With possible exceptions for the disabled I like to see the ATV' s stay the same place as the trucks -- on the road (or at least designated ATV trails). In my area here in Colorado, even the ATV trails are closed to ATV' s starting Oct. 1st -- Why? -- You guessed it.... more than enough people have demonstrated that they just can' t follow the rules and stay where they are supposed to -- just don' t like that " w" (work) word, hence the forest service has shut it down to them all during elk season. One of few good calls on their part far as I' m concerned.

I hear hunters arguing that once they have shot an elk that suddenly the ATV rules should be suspended and that it is okay for them to take their ATV " off road" and blaze (cut) a trail to their fallen elk. I disagree. just becuase someone is lucky enough to get their elk by late afternoon on the first day, dress it doesn' t mean I should have to endure them while I' m laying low and being patient or stalking along the edge of some black timber on the second day' s morning -- when here comes the put-put ATV, heard ' em 40 minutes before I ever saw them, chattering away having a party, clearing a trail and cutting ocassional (or not so ocassional) logs out of their way with their chainsaw. That' s great for them -- not having to sweat carrying out their meat -- but what about anyone still hunting within 3/4 mile of their " noise circus" .

Hunting, solitude, and silence are stable mates. IMHO, if you can' t carry it on your back or if you can' t/won' t use/hire horses or mules or llamas or what ever to pack out your meat so it can be done silently, discretely, and reasonably without a trace, then don' t shoot in the first place -- either you need an outfitter to take care of it for you or you are arguably pursuing the wrong sport -- consider one where the " w" word isn' t required -- like golf, with a motorized cart of course.

Now if you hunt on private land -- fine, go for it because the rights are yours to use/abuse as you choose; on public land you have to look to their greatest good for the greatest number. In the case of public land, if you give hunters (at large) an inch on this one, then there are PLENTY who will literally take a mile -- and spoil it for everyone -- best to just not go there.

Just a flight of fantasy:
Any possiblity of the CDOW issuing " carcass tags" for illegal ATVs on public land to allow for a little hunter " self-enforcement" ? [Just kidding of course!] Would make kind of a neat trophy though, let' s see -- full mount (4x4), 3/4 mount (seat forward), head mount (engine only), antler mount (handlebars only) -- the possibilites are nearly endless.

Never Go Undergunned,
EKM

Cause I' m tryin' to be a civilized feller, I ain' t gonna respond to yer question. Enuff to say I ain' t crazy ' bout the growth of ATV-mania, an' the lawbreakers, poor stock attracted to them. Ain' t gotta be a road everwhere, or somebody tryin' to make one where he thinks there outta be one.

I have personally witnessed one event that left everyone viewing sick to thier stomaches. THis involved 2 young riders on separate ATV' s chase down a herd of Elk out in the open in Wyoming and then come to a screeching halt 400 yards further than they should have been shooting and open up on the animals. This happened on private ranchland and according to the people I was with were kids from an adjoining ranch. Just like EKM said I would have had a trophy set of handlebars hanging from the wall. Good point Rather Be there is no difference between a 4x4 truck or an ATV if they are used responsibly.

Unfortunately, you can' t legislate common sense. The result is legislation and /or wholesale restriction that ruins the opportunity for less mobile hunters to still be able to hunt and access areas that are semi remote. I don' t agree that an ATV and a truck are the same critter. I have both and I could easily take the ATV off road where no truck could go if I so desired. I seldom use my ATV for elk hunting just because of the nature of the animal and the terrain they inhabit. It' s simply not practical or smart to ride an ATV into good elk country. Elk will tolerate horses to some degree, but they don' t seem to hold a high regard for ATV' s. There are some however that don' t share the ethics of many on this board and will ride to get as close as possible to get into thier hunting area, and some that won' t even get off the darn thing. It once again boils down to the old saying...Common Sense is not all that Common!!!

I wouldn' t trade my Honda 450 Foreman for a dozen horses. I use it bout everyday and attach my snow blade during the winter months also have a waren 2000 # winch in the front, its a full time 4wd and used it in packing out 3 deer last year, 2 were at the same time field dressed 250 and 300, the 300#er was my friends first P/Y The hardest part was lifting them on. Bobby

i have had my yamaha 350 big bear ince 1999.it still runs like a new one.you will find that there are few differences and most will do the job.a quick way to see how each holds up is to go by a local independent repair shop. i did this for a few years before getting mine.the number one atv in for constant repairs was a polaris. he rated the honda as number one with the yamaha second.the cable tc show did a test on atv' s a month or so ago.polaris did not even make the ratiung list. the number one rated atv was bombadier

The big summer " sport" ' round here is chasin' antelope with an ATV. You run ' em down an' run over them. More points for a buck. Great fun.

ElkKampMaster,

Well said. I was actually trying to be nice in my post but when I was in Colorado hunting, that is the last thing I wanted to see was another ATV rider cruising by. Don' t know why they even bring them out there as you can' t go anywhere that you couldn' t go with a truck anyway.

I go hunting to get away from the noises of civilization and here in Minnesota, I can' t tell you how many times I' ve had them come cruising by during deer season. They are supposed to only use them during certain hours but the SOB' s drive wherever and whenever they want. I was tempted to put a round into one after they drove up to where I was hunting, parked the ATV just downhill from my stand, and setup down a ways. Probably get in more trouble than it would be worth. Now, however, the state is getting tougher on cross country travel and shutting them down from travelling wherever they please. How they tighten the reins even more but I doubt if enforcement efforts will keep up.

In the wrong hands they are the land based equivalent of the pesky jet ski.

I have used one for ten years but can say I' ve come close to fistfights when idiots including a father teaching his son ride within 30 yards of a waterhole just before dark and blow my chance for an elk. I do want to be able to ride in the future as my Honda is quiet and I park it at least a half mile from where I start hunting. I have also hauled out a bunch of elk with it and they work well for that. Just like a gun they are a problem when stupid people get them but if they were outlawed then no more for the resposible people. It irritated me last year to see an outfitter send his camp boy into the woods to pick up an elk pulling a big trailer. Still think they are OK if you have a brain. Good hunting.