ATV affect on management
 

I hunt on approximately 300 acres of my uncle's farm. At least 80 acres is sown with soybeans and the rest is healthy hardwoods. A fairly substantial creek runs from one corner all the way through the property to the other. The point is that the habitat is great for the deer and we see evidence of their presence. But, we don't actually see a lot of them. I hunt with a couple experienced hunters (I've been hunting only 12 or so years) and we know every inch of the property. The property is hilly and has a few trails which are frequented by tresspassers because they are fun to ride on. Will the regular use of the trails by these ATVs keep the deer from moving before it is dark?

RE: ATV affect on management
 

Sounds like your problem might stem from lack of cover more than anythng else? That is just my guess form what you described. TGK

RE: ATV affect on management
 

You may very well be right. There are a few areas of thick cover but they are not large (few acres maybe). In September during bow season a lot of them bed in the soy beans. Perhaps there is something I can do to create thickets. I'll look into that.

Thanks

RE: ATV affect on management
 

What is on the neighboring areas? If you happen to be lke me, I have too much cover around me. 120 acres of 15 yr. old Pines South of me, ful of sage grass that can be 4-5 ft. tall. On the East there is 40 acres of 30 yr. old pines with the same Sage grass. I cut the large Pines in my timber 2 yrs. ago and have a lot of tops, etc but not much undergrowth at the present time. I have 3 Clover plots in the timber and one on the edge of a field (Pasture and hay). The deer don't bed much in my timber but they do pass back & forth to the plots. My land is fenced and posted, so only my ATV and a friend is on the trails. Maybe a couple small plots might help, even an 1/8th acre.

Russ

RE: ATV affect on management
 

i wouldnt think that the atvs would bother the deer much if they use the land regulary. i know i ride my quad around my place a lot along with the tractor and it dont seem to bother them. i would look into making some thick areas. with a chainsaw and a couple days you can do a lot. take out the larger trees to open up the canopy and let the sun shine in.

RE: ATV affect on management
 

NCOutdoors; I can't say specifically with deer but turkeys are now using an old road on my property now that it is blocked off to ATVs and 4 wheel drives. In this case the cover is a thin (50-100') strip along the road that just wasn't friendly enough when the road was in use.

Dan O.

RE: ATV affect on management
 

In my area, the riding we do doesn't have as much effect on the deer as does per say sport quad racing. We use utility quads for work around the farm. In all honesty, we still like ripping around the fields every now and then, riding in the creek, and a few mud holes. For the most part our quads are for work though. I'm sure they effect turkeys more than they do deer though.

RE: ATV affect on management
 

The 300 acres is unfortunately bordered by a couple small, rural neighborhoods. The ATV trespassing is a problem, though I haven't heard anyone riding in over a year. But I know the kids are there because they've vandilized some of our equipment and they are tearing POSTED signs down. It's infuriating. And when school lets ooout, they'll be down there all day while we're at work. We've contacted the Sheriff's dept but they say the problem is going on everywhere and they can't do anything about it unless we can catch the kids in the act. I'm thinking of setting up a couple stealth cams.

Thanks for the info . . .

Eric

RE: ATV affect on management
 

We have a small problem on our lease with ATV riders. I've thought about putting out some trail cams, but they would probably just take those. I think I'll do some reasearch on a video cam. that's triggered like the trail cams. You could put that up in a tree, not so easy to get to.

RE: ATV affect on management
 

You are probably right about them stealing the cameras. I got very lucky not too long ago when they found a camera in an area which was, admittedly, at stupid place for me to put one. They ripped the film and batteries out but otherwise caused no damage.

I'd love to catch these kids and take a photo to their parents and the sheriff.

RE: ATV affect on management
 

Set some snare traps and line some deep holes with pungi sticks:D Just kidding[:-]

RE: ATV affect on management
 

Sure if there is a pretty constant use of ATVs the deer will just leave. Anyone who spends time in areas like state parks where ATV trails get heavy use will tell you the wildlife impact is substantial. Deer are wary and solitary and have no desire for the noise, people, and activity from constant ATV use. In my hunting areas, I wont allow any use of an ATV other than is minimally necessary to work the farm , repair fences etc.

RE: ATV affect on management
 

I am surprised at what deer will tolerate and what thet won't. I was ditching a line fence to keep water out of the field and while I was using the backhoe, 7 deer were feeding and drinking from one of the springs that run into the ditch i was digging. But if I was to step off that 'hoe, all gone.

Russ

RE: ATV affect on management
 

I have a story to tell about ATV's.

Opening morning of the 2001 Wisconsin gun season. I walked to my stand and was in my stand a 1/2 hour before light. 15 minutes after first light the neighbor came up the logging road that runs along the fence line that divideds the two properties, on a 4 wheeler. He disappears over the hill for 15 minutes. I heard him fire his gun 2 times and within 5 minutes went back past me, only 100 yards away on his 4 wheeler. 15 minutes later he came back again with his hunting partner, and within another 20 minutes went back past again with the doe he had shot on the back of the 4 wheeler. About 30 minutes later he passed me again going back to his stand which was about 8:30AM opening day, again on his 4 wheeler. I was getting pretty upset about the whole thing when I noticed some motion that came from the direction his 4 wheeler had gone. 3 bucks, one being a 135 inch 11 pointer that I now have on my wall.

Thank you ATV riders, keep riding.

bowbow

RE: ATV affect on management
 

PS: In the past we had some problem with ATV's on the property, at least out of season. We put up fences, brought in big rocks, planted trees, and put up gates. problem has since ended.

bowbow

RE: ATV affect on management
 

You better know that riding an ATV more than necessary hurts your hunting unless you do it almost daily and then it can't help. We had kids on ours with ATV's and as soon as we put up a locked gate the sightings improved.