Hunters and dirt bikers

[BCC]

It's bow hunting season here on deer and no doubt regular deer season opens soon.

Our developer and home owners ass'n have about 200 acres of fields and forests. I know hunters use the area because I've seen the stands.

So some of us non hunters use the same land to run our dirt bikes. Through fields, forests and streams. Fast.

I want to be a friendly co land user with the hunters.

So if we limit our riding to weekends between 11am and 3pm that should make everyone happy, right?

I'm a gun shooting enthusiast, just not a hunter. And I want to play nice, if I can.

Thanks,

BCC

 

[R.W.Dale]

So if we limit our riding to weekends between 11am and 3pm that should make everyone happy, right?

as a person who's been on both sides of these hobby's I would say this would go a long way.

HOWEVER

you know perfectly well that this won't be good enough for some Jackie Bushman wanabee who'll do his best to get ya'll run out.

 

[SLAKLINE]

200 acres ?? Not a lot to work with.
If there's been constant use by dirt bikes and atv's in these woods. I wouldn't think that setting up deer stands in this area would be very productive. However, you never know I guess. Animals are adaptable as long as they feel safe in the area. Perhaps the hunters count on occassional dirt biker to keep the deer moving around. Your proposal of 11am to 3pm seems reasonable.

 

[MCgunner]

200 acres ?? Not a lot to work with.

Yeah, just how many dirt bikes and hunters can yu cram into 200 acres? I'd think hunting it would be kinda stupid. Riding the bikes on it sounds more reasonable. But, that's just me.

Just take it over after hunting season.

 

[Geno]

Great thread! I would take care to wear clothes that are very visible under those situations. My riding gear does not qualify for that. To that end, by this time in the year, my daughter and I ride indoors:

 

[3pairs12]

I often stay in my stand past 11 and get in before 3, but I think its the thought that counts and this seems very reasonable to me. 200 acres is a small area but if the deer are used to atv traffic it should be fine. I wish more people were as respectful as you. Thanks from a bowhunter and former rider in case the locals don't thank you.

 

[mio]

its pretty reasonable. you could also grab check to see what hours its legal to ride on an approved trail and stick to those.

i know here during rifle deer season you cant use any of the state orv trails during certain hours to keep from interfering with the hunters

 

[dogrunner]

Major problem in National Forest lands here in Fla......conflict is so bad that the FS has had to map out specific trails for use, but bikers refuse to adhere to them.

I have personally witnessed life threatening reckess conduct, had a friends pickup ran into by one while he was taking a lunch break, and know of several hunting dogs killed.

Those comments include BOTH bikes and 4 wheelers......frankly, I'd vote to stop the use of both on public lands as they're unmanageable. After all, public wild lands are a scarce commodity and when you measure the damage factor along with the safety issues I can sure appreciate the consternation.

I am personally so galled at the conduct I have witnessed that I would not even stop and render aid if I came on one wrapped around a pine tree!

 

[MCgunner]

Or, you could **** that dirt bike and take it to the track.

 

[MCgunner]

I am personally so galled at the conduct I have witnessed that I would not even stop and render aid if I came on one wrapped around a pine tree!

Bad attitude to say the least. I'd help him, hell, I've been there. ROFL! In Texas, there are marked trails for ORVs in the forests and some very few public lands. Riding off those trails is prohibited except on logging roads and such. I don't hunt public land much for deer, much less where ORVs run. I've never had the problem. You take your life in your hands hunting public lands in Texas, not from bikes, but morons that actually made it through the hunter safety program. I don't wanna be shot, so I stay on private land.

I plan to hunt hogs on a local public hunting area this Feb. It's buckshot only, no rifles, no slugs. Hopefully, they'll notice I'm not a hog from 35 yards with an orange vest on....

 

[dagger dog]

BCC,

You are a rare one indeed! At least you have the common sense to know and care that there are other people using public land for different uses, other than your self. If more A.T.V., dirt bikers , P.W.C. owners had your attitude and presence of mind the outdoor world would be a better place for all!

Many thanks!

dagger dog

 

[john1911]

Those comments include BOTH bikes and 4 wheelers......frankly, I'd vote to stop the use of both on public lands as they're unmanageable. After all, public wild lands are a scarce commodity and when you measure the damage factor along with the safety issues I can sure appreciate the consternation.

Same could be said about firearms.

