SURVEY REVEALS CONFLICT BETWEEN OFF-ROAD VEHICLES AND HUNTING, FISHING

[WVaHillbilly]

I thought this was an interesting story posted on my local game wardens web page.



Off Road Vehicles vs Hunting & Fishing - Ask the Conservation Officer


ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Izaak Walton League of America, a national
> leader in community-based conservation, today released a new survey
> of managers of state fisheries and wildlife agencies from around
> the nation, which reveals negative impacts on hunting and fishing
> from various types of off-road vehicles (ORVs). Furthermore, these
> agency managers strongly indicated that more enforcement of
> standards is needed to protect hunting and fishing from ORV impacts.
>
> The survey, conducted in July and August of 2007, reached out to
> each of the 50 state wildlife managers and each of the 50 state
> fisheries managers. A total of 34 agencies, representing 27
> different states, responded to the survey.
>
> The survey is part of a broader IWLA report, "Collision Course? Off-
> Road Vehicle Impacts on Hunting and Fishing," which was also
> released today. The report can be found online at http://
> www.iwla.org/publications/wilderness/OHVreport.pdf
>
> "Off-road vehicles are important to many people's lifestyles both
> for work and recreation, including many Izaak Walton League
> members, and we believe that most users drive their ORVs
> responsibly," says Kevin Proescholdt, director of IWLA's Wilderness
> and Public Lands Program. "However, our survey of agency managers
> clearly indicates a reckless contingent of riders is harming fish
> and wildlife habitat and ruining hunting and fishing experiences
> for many people. Our survey also points to the need for more
> enforcement to protect hunting and fishing. That is why we call on
> Congress to thoroughly investigate this growing problem."
>
> Among the key findings of the survey are:
>
> . 83% of wildlife managers say that they have seen "resource damage
> to wildlife habitat" caused by ORVs, following closely behind by
> 72% who cited "disruption of hunters during hunting season" as
> another impact from ORVs.
>
> . 61.1% of surveyed wildlife program managers agreed or strongly
> agreed that "ORVs negatively impact hunting and habitat in my
> state," while 0% disagreed or strongly disagreed with that statement.
>
> . 57.2% of state fisheries managers surveyed agreed or strongly
> agreed that "ORVs negatively impact fishing and fishing habitat in
> my state." Only 7.1% of survey respondents disagreed with that
> statement.
>
> . 53.3% of fisheries managers surveyed believe that existing
> standards do not adequately protect fishing from ORV impacts.
>
> . 47.1% of wildlife managers surveyed believe that existing
> standards do not adequately protect hunting from ORV impacts.
>
> To address these issues, the League calls on Congress to conduct
> thorough oversight of U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land
> Management efforts to designate and manage ORV routes; enforce
> lawlessness that is occurring as a result of reckless riding;
> assess if these agencies have what they need administratively and
> financially for enforcement, implementation, and restoring and
> repairing past damage to public lands; and, determine if current
> rules, standards, and penalties serve as effective deterrents to
> reckless riding.
>
> ###
>
> Founded in 1922, the Izaak Walton League of America protects
> America's outdoors through community-based conservation, education,
> and the promotion of outdoor recreation. The League has more than
> 40,000 members and supporters nationwide.

 

[cp1969]

"That is why we call on Congress to thoroughly investigate this growing problem."

That is the LAST thing that needs to happen.

How big of a problem can this be? All the law can regulate is public land and I never thought of public hunting areas as prime hunting grounds anyway. Too many people there.

What people do on their own land is their own business, and the ATV users and hunters/fishermen on public land are both recreators...both have a right to be there and neither has an exclusive right to have the place to themselves.

 

[RedRocker]

Congress is rarely the answer to any problem.

 

[SnowRidge]

What people do on their own land is their own business, and the ATV users and hunters/fishermen on public land are both recreators...both have a right to be there and neither has an exclusive right to have the place to themselves.

True, but a small abusive minority does not have the right to destroy the experience for the other users.

 

[dmccarty]

True, but a small abusive minority does not have the right to destroy the experience for the other users.

They might not have the right but they certainly effect other's experiences and often end up closing an area due to abuse.

ORV's have been an issue for decades. My father and I used to go out in the National Forests on roads that are now closed because people would rut up those roads and dump trash. This was back in the 70's.

We saw some really interesting places but now the only way to get into those areas is by hiking which means danged few people will go back in those areas. Without a 4x4 there was no way we could have seen these areas.

Later,
Dan

 

[Robert_in_NY]

That is the LAST thing that needs to happen.

How big of a problem can this be? All the law can regulate is public land and I never thought of public hunting areas as prime hunting grounds anyway. Too many people there.

What people do on their own land is their own business, and the ATV users and hunters/fishermen on public land are both recreators...both have a right to be there and neither has an exclusive right to have the place to themselves.

Around here you can drive into town and find atv's all over the town. They do not have any land there to ride them yet there is a few well worn trails coming from town heading to the next town. I had 15 atv's ride thru my oat field a couple years ago. This summer there was 5 atv's that rode thru the high school running over the football equipment on the practice field. I was there with my daughter at the playground but being a sunday the local police dispatcher was off duty so all the calls went to the sheriffs. By the time they get thru the guys are long gone.

I have no problem riding atvs on your own land or public trails posted for Atv use. But when I see people tearing up my fields, my neighbors fields and our school grounds then I get upset. It is not uncommon to see people riding atvs on the road. One of the kids who works for me had his atv inpounded when he was caught riding on the road. He knew better and didn't blame anyone but himself. I just wish the cops would catch more of them.