elks96
Long Time Member
- Messages
- 3,878
Every year I am getting more and more frustrated with atv users. This last weekend I done a ton of looking at maps, and found a canyon with no real access shown in it. Between google earth and the maps It had a main road at the mouth then showed about 5 miles of canyon with no other access. the area is about an hour drive from camp and as a result required me to commit an entire hunt. As I headed to the area I passed a camp with 8, 4 wheelers and 4 dirt bikes. I had an idea of the situation at that point but pushed on. When I got to the moth of the canyon you could see an old cow trail that was completely grown in, but had a 4 wheeler track on it. Again at this point being committed for the night to this area I pushed on. I parked at the canyon mouth and went for the hike... We circled to the top from above you could see where the cow trail went to a huge wash, one that the 4 wheelers did not appear to be crossing and it appeared that about 1 mile in was all the further they could get. So at that I felt good about the next several miles I had in front of me. I hunted the North side of the cayon and looked in a ton of fingers to the south. I had found sign that was 3 days old and all the tracks I saw were leaving the area to the north. I made a huge 6 mile loop and then was going to sneak back down the canyon bottom at last light in hopes of catching some elk dropping down to feed.
Well when I started down off the rim I found the top of the cow trail, and once again I found the atv tracks and at least 2 of teh dirt bike tracks. the trail it self was difficult to walk, it was over grown on in many places required my to duck under brush etc. the very fact that the guys were riding up through this area made me extremely upset. About 1/2 way down the canyon upset turned into outright rage. The cow trail ended up dumping into the bottom of the wash. In it I found an amazing wallow and spring area. Both of which are nearly unheard of in the country I hunt. However instead of being a nice little oasis the 4 wheelers and dirt bikes were driving right through the middle of it. they have even removed and cut down willows and layed em in the mud to keep from getting stuck. Where a little grass should be growing there was only rutts. Where the water once flowed down valley it was not trapped in ruts, where an once wallowed there is now a mud pit willed with logs, rocks and sticks.
Needless to say I have had many hunts ruined by atvs users over the years, but this one tops it all off. The disrespect for the land and for the game is unreal. In one of the worse drought years I can remember a good spring is ran over and trampled. I am contacting the BLM today and going to report the group. However I am certain that without a pic or evidence, just have a dirt bike track will not be enough to get them in trouble.
Sorry had to vent this year has been hard already and this one pushes me over the edge.
Well when I started down off the rim I found the top of the cow trail, and once again I found the atv tracks and at least 2 of teh dirt bike tracks. the trail it self was difficult to walk, it was over grown on in many places required my to duck under brush etc. the very fact that the guys were riding up through this area made me extremely upset. About 1/2 way down the canyon upset turned into outright rage. The cow trail ended up dumping into the bottom of the wash. In it I found an amazing wallow and spring area. Both of which are nearly unheard of in the country I hunt. However instead of being a nice little oasis the 4 wheelers and dirt bikes were driving right through the middle of it. they have even removed and cut down willows and layed em in the mud to keep from getting stuck. Where a little grass should be growing there was only rutts. Where the water once flowed down valley it was not trapped in ruts, where an once wallowed there is now a mud pit willed with logs, rocks and sticks.
Needless to say I have had many hunts ruined by atvs users over the years, but this one tops it all off. The disrespect for the land and for the game is unreal. In one of the worse drought years I can remember a good spring is ran over and trampled. I am contacting the BLM today and going to report the group. However I am certain that without a pic or evidence, just have a dirt bike track will not be enough to get them in trouble.
Sorry had to vent this year has been hard already and this one pushes me over the edge.
