Irresponsbile ATVers Ruin Things for Others

Irresponsible few ruin things for the responsible many
KEVIN PROESCHOLDT
Article Last Updated: 01/18/2008 06:07:37 PM CST

Many hunters in Minnesota and elsewhere enjoyed the hunting season this fall. The season brought them crisp days in the woods or fields, a chance to enjoy the outdoors and, for some, success in the hunt. But increasingly, many hunters and anglers are finding their experiences marred by a minority of off-highway-vehicle (OHV) riders who either don't know or don't care about the impacts their machines have on our natural resources.

Off-highway vehicles are important to the lifestyles of many, both for work and recreation. Many hunters and anglers ride them responsibly every day in Minnesota and in other states.

But hunters and anglers here and elsewhere are also witnessing how a growing contingent of reckless riders damages wildlife habitat and ruins hunting and fishing experiences for the majority of hunters, anglers, and riders who use public lands responsibly.

In the Izaak Walton League of America's recent report about OHV impacts on hunting and fishing ("Collision Course?" available at www.iwla.org/ohv), Matt Norton of Minnesota tells the story of an incident in which he spent nearly a full day hunting whitetail deer on public land near the Mississippi River by Hastings. After he saw two other hunting parties and quietly scouted the locale, an OHV rider sped through the hunting area and scared off any deer in the vicinity.

Like Matt, many hunters and anglers are becoming increasingly upset as inconsiderate off-road riders ruin fish and wildlife habitat across the backcountry. In addition to scaring away wildlife and ruining well-planned hunts, some of these OHV drivers also damage fishing streams by driving down stream banks and into stream beds, churning up the stream and washing silt into the waterway. Even where driving may be legal, OHVs can often have unintended consequences that harm natural resources.

As part of our recent report, the League released a survey of agency managers from all parts of the country, which found that irresponsible riders harm fish and wildlife habitat and ruin hunting and fishing experiences for many people. More than 80 percent of state wildlife managers say they have seen "resource damage to wildlife habitat" caused by OHVs, followed closely behind by 72 percent who cited "disruption of hunters during hunting season" as another impact from OHVs.

Perhaps the most important conclusion that can be drawn from the survey is the need for more law enforcement to protect hunting and fishing areas from damage. With effective enforcement, agency managers can then implement other needed measures such as posting trail signs so that riders know where to legally ride, restoring damaged areas, and closing unofficial user-created trails.

Another critical need centers on educating drivers and the public at large about responsible and irresponsible use of our public lands, and the impacts and unintended consequences of OHV driving.

At the state level, we need to urge the Minnesota Legislature to provide the Department of Natural Resources with tools to better enforce rules regarding the riding of OHVs. The Legislature also needs to stop allowing cross-country riding off designated trails in our state forests north of U.S. Highway 2, and we need to protect special areas like the Mississippi Headwaters State Forest and the Cloquet Valley State Forest from OHV damage.

At the federal level, the League has called on Congress to conduct oversight hearings on OHV management and enforcement, examine whether the federal agencies have sufficient administrative and financial resources to enforce the laws, and determine whether current rules and penalties serve as effective deterrents to reckless riders. We believe we can develop affordable, common-sense solutions that can keep use of the outdoors responsible and safe for riders, hunters, anglers, and nature enthusiasts.

We can - and should - do a much better job of protecting our precious natural resources, hunting and fishing opportunities, and responsible OHV riding from the damage that comes from irresponsible riding. Future generations will expect no less.

Kevin Proescholdt is the director of the Wilderness and Public Lands Program for the Izaak Walton League of America in St. Paul. His e-mail address is kevinp@iwla.org.