Sportsmen Voices

Sportsmen across America are expressing concern over the growing problem of reckless ORV riding and are looking for common-sense solutions like visible identification and stronger penalties for illegal riding. Read what they’re saying:

We believe reckless ORV riding is causing a growing problem of lawlessness across America, including ruining public lands, trespassing on private property, and vandalism. People are getting fed up. Read what sportsmen across America are saying.

"There's 300 acres here. Hundreds of trails. By law, you're not supposed to ride your ATV out here, but if you stayed on the trails, nobody would bother you. Why would you want to just destroy something nice?" -- Pelham Recreation Director Brian Johnson, "Why 'destroy something nice?'", Lowell Sun (4/27/10)

“It's only right. Everybody else pays for their own enforcement, especially in light of the fact that they are a minority recreational community and cause the majority of problems out there," -- David Petersen, co-chairman of Colorado Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, "ATV trails spared pain of Colorado's budget cuts", Denver Post (1/27/10)

"Bad guys abuse public land. Good guys take care of it. We are seeing too much lawlessness and damage on Montana's national forests. It's time for Montanans to stand up for the land that belongs to all of us." -- Hunter Joe Hundley, "Backcountry hunters and anglers offer reward for ATV violations," Great Falls Tribune (8/30/07)

"They have no money - they are devastated financially - and most of the time in the summers the Forest Service's money is spent fighting fires. There's going to be all these supposed [ORV] changes, but no way of enforcing it." -- John Koleszar, an outdoorsman and the Arizona Wildlife Federation's vice president for conservation, "National Forest official eyes ATV campaign," East Valley Tribune (8/3/08)

"If it's the law, follow it! They take ATVs where they're not suppsed to be and then hide them. Hope I don't find it. First offense - take the ATV" -- Bill Haeck, sportsman, "Speaking Up", Eastman's Hunting Journal (Feb.-Mar. '10)

"Off-road vehicles are powerful and popular machines with legitimate uses. But when they go where they're not appropriate, they steal opportunities from the rest of us. ATV riders should work to weed out those outlaws who damage the reputation of responsible ATV users who conscientiously obey the law." -- Greg Munther, Chair, Montana Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, "Montana outdoors group pays reward to deter illegal off-road vehicle use", The Missoulian (9/11/10)

"I appreciate the right for everyone to enjoy America's public lands and believe there is a place for responsible ORV use. But I just as strongly believe there musts be reasonable limits on these machines, or we will lose forever the very values that make our national forests so special."

"ORVs are powerful machines. In the right hands and in the right places, they're very useful. In the wrong hands and in the wrong places, they tear up soil, contribute pollution into mountain streams, and damage habitat for trout. They can also force animals off traditional range and even affect wildlife populations' ability to survive - and hunter's ability to pursue them." -- Paul Vertrees, Colorado Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, "Curbing off-road vehicle use", Denver Post (12/3/09)

"Multiple times I have been in a non-motorized area when ATVs come rolling by. It is not fair to those who pour blood, sweat and tears into a backpack hunt only for it to be ruined by illegal ATV use." -- BiJay Adams, hunter, "Speaking Up", Eastman's Hunting Journal (Feb.-Mar. '10)

"I fear that noisy ATVs drive deer and elk away from hunters, that new trails created by cross country travel damage fish and wildlife habitat and the use of the vehicles to hunt violates "fair chase" rules." -- Tom Wharton, sportsman and Salt Lake Tribune outdoors and travel columnist, "ATV use should be restricted for big-game hunts", Salt Lake Tribune (12/3/09)

"While some off-roaders are respectful, many are not. Some have threatened landowners who try to keep off-roaders off their property. Gangs of dirt bikers have even harassed volunteer groups working on Forest Service trail projects. Something needs to be done to protect our public and private land, watersheds and wildlife from the destructive behavior of off-roaders." -- Kevin Stillman, sportsman, "Column: Rogue Riders Spoil Forest for Rest of Us", Albuquerque Journal (9/19/10)

"My wife and I own ATVs. But that doesn't mean I need to take ‘em on public lands or that I deserve to if it affects other people and wildlife habitat … if the ATV crowd is right and it's the one bad apple who spoils the bunch, I keep seeing that bad apple. I saw him in Alaska, I saw him in Wyoming, I see him all the time. If there's really one bad apple ruining it for everyone else, he must have a hell of a gas bill." -- Joe Mirasole, Backcountry Horsemen of America, "Letter: Sportsmen Applaud OHV program reforms", Summit Daily News (7/18/10)

"The impetus for all of this on our part came from hunters themselves. Hunters who don't use them, or used them limitedly, find their experience in the hunt is compromised by other people using [OHVs] there." -- Ed Mitchell, Fish and Game spokesman on the department’s ORV rules, "Motoring On," Boise Weekly (10/15/08)

"'ATVs are the single biggest reason why we don't have big mule deer anymore. Something serious needs to be done to keep violators in check." -- Jim McDonald, sportsman, "Speaking Up", Eastman's Hunting Journal (Feb.-Mar. '10)

"A [Montana Wildlife Federation] Landowner/Sportsmen Relations survey conducted in the autumn of 2007 identified increasing problems and intolerance for OHV hunters by private landowners. Averaged from nearly 150 private landowner respondents, the second most comment complaint was the improper use of motorized vehicles. More specifically, ATV users and abuse was indicated as two of the top ten influence’s on whether a landowner will or will not allow public hunting. Many went as far as saying that they give a preference to foot hunters over ATV and motorized hunters." -- "OHVs - Impacts, Conflicts & Solutions - Part II," Montana Wildlife Federation (August of 2008)

"Before we even got to unload the quads, as they are known, we spotted a large herd of antelope in the Bilk Creek Mountains to the west of the valley. To get a better look at the animals, we decided to start a hike towards them. They were at least a mile or more away. However, we were out flanked by a group of hunters led by three quads moving towards the animals. The very same thing happened on Darrin's second antelope hunt on the opening day 10 years ago. Off-highway vehicles can be very helpful when used correctly, but destructive to the habitat and a pain in the butt to responsible hunters when not." -- Dave Rice, Fishing and Hunting Columnist, "Outdoors: ATVs can be a hunter's friend, if used responsibly," Reno Gazette-Journal (8/29/08)

"The United States Forest Service made a good decision to curtail OHV use to help streams polluted by trail erosion. The Forest Service's decision is good news for those who want to protect trout and for everyone who recreates in the Nantahala and Cherokee national forests. That includes responsible OHV users who have invested time, funds and energy into improving OHV trails." -- Rick Murphree Knoxville, trustee for Trout Unlimited, "2008 Decision to close trails to OHVs draws support," Knoxville News-Sentinel (1/17/08)

"Taking OHVs into these [closed] areas damages the habitat the elk rely on, disturbs and scatters the animals, and ruins the hunting experience for other hunters." -- Anis Aoude, Division of Wildlife Resource's big game coordinator, "Plenty of Bull Elk in Utah," Department of Natural Resources Press Release (9/18/08)

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