 

[308win]

I am not an ORV'er, that being said, as long as they stay on marked trails they have the privilege of using public land just like everyone else. However, I have noticed that many/most/a few/whatever don't play by the rules. In Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois in the 70's and early 80's the damage to National Forest land was significant from ORVs. The horsemen were also heavy users but they tended to stay on the trails and if they didn't they weren't tearing the land up like the ORV'ers.

If they are on private land they are trespassing and should be dealt with appropriately, same with hunters/hikers/birders/geocachers/whatever. It demonstrates discipline and respect to ask the landowner for permission and if you don't have a relationship you will get turned down often but that is their prerogative. One trespasser can ruin access for many.

 

[Art Eatman]

In my little chunk of the world, mule deer season is sixteen days. Count'em, 16.

If dirt-bikers stay home for 16 days, that leaves them 349 days to play when deer hunters CAN'T.

In the rest of Texas, whitetail season is roughly two months. The dirt-bike and ATV folks have ten months to play when the deer hunters have to stay home.

I've ridden dirt bikes and had lots of fun. Never had an ATV, but I have no problem with them. I do have a bit of a problem with the idea of, "I'll go anywhere I want to, any time I want to, and to Hell with how it messes up other people's playhouses."

 

[R.W.Dale]

Rant Mode

There's plenty of blame to go round

Hunters wouldn't be nearly as effected if they weren't so lazy and would actually hunt more than 60 yds from the trails.

Round these parts a good 98% of hunters are willing to walk no more than 300' from wheeled vehicle access to hunt.

Huntin here in the Ozarks if I hike a half mile or so especially uphill it's like going back in time 500yrs even in the height of modern gun season


In other words if you're hunting 30 feet from the %%$^ trail you have no right to complain about others using it.

 

[ljnowell]

Yeah, just how many dirt bikes and hunters can yu cram into 200 acres?

Are you serious? The only guns we can use here are shotguns, muzzleloaders, and revolvers. We have a 2 acre front yard that both my brothers hunt in, taking turns. We also have some family land, about 35 acres, that we will regularly get up to guys on at a time. Its in a very deer rich part of the county. Tags are always filled.

I think that if your state has laws like ours and shotgun season is only 2 weekends, your offer isnt going to float with the gun hunters at all. The bow guys maybe.

 

[MCgunner]

Yeah, but you got a whole community trying to hunt 200 acres? I have the same sort of small acreage down here, but it's just me, a friend one trip maybe 2 a year, and now my son-in-law. I hunt two people on 20 acres easily the way it's laid out and considering how brushy the place is. But, there's no one else around hunting. We're sandwiched between big ranches and there's some small acreage around not being used and with no fences, so it's almost as if I have 80 or so acres and I'm on the fence line of two of the ranches.

I guess it all depends, really, on the lay out of the land. But, seems like a whole community trying to use 200 acres might get a little crowded. Maybe not......

 

[Harve Curry]

Wait till after hunting season. Why would you want to risk blowing the deer out of an area when others wait 12 months to be able to go there for a week or so?.

 

[moooose102]

i think you are one in a million. so am i. some of us ride and shoot / hunt.
and up until this upcoming year, i have usually hunted on the dirt bike trails during rifle hunting season here in michigan. BUT, the michigan dnr has limited the hours that atv's / dirt bikes can be used during this season.
i suppose because they do not want some hot head hunter shooting and killing an unsuspecting dirt bike rider!
these trails still have quite a few deer. and they are used to the dirt bikes / atv's. if they see one, they run a hundred yards or so and watch them go by, wait a few minutes, and go on with their lifes.
on occasion, some dirt biker either does not care, or is ignorant about the riding hours and still rides through. while it personally does not bother me, if i can, i stop him and inform him about them. i also tell them that i dont care, as the worst it will do is stir up the deer, and i may see one or two that i wouldnt have other wise. but, somebody else may not be so nice, and i leave it at that.
we all do have to get along out there. somebody on this board posted something like " your measure of freedom is in direct proportion to the amount of how much crap other peolpe do that bothers you that you can accept". i know i botched this, sorry. but you get my (well actually his) drift.
i do not like horse riders. actually, the horses, not the riders, but i have to deal with them. that is the deal when you are on public land. it is there for everybody to use.
if you can not deal with it, dig deep, and buy your own 1000 acres.