Sportsmen Voices

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.

“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)

"There's nothing like finding a trail n a map, driving 300 miles to scout, just to find out it's been turned into an ATV highway!" -- Joey Logue, sportsman, "Speaking Up", Eastman's Hunting Journal (Feb.-Mar. '10)

"The ATV and snow machine are the biggest threat to wildlife. It's not the people walking in." -- Terry Reach, Pinedale, WY sportsman, "Wyoming antler collectors butt heads over proposed law", Los Angeles Times (11/18/09)

"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)

"I appreciate the privilege to speak to you as professional wildlife biologist, an avid hunter and fisherman and longtime owner and user of Off Road Vehicles (ORVs). My purpose today is to convey to you the critical need to implement biologically sound and socially acceptable public motorized travel management and ORV management programs on public lands. I have also observed irresponsible ORV users harass wildlife such as attempting to herd antelope and chasing bull elk along fence lines during the spring in hopes that they would drop their antlers after jumping the fence as part of their antler collection activities." -- Bob Vahle, Sportsman, ORV Rider, and Former Fish and Game Official, United States House of Representatives Committee Hearing (3/13/08)

"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)

“I’m not an OHVer, autos on the beach are an eyesore to me and, yeah, I’m more the hiker/sailer type than the motorboat/jet ski type... It’s not my lake...It belongs to all of us and we have to find a way to play nice and share.” -- Lois Henry, "Isabella Lake access trimmed", Bakersfield Californian (1/26/10)

"My issue with the dirt bikers is that they are rude and cause havoc...Generally, every time I go out these peoplecome by on these motorcycles, making all this racket, and cause a big wreck with my mule train. The horses start bucking, running off, and the gear falls off and gets damaged. 'Annoying' is not really the word. I don't think you can print how I feel." -- Nate May, owner of a hunting store in Marble, "Biker says he almost lost his head," Aspen Daily News (10/6/08)

"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 like to gather them [antlers], but every time I go out there there's 15 four-wheelers and a snowmachine trying to outrun my horse or me walking," -- Tyler Wilson, "Antler Frenzy Leads to Possible Ban", Associated Press (10/18/09)

"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)

"I have been on the short end of the stick time and again when I've been out hunting. I've had these damn 4-wheelers running around me when I'm a mile-and-a-half back from the nearest road. They'll drive right up to me, hedge hogging over the damn timbers, and say, 'See anything?' -- NRA Life Member Bill Sustrich, The Rocky Mountain News (09/05/07)

"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)

"[DNR Commissioner Mark] Holsten's decision [to restrict ORVs during deer season] is a victory for deer hunters fed up with non-licensed hunters who tear around the woods illegally during the firearms deer season. Even among Nemadji hunters who legally use ATVs, there was outrage over the reckless riding that occurred during hunting hours. One Nemadji hunter last year said the motorcyclists were lucky they didn't get shot -- by accident or not." -- Chris Niskanen, Outdoors Columnist, "Hunters cheer new ATV limits," St. Paul Pioneer Press (9/20/08)

"'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)

"We have seasonal road closures to protect wildlife. We are having problems with [ORV] cross-country travel that messes things up for hunters." -- Steven George, OR Department of Fish and Wildlifd biologist, "Many areas should see good deer prospects," Statesman Journal (10/1/08)

"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)

"I'm an avid outdoorsman and hunter. I don't have a four-wheeler nor feel the need to use one. Every year I see more destruction, disrespect and trespassing on private property. Any sign you put up promptly gets shot full of holes. Any gate promptly gets driven around and the property behind the gate gets all torn up." -- Ron Kent, Vancouver Resident - Letter to the Editor, The Columbian (12/13/08)

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