I saw this today in our local newspaper on the front page. Thought you all might want to see it. This is really getting out of control.

This is the group that made this study:
wilderness.org/content...d-vehicles

wilderness.org/content...exico-wild

I'm a guy unfortunately that can't help but be on the fence on this issue. I've seen it dramatically change the area's I hunt. As far as the Elk situation Tony I got to say I see it.
It's heart breaking to comprehend what I've lost and I'm sorry but I'm going to be fair in defense of the other side . Some of the most prized locations hunters use to frequent annually for Elk that I know of aren't very productive any more. The other side in many cases is intermingled with ride recreation because we are always looking to learn more of these areas. That's how I got included in the rec side.
I feel like I would not give up the friends I've made for anything but it has forced those in hunting community in some cases to adapt look elsewhere for productive hunting opportunities.
If you could understand the passion in the blood of a hunter you would see in many cases it has gotten very disappointing to our most traditional wilderness experience. I know I have had to moved on to places that you can count on for game.
I know this isn't going to be a popular response to your post but it is getting to a point where I have to say I don't really care. This all seems to have gotten to big to many including some of my recreation friends.
I'm not taking a poke at anyone here nor am I trying to stir up crap. This unfortunately is the truth. I've moved on to other places that are more productive but when will I have to move again.
In many cases the rides I end up on I keep hush because I don't want to invite the disturbance to these places.

Keep it green keep it clean is a great slogan but maybe the next good place to start as in the article is keep it quite.
I know this isn't include in the article but excessively loud pipes has always made me grit my teeth in these areas.
Also hiking or hunting on horse back "only" in these areas I don't see as a fair alternative for the regular working Joe either. That just makes it expensive unless your wealthy. We have enough of that garbage in society.

A time may also be coming where rec riders may have to support habitat management through licences like the hunting community.
What alternative is there other than Get Out.

I agree with you to an extent. Nothing makes people want to ban ATVs quicker than a bunch of yahoos who think that for some reason people 2 miles away like to hear their exhaust note.

My thoughts would be more to a DB requirement for certain areas, more than outright banning, though.

Actually I don't believe that excessively loud exhaust had any part of the discussion. It sounded like the article writer was decrying the increased popularity of motorised recreation.

I have a hard time supporting the view that the countryside ought to be reserved for those who enjoy hunting, however.
Understanding 'the passion in the blood of the hunter' doesn't include accepting the notion that hunters on ATV's should have exclusive use of the back country in order to kill things! People who like to ride just to go places have equal right to be there.
Otherwise it could be construed that you mean, 'I (and my hunting friends) should be able to ride an ATV, but no one else besides us', and that would be remarkably selfish and unreasonable.

This land is our land.

Was looking on line this morning at HMF's "new generation exhaust". My HMF "QRS" Quite Racing Series pipe is now three years old, out of warranty and has all the aluminum rivets holding the can together rattling which has become very annoying. Probably from expansion and contraction heating and cooling cycles.
They're offering by the looks of it as a $100.00 credit for a trade up to they're new gen line coming out. Looks also like they may be proactive here in addressing a DB downgrade to there new gen line. I hope so.
I emailed them to inquire if they are offering anything even quieter than the QRS. Even running the QRS sometimes makes me feel like a JackAass.

I'll update if I get a response.
New Generation HMF

glenlivet wrote:

Actually I don't believe that excessively loud exhaust had any part of the discussion. It sounded like the article writer was decrying the increased popularity of motorised recreation. I have a hard time supporting the view that the countryside ought to be reserved for those who enjoy hunting, however. Understanding 'the passion in the blood of the hunter' doesn't include accepting the notion that hunters on ATV's should have exclusive use of the back country in order to kill things! People who like to ride just to go places have equal right to be there. Otherwise it could be construed that you mean, 'I (and my hunting friends) should be able to ride an ATV, but no one else besides us', and that would be remarkably selfish and unreasonable. This land is our land.

Incredibly selfish ? We're (hunters) not the ones taking away things from you (yet). If things remain unaddressed in this situation you know it could easily change.
I was commenting on quiet and pipes because it would probably be a wise place to start.

I'm with you on the quiet pipes. Not much turns a bystander
s attitude against motorized recreation as fas as making an obnoxious amount of noise where you go.
I thought your post was speaking of the number of riders now frequenting the areas hunted, driving the game scarcer.
Sorry if that wasn't correct.

Here's a question from a now non-hunter who has in the past enjoyed hunting although the only game I ever scored was a rabbit. Here's the question doesn't the word hunt invoke the thought of search and perhaps kill rather than walk/ride up and shoot? After not hunting for a few years I realized what I actually enjoyed was the challenge of finding them more than the shooting. That's just my opinion for what it's worth which prolly isn't much.

I would like to think that we can all co-exist out in the bush. But the reality is that there is a certain amount of disturbance that we cause. I do believe however that logging and people building structures has a far more dynamic effect on wildlife habitat than trails and atvs using those trails.
I for one would be willing to agree that making our "footprint" as light as possible is a good thing. If that means making our exhausts quieter, than so be it.

Honda450sfm wrote:

I do believe however that logging and people building structures has a far more dynamic effect on wildlife habitat than trails and atvs using those trails.

You beat me to it. I have a hard time believing that an atv trail through the bush is anywheres near the environmental impact of a half-mile squared clearcut, loud pipes or not. That is what is driving the elk out. ( I think, I don't bush hunt for elk like them out in the open. Grain fed AAA)

That article did'nt seem biased at all.

andys wrote:

Honda450sfm wrote: I do believe however that logging and people building structures has a far more dynamic effect on wildlife habitat than trails and atvs using those trails. You beat me to it. I have a hard time believing that an atv trail through the bush is anywheres near the environmental impact of a half-mile squared clearcut, loud pipes or not. That is what is driving the elk out. ( I think, I don't bush hunt for elk like them out in the open. Grain fed AAA)

So Atver's driving then outta the bush and onto the grainland works for somebody

Didn't this year

Wycked_1 wrote:

perhaps kill rather than walk/ride up and shoot?

Unfortunatly someone pushing then KILL button dosen't work with me. Every time any of us pulls up to a Rotten Ronnies an plops down or $8.50 we "KILL", we just in a more cowardly and lazy way pay some eles to take care of that Safeway Elk for us. Sorry!
Now I might be trying to stir up crap.

Now Ken you quoted that out of context and I forgot a comma. I have no problem killing my own meat and have. Although not from hunting. I just said in my case finding them was way more fun than shooting them. When I did hunt I enjoyed walking thru the bush and I guess I realized that it was the walk I actually enjoyed and I can do that anytime I want. If I want to kill something I can buy a steer from the neighbor and shoot it. Also I have no problem with anybody that hunts.