I have seen several comments on hunting with ATV's in these forums and was looking for a general opinion. Where I hunt it is very aggresive country with steep tall mountains and the deer are generally at the treeline. We generally have a base camp on the valley floor and use ATV's to get up into the mountains as far as we can, park the quads and hike the remainder to the treeline with packs were we set up a tent camp. We will hunt the treeline of the mountains for a few days and then return to base camp to rejuvenate and then repeat. This is still a half day hike to the top and by no means easy. Do you think this is an unfair advantage using the quads in this manner?
Hunting with ATV's
- Thread starter kd7sgm
- Start date
I like ATVs. I don't use ATVs but I like them.
I hunt elk in the Big Horns on horses. There are several trails and roads used by ATVs. They scatter elk. I like to get up on top of a ridge overlooking several trails. I just tie off my pony, find a good spot, drink coffee and wait for ATVs to seen them my way.
I hunt elk in the Big Horns on horses. There are several trails and roads used by ATVs. They scatter elk. I like to get up on top of a ridge overlooking several trails. I just tie off my pony, find a good spot, drink coffee and wait for ATVs to seen them my way.
hickstick_10
New member
Just my opinion, but quads should be reserved for the genuinely disabled for hunting. Or feel free to take your quad on a DESIGNATED quad trail to hunt, but do not cut your own trail.
As far as aggressive country, I live in British Columbia near the Rockies and quads see little use in the higher mountains for hunting. Many guides use horses.
The sad thing here is that hot dogging ATV users end up killed every year from an avalanche or rolling the damn thing all the way down a mountainside, but oh well that's natural selection I suppose. I never see hunters wearing helmets on their machines.
And in reality, a quad isn't much of an advantage like the previous poster mentioned for actual hunting. If your not physically able to tote your load of toys in then I'd imagine its a boon. And if your to damn lazy or scared to go into the woods with a pack, rifle and maybe a horse then its a very nice crutch.
That being said, I would like to own something along the lines of a honda Grizzly for pulling small dead fall logs for fire wood and the like, seems like it would be excellent for that, so by no means am I saying BAN ALL QUADS:barf:
As far as aggressive country, I live in British Columbia near the Rockies and quads see little use in the higher mountains for hunting. Many guides use horses.
The sad thing here is that hot dogging ATV users end up killed every year from an avalanche or rolling the damn thing all the way down a mountainside, but oh well that's natural selection I suppose. I never see hunters wearing helmets on their machines.
And in reality, a quad isn't much of an advantage like the previous poster mentioned for actual hunting. If your not physically able to tote your load of toys in then I'd imagine its a boon. And if your to damn lazy or scared to go into the woods with a pack, rifle and maybe a horse then its a very nice crutch.
That being said, I would like to own something along the lines of a honda Grizzly for pulling small dead fall logs for fire wood and the like, seems like it would be excellent for that, so by no means am I saying BAN ALL QUADS:barf:
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Rifleman1776
New member
ATVs allow older folks, and I are one, to continue hunting after some of the energy wears out. I can still hike in for miles but dragging a dead animal out those miles would be a killer, literally. The most common cause of death for hunters is cardiac arrest.
The ATV is a tool. Can't deny they are fun but they help do a job. Sadly, in many states, like Arkansas the National Forests have all but cut out ATV use at all for anyone.
Agreed, hot dogging is deadly and stupid. No need to go fast or ignore safety rules.
The ATV is a tool. Can't deny they are fun but they help do a job. Sadly, in many states, like Arkansas the National Forests have all but cut out ATV use at all for anyone.
Agreed, hot dogging is deadly and stupid. No need to go fast or ignore safety rules.
Most all public hunting land in Ohio is off limits to using quads when hunting.
My health won't let me drag deer anymore so the biggest thing I hunt on public land is turkey. Also there may be a clause for handicapped people hunting public land and using quads in Ohio, don't know.
I deer hunt all private land these days and utilize my Quad for dragging them out only. If hunting in a group in say shotgun season, we will all agree that any deer shot in the morning will not be drug out till our agreed lunch time(weather permitting of course,not to warm). Shoot a deer in the afternoon and it will be dark when we pull it out. As far as the trip in and out, it's walking.
My health won't let me drag deer anymore so the biggest thing I hunt on public land is turkey. Also there may be a clause for handicapped people hunting public land and using quads in Ohio, don't know.
I deer hunt all private land these days and utilize my Quad for dragging them out only. If hunting in a group in say shotgun season, we will all agree that any deer shot in the morning will not be drug out till our agreed lunch time(weather permitting of course,not to warm). Shoot a deer in the afternoon and it will be dark when we pull it out. As far as the trip in and out, it's walking.
FrankenMauser
New member
I don't find ATVs to be an "unfair advantage".
I do find them incredibly annoying and destructive, though.
In the last 15 years, I have known or encountered a total of three people that kept their ATVs on designated trails, and didn't have 350 decibel resonators on their exhaust. The rest were:
A) Ignorant <expletives> that didn't bother to read the "road closed" signs, and still didn't care when they were informed that the closest legal road is 4 miles away.
B) Just plain <expletives> that KNOW they're breaking the law and irritating everyone on the mountain, and actually go out of their way to make things worse - all while showing how 'super bad ass' they are, by revving their ATV into oblivion, and tearing up the mountain.
Where I hunt Elk, there is a sand stone precipice at the peak of a mountain, that overlooks a huge valley. The closest ATV trail is 2 miles away, and most of the "hiking trails" are actually closed due to erosion issues (ATV-induced, naturally). Last year, an ATV rolled over another hunter before going off the top of that precipice, falling 600 feet, and tumbling down a 70 degree slope - because people are too damn ignorant and arrogant to obey Forest Service regulations.
If you're a responsible ATV rider, that doesn't have a 'jetted, piped, and stroked' bike screaming around the mountains, I don't have a problem. But give me excess noise, or one trip down an illegal (or non-existent) trail, and I have zero respect.
I do find them incredibly annoying and destructive, though.
In the last 15 years, I have known or encountered a total of three people that kept their ATVs on designated trails, and didn't have 350 decibel resonators on their exhaust. The rest were:
A) Ignorant <expletives> that didn't bother to read the "road closed" signs, and still didn't care when they were informed that the closest legal road is 4 miles away.
B) Just plain <expletives> that KNOW they're breaking the law and irritating everyone on the mountain, and actually go out of their way to make things worse - all while showing how 'super bad ass' they are, by revving their ATV into oblivion, and tearing up the mountain.
Where I hunt Elk, there is a sand stone precipice at the peak of a mountain, that overlooks a huge valley. The closest ATV trail is 2 miles away, and most of the "hiking trails" are actually closed due to erosion issues (ATV-induced, naturally). Last year, an ATV rolled over another hunter before going off the top of that precipice, falling 600 feet, and tumbling down a 70 degree slope - because people are too damn ignorant and arrogant to obey Forest Service regulations.
If you're a responsible ATV rider, that doesn't have a 'jetted, piped, and stroked' bike screaming around the mountains, I don't have a problem. But give me excess noise, or one trip down an illegal (or non-existent) trail, and I have zero respect.
longranger
New member
ATV's do far less damage to a wet dirt road than the Giant F-250's,F-350's as well as any full size pickup.I am a responsable ATV owner I stay on designated roads I have put on decible reducing extention to the exhaust.Worst abuse I have ever seen was in Idaho,there are ATV trails that have broken mirrors,bumbers,body trim and window glass littering the trail from morons running their full size pickups on ATV trails.Shod horses and cows will tear up a trail faster than a ATV will.
Doc Intrepid
New member
My thoughts agree with longranger and FrankenMauser.
It isn't the quads so much as the rider and how they choose to ride.
A very quiet quad used to haul game or firewood, used with respect for others in the woods, etc. is not a problem.
A loud noisy quad driven irresponsibly, cutting new trails, against Nat'l Forest rules & regs, etc. is a problem.
There is a role for quads in hunting, just as horses - both expand the area that a hunter can reach. But they must be used respectfully.
IMHO.
It isn't the quads so much as the rider and how they choose to ride.
A very quiet quad used to haul game or firewood, used with respect for others in the woods, etc. is not a problem.
A loud noisy quad driven irresponsibly, cutting new trails, against Nat'l Forest rules & regs, etc. is a problem.
There is a role for quads in hunting, just as horses - both expand the area that a hunter can reach. But they must be used respectfully.
IMHO.
"RESPECTFULLY" being the key word in the sentence, sad to say it's the most lacking in some hunters today. We all know that the 'lack of respect' is probably the #1 reason getting permission to hunt private property is becoming almost impossible.
You can usually follow these slob hunters into the woods by the trail of trash left behind. When it's private property these slob hunters are on, it's not uncommon to find out that they're also trespassing.
Turn that same slob hunter loose on a quad and what do you think is going to happen? Fence's cut or rundown(livestock running loose) and crop fields rutted out, just to name a few things you'll find. Ask me how I know!
I can only imagine the distruction that some of you are complaining about in public area's where quads are legal to hunt with.
I believe you're right but there are a few slob hunters that will eventually get that 'role' revoked and it will no longer be legal to use a quad(maybe horses) for hunting on your public land. Same as it is here in Ohio.
As usual, a few idiots will ruin things for everyone in your states also.
All caused by not being "RESPECTFUL". :barf:
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Nothing wrong with using an ATV as long as the user has some consideration for others. It's the "I'm the only one who matters!" attitude which leads to behavior that makes folks mad and leads to bans on their use.
I got to hunt some private land three years or so back and my nephew had a 4-wheeler we used to retrieve deer. That was the only time I got to use one and it saved my bacon (back muscles). But where I hunt now , it's conservation land, and there is absolutely no ATV use, Nor horses!!! We use a deer cart like this one. We can haul out two or three(little ones) at a time!!
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The group I hunt with are generally neutral on ATVs - it's kind of depending on the use. We are a hard-hunting hardcore group, so when we see healthy guys road hunting on their ATV we just kind of shake our collective heads. But we also see guys hunting on them we know are physically challenged, and we are happy to see them out, at least. We generally know the difference because we have a gregarious one hunting with us - maybe he's just nosy, but he takes every opportunity to 'visit' our neighbors and report back. Elk really hate the darn things, and they really get moving when they hear them. This rarely helps our hunts...oh well, that's elk hunting.
Most of the ATVs drive them to a point on the road, and hunt in. That's no problem, they use less gas than a big truck, and we'd probably do the same if we had enough of them. We do have one ATV in camp, but only use it to retrieve game in areas where it is too dangerous to take the horses.
This year, we had a very successful camp: 7 deer, 3 elk, and a bear. We used the ATV to help get one elk, and all of the deer, We used the horses for the rest.
We view it more as a retrieval tool, than an actual hunting tool.
Most of the ATVs drive them to a point on the road, and hunt in. That's no problem, they use less gas than a big truck, and we'd probably do the same if we had enough of them. We do have one ATV in camp, but only use it to retrieve game in areas where it is too dangerous to take the horses.
This year, we had a very successful camp: 7 deer, 3 elk, and a bear. We used the ATV to help get one elk, and all of the deer, We used the horses for the rest.
We view it more as a retrieval tool, than an actual hunting tool.
Crankylove
New member
Bingo.
My thoughts exactly. I see too many riders leaving trails to make their own up to the top of a ridge, following marked and blocked closed trails, flying up and down the roads at speeds I wouldn't drive my truck at (all the while throwing rocks, kicking up clouds of dust, and forcing other drivers off the road), and scaring off all the game within ten miles with the noise of their whole hunting party going full throttle up a creek bed or ridge line trying to "hunt" their deer or elk.
If people want to use ATV's to hunt, thats fine, but have a little respect for the laws and regulations in the area, and for the other hunters out there as well.
I know not all ATV riders are idiots with no common sense.........but I see soooooo many being just plain stupid and having the "its all about me" syndrome, that it is hard not to judge them all by the ones I see.
Using an ATV to get to a trailhead, or for getting your game back to camp once you have packed it out of the boonies is fine with me. Using one to go collect firewood, go chat with a neighboring camp, or give your hunting buddy a ride up the road so he can hike in are all fine, people just need to remember they aren't the only ones out there, and a few idiots can give a lot of people a bad name.
Um think yamaha, they make the grizzly. I have one a 1997 model it works so well I sold the tractor. I have a plow on it now for winter.
We use them to collect our deer after we shoot them, land owners all have the utility type like a gator. Can get a few more people in them and they have a back part like a trucks box. full roll cage etc.
hickstick_10
New member
I saw grizzly and an Asian brand name, not surprising I got it wrong
Erosion
The least amount of trail erosion is caused by a human foot. Next comes a horse with high impact per unit area but the area is small. Motorcycles, according to a BLM study in California many years ago, displace 1/4 ton of material per mile traveled. More if driven aggressively. ATVs displace slightly more than mototcycles due to greater surface contact area mitigated by lower contact pressure.
Hunted in the Sierras and lowland southeast US. Even in the mountains I prefer walking in lieu of bouncing along on a noisy machine.
The least amount of trail erosion is caused by a human foot. Next comes a horse with high impact per unit area but the area is small. Motorcycles, according to a BLM study in California many years ago, displace 1/4 ton of material per mile traveled. More if driven aggressively. ATVs displace slightly more than mototcycles due to greater surface contact area mitigated by lower contact pressure.
Hunted in the Sierras and lowland southeast US. Even in the mountains I prefer walking in lieu of bouncing along on a noisy machine.
Rifleman1776
New member
Tuzo, I have to disagree strongly with those test results. Just coming from California makes the study highly suspect.
I use my ATV to get me back into the woods. I park then hike to a stand.
When I go off trail (seldom) I challenge anyone to even find where I have driven unless it is over mud. I don't drive fast. I'm outdoors and want to enjoy it and not disrupt others. Besides fast is inherently dangerous.
I use my ATV to get me back into the woods. I park then hike to a stand.
When I go off trail (seldom) I challenge anyone to even find where I have driven unless it is over mud. I don't drive fast. I'm outdoors and want to enjoy it and not disrupt others. Besides fast is inherently dangerous.
WOW!
500 LB. of material in 1/4 mile?
That study must have been done in the sand doons with the driver shooting a ten ft. rooster tail.
I don't think my tractor, ATV or the golf cart with knobbies on it, all put together would displace that much material in that short a distance here on this property. Course all the trails are kept in grass and are ALWAYS driven on with care.
As far as sheer distruction of ground, I'd much rather have six or eight quads drive across one of my planted fields than six or eight horse's/cows trod through them leaving 3-8" deep divots all over. That makes for an un-happy farmer
.