OR_YOTE...,
Yes, they are public grounds. Public grounds that are for the most part posted as WALK-IN ONLY - NO MOTORIZED VEHICLES BEYOND THIS POINT. So after I've hiked in three miles or so with a backpack looking for peace and solitude for a quality hunt, then having some lazy slob ride by on his way even further back, ya know - because that's where the big bucks are, yes I get pi$$ed. Or, have a dozen dirt riders with coolers of beer on the ATV come slinging mud, tearing up creek crossings and poluting the stream, destroying the "Walk-In Only" trail, leaving me picking up their litter - yes I get pi$$ed. Don't pretend to tell me what my experience is.
Truth is, I have no problem with a guy walking in and hunting, then if he gets a deer down, bringing in his ATV to retrieve that downed game. Especially senior's and handicapped individuals. That makes sense to me and again, I have no problems with that. It is the people who are too lazy to walk in, those that use the ATV to hunt areas they wouldn't break a sweat to walk into, and, who hunt from the back of the actual ATV itself that I get worked up over. And I have no problem stepping up and letting them know exactly how I feel about their lazy a$$es. If my 74 year old partially crippled Korean War Vet dad, wounded in battle, and later in life crushed from the waist down by a half ton of steel on the job. If this old guy, who was told the doc's wanted to remove his legs, told that he'd never walk again, if he can walk to his deer stand - why can't some perfectly healthy young stud get his butt off the seat of his ATV and earn his buck too? Bull$hit and the more I think about it the more pi$$ed I get.
MI VHNTR,
Here's the problem. If your property gets molested by a group of illegal riders, you are ONE person complaining. There is no unity of a large group of landowners, no lobbiest in the State Capitol, or Washington D.C. And, no money being boosted to the right hands to see something is done about the illegal activities.
You wouldn't believe how much money the ATV industry uses to lobby for increasing their "rights" to run the machines over every piece of ground they want to. Add the ATV and dirt bike crowd with their private clubs also lobbying and there is a lot of pressure to open even more territory to legalized ATV use. Right here where I live they hold a Goveners Cup Race through a State Park. The race begins in a local town, down a main street, then crosses a river. That river crossing is illegal in Missouri, yet, it never seems to draw the attention of anyone. Then the race continues on into the State Park. This Park has about 1,800 acres set aside for year round off roading. However, when there is an ATV/Motorcycle race nearly the entire 8,560 acres are closed down and opened up for the racers to rip through. That includes the natural areas of the Park, such as one of the oldest Short Leaf Pine forest in the state. Several natural glades and creeks are now open as part of the course. The bicycle and hiking trails, along with the horsebacking trails are part of the race courses. I wondered how this could happen? Then I learned the Park Superintendant on his "days off" gave ATV Safety Classes where he is paid a tidy sum for each participant in the classes. He has 15 - 25 pupils per class and gives at least two classes per month, nearly year round, he's making a bundle on the side from the off road crowd and industry. When the manufacters come around, or one of the large ATV/Motorcycle clubs, they get special priveledges not offered to other groups. Hell, if the Boy Scouts come down to camp and walk the natural areas, they're considered a pain in the butt and kept strictly to the reg's. Not so one of the big midwest off road clubs, it's bend over backwards time. They grease the wheels very effeciently.
So, am I predjudiced against ATV's and motorcycles, ect.? Yes, pretty much. Except for special areas and under special circumstances.