Minnesota

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds off-highway vehicle (OHV) owners that it is illegal to operate OHVs on unfrozen public waters. That includes off-highway motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, off-road vehicles, and recreational vehicles capable of cross-country travel on natural terrain without the benefit of a road. This includes motor vehicles licensed for highway operation which are being used for off-road recreational purposes.

Brett Boese

RED WING -- A proposed change to ordinances regulating the use of All-Terrain Vehicles within Red Wing's city limits sparked heated debate at Monday's city council meeting.

Police chief Tim Sletten was recently made aware that the city code is not consistent with the state statutes, as Minnesota updated its policy in 2007 to differentiate between Class 1 and Class 2 ATVs. Under the current system, Class 1 ATVs, which are defined as vehicles weighing under 900 pounds with motors smaller than 960cc, are illegal within the city limits, while Class 2 vehicles -- which weigh between 900-1,500 pounds -- are allowed.

This restriction does not preclude the deer hunter, with a valid deer hunting license, to operate an off-highway vehicle in accordance with existing state law.

Laurel Beager

Many of the roads within Koochiching County will be open Nov. 1 to all-terrain vehicle use, thanks to adoption of an ordinance by the Koochiching County Board.

The county board Tuesday adopted the ordinance which allows ATV use on roads under county jurisdiction. Under the ordinance, ATVs must operate on the extreme right side of the road and may not exceed 20 miles per hour.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources forest trails and access routes will be closed to off-highway vehicles at times during November to protect recreational riders from potentially unsafe riding conditions and to minimize conflicts between deer hunters and recreational riders during the 2009 firearms deer hunting season.

The trail closures apply to the use of all-terrain vehicles, off-highway motorcycles, and off-road vehicles, such as jeeps and four-wheel drive trucks, by recreational riders on state forest trails or non-designated forest access routes.

Dennis Anderson

SILVER BAY, MINN. — Not far offshore from this northern Minnesota town last weekend lay a beautiful sight: Lake Superior beneath blue skies, with nary a whitecap in sight. As a bonus, temperatures were in the mid-70s, ideal for a September drive up and down the North Shore, especially for those with no particular agenda save for stops at Split Rock State Park and other inspiring destinations.

Yet, grouse hunters in the region were perhaps less inspired, or at least those who hunted on foot were. By tradition these are uplanders who put dogs on the ground and head into forests deep and dark, compass or GPS in a pocket. For them, the weather last weekend was too warm and the foliage in this early season too thick.

David A. Lien

The phrase “fair chase” has a very specific meaning in the hunting world. The Boone and Crockett Club defines it as “the ethical, sportsmanlike, and lawful pursuit and taking of any free-ranging, wild, native, North American, big-game animal in a manner that does not give the hunter an improper advantage over such animals.” This means fair-chase hunters pursue their quarry on foot; hone their skills so they make quick, clean kills; and they obey the law.

But today, this fair-chase ethic is under assault on many fronts.

Renee Richardson

In Crow Wing County, a perennial hot-button issue comes on four wheels.

A proposed all-terrain vehicle trail brought applause Tuesday from some and heated written words from others. In the end, the county board approved submitting a trail route in the southeastern corner of the county to the DNR for Grant-in-Aid Trail designation. The proposed trail would connect existing trails in Fort Ripley and Pine Center.