one to HUNT from. Society is getting lazier, and more obiese, the days of hunting on foot and good horsemanship are quickly dissappearing.

BTW - No 4 wheeler for me while elk hunting this year, will be doing it all on FOOT

WOW, makes me feel like buying that 4-wheeler day before yesterday was a mistake, maybe I'll put a sign on it saying "I promise that I'm just going down the 2-track so I don't tear up my truck" and then I'll keep my camo in my backpack until I reach the end of the road and then I'll put it on before I hunt 3-4-5 or more mile's away from it, that way I won't look foolish riding it with camo on. My day's of hunting on foot aren't over I'm just hunting smarter . As far as good horsemanship is concerned most people don't have or can't afford horses, besides I lost my good horsemanship status the last time our appy bounced me off the corral fence ! No offense guys but at 64 yrs old I don't care what anybody thinks about my 4-wheeler, when I only have 5 or 6 miles a day in me and that atv can get me closer to where I start then so be it.

I have an archery bull hunt that starts in 1 1/2 weeks in an area that I have never been before. 7 weeks ago (2 months before the start of the hunt) I used my quad to "scout" every road, 2 track, possible just learn where all the roads are in that area. I wasn't scouting for elk, but scouting the country rather. It sure did save some abuse on my truck and with gas going around $3.00 per gallon it helped the wallet too.

I'm not an advocate of driving the quad till I find game, but rather as USA said, I drive to an area a mile or so away from the hunting area, and then I hike in 3, 4, or 5 miles.

I do wish I had horses, but ever since my parents sold the farm (many years ago), I haven't had the land to keep them and I can't afford a boarding place.

Using an ATV to go wherever it is legal for a truck to go is one thing, but funny how they so seldom seem to stay "inbounds" like they are supposed to. For those that do then "kudos to you" however unfortunately your brotheren just don't behave and that is the facts....

It is always a nice rationalization that if:

** (1) "I'm going to drive to point X (beyond the road and trail system) and then walk Y distance further to MYYYY hunting spot” so therefore it is okay…..

OR

** (2) “I’m only going to leave the road/trail [two track] to go get MYYYY downed animal so therefore it is okay….”

Both ignore the real possibility that while you are going to YOURRRR destination that you are crossing others current hunting set ups with a noise pollution that will scare the bejesus out of any worthwhile game in advance of your arrival and in your wake…. Right thru the midst of someone else’s hunting set up --- screw them, I’m on the way to executing MYYYY hunting plans.

Hunters on horses (natures quiet and fast “machines”) or on foot (get up and leave earlier) can achieve the same result without ruining it for others (knowingly or unknowingly).

Now on private land, it is a whole different story, you control the rights of who is on that land and your right to infringe on their hunting set ups, not so on public lands.

As I stated earlier, I only drive my atv where it is legal.....on the roads.

In the future, please do not refer to the Aholes who go where ever they please on an ATV as my "bretheren." They are not! Comments like that will lead me to believe that you are taking on the personality of one of your animals backsides.

PS - If my ATV, which is on the road happens to screw up your hunt, then I send you my deepest appologies and suggest you wander off the path just a little bit.

I hear you USA!

Let’s not get confused:
** If you stay on the legit roads then this thread isn’t about you is it?
** It is however about the non-brethren; who just can’t follow the rules with their ATVs.

I’m sure.
No worry there though, you won’t catch me close to the road or atv approved trail, except when heading in or out from the trail head (whether on foot, on horse, or leading pack horses while on foot); therefore there will be no need for any “apologies”.

So with those two points clarified, as a responsible ATVer with “clear insight” what form of punishment would you personally recommend for the non-brethren which would be sufficiently strong enough to cause near universal compliance with the laws and regulations?

ELKCAMPMASTER, thats an easy question to answer, do the same as they do to drunk drivers, impound the atv and when you show up in court you pay the fine +impound fees+ towing fee, that might get their attention.Imagine what it would cost to have someone from town come all the way out to tow your atv, but in reality and we all know it nobody's gonna do nuthin ! So bottom line is those of us who follow the rule's will be lumped in with those who don't.

Actually as I think more about it, the problem lie's with almost zero enforcement, so we could pass all kind's of law's but who would enforce them.We had an off road problem around where I live but when they assigned 2 deputie's on off-road motorcycles the problem was diminished almost 100%, theres always the hardcore jerk that nothing will change but most people don't want to get in trouble with the law.