Anyone notice the new weight regulation regarding ATVs in CO? Spotted it when going over the Big Game Regs for '05. They added a paragraph defining a legal ATV on trails as weighing 600 lbs or less dry.

I called DOW in Montrose (closest to where we will elk hunt) and got the following info. Apparently the intent is to keep the side by side rigs, like the Mule, Rhino, and Polaris off the trails. Also they don't want the over 4 wheel machines like the John Deere Gator or the ARGO.

I advised that many ATVs are 600 lbs or more and the limitation would hurt many folks that use them. I was told that was not the reason for the new regulation and that standard ATVs should be fine. Provided of course you are riding them in a safe and courteous manner and are on trails where ATVs are authorized to go.

So I guess we will go ahead with our plans to take the ATVs and not expect problems unless we create them ourselves.

 

Hey spd22, Don't worry about the regs. I was out buzzing around on my KQ this weekend up near Fraiser, CO and it was not a problem. I've been on various trails and seen many a hunters using basic quads. You won't have any problems I bet. What season and area are you hunting?

 

6 of us hunting 1st season rifle in Unit 62. A couple of us are still waiting to get drawn in 61 and 10 points still isn't enough. Hope it is pretty soon before age and arthritis slow me down too much more.

 

I'm curious as to the logic they used for that one.

The side by side rigs are nominally the same size and those with more than 4 wheels would actually have the same or smaller psi footprint due to there being 2 more wheels distributing weight to the ground.

I think it is also pretty safe to say that those on the above machines are the folks who are far less likely to be out causing damage and mischief on the trails. Take a group of 1000 Rhino, Gator, Argo, Polaris side by side etc utility riders and a group of 1000 450R, Raptor, Banshee, YFZ450, KFX700 etc riders and I think it is safe to say that as a general rule the side by side utility riders are the less problematic bunch simply on account of demographics and the inherent mischief potential of the machines in question.

I'm just failing to see their point exactly.

 

Here's a theory... The mountains are known for high altitude problems on people who are not in shape. If you think about the people who would be using these machines such as the older folk or maybe even golf carts...? You'd potentially have some people going up high elevations that'd shouldn't and a bunch of golf carts buzzing around. Hmmm, I'm not saying that as fact of course, but trying to understand the logic.

 

I didn't really understand the logic of it either. Maybe they think the bigger ATVs tear up the trails more. All of us going are in our 40s and 50s and pretty conservative riders. I bought what I did because the bigger size offered a smoother ride on the rough stuff. My old back can't handle the bouncing anymore.

 

Craig,

I lost your phone number and email address. Have you left for CO yet? We're heading out from Spfld 10-19.

wcrowe1415@sbcglobal.net

 

Well said, I agree completely.