Hunting from an ATV
Sep 20, 2008 | 01:49 PM
#51
Range Rover
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 123
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Hunting from an ATV"></title><script src=
but Jumbo, there are shades of cripple. I am handicapped due to a motocross injury that nearly cost me a leg. I can walk (on even terrain) for some distance, but even minor hills present a challenge for me. Also carrying heavy gear, like say, a bunch of duck decoys, blind, shotgun, shells, etc......
But, technically I don't fit CO's definition of disabled enough to use an ATV hunting. Clearly I need one. I can't drag an elk out of the mountains on my back.
The arbitrary limits used on ATV's for hunting don't really work. Anymore than saying at 21 you suddenly become responsible enough to drink where the day before you weren't......
Beyond my specific case, I don't see much reason to restrict ATV's from hunting. Like you, I see it as a 'vehicle' so shooting from it should be illegal (unless you pass the cripple litmus test of course) but I think the ATV offers oppurtunites that Dept Of Wildlife conservation should embrace.
An ATV would allow hunters to get further into the woods and target herds that end up under-hunted because of remoteness. Also taking the pressure off the heavily hunted herds that are simply accessable.
Also, with dwindling hunter numbers, anything we can do to encourange more people hunting is probably a good move. And lastly, the use of an ATV allows you to possibly track downed animals better, bring more of the kill out of the woods with you, etc.
There is land destruction issues- admittedly. I don't have any actual, scientific analysis to go from, but I can see my tires leave marks in soil. How much? and how bad is the overall effect from alot of hunters? That would take a real test.
Still though, even though many can't qualify for the DOW definition of cripple to use an ATV, I can think of alot of older hunters no longer in the field because it's just beyond their physical abilities anymore.
For me, I'd love to get that blind that goes on the ATV, then be able to sit on that nice padded seat to duck hunt. Between carrying all the associated gear, and giving me a decent platform to sit my crippled *** on- sounds perfect. I'd get out to hunt far more often if I could use my quad as a camo'd wheelchair.
But, technically I don't fit CO's definition of disabled enough to use an ATV hunting. Clearly I need one. I can't drag an elk out of the mountains on my back.
The arbitrary limits used on ATV's for hunting don't really work. Anymore than saying at 21 you suddenly become responsible enough to drink where the day before you weren't......
Beyond my specific case, I don't see much reason to restrict ATV's from hunting. Like you, I see it as a 'vehicle' so shooting from it should be illegal (unless you pass the cripple litmus test of course) but I think the ATV offers oppurtunites that Dept Of Wildlife conservation should embrace.
An ATV would allow hunters to get further into the woods and target herds that end up under-hunted because of remoteness. Also taking the pressure off the heavily hunted herds that are simply accessable.
Also, with dwindling hunter numbers, anything we can do to encourange more people hunting is probably a good move. And lastly, the use of an ATV allows you to possibly track downed animals better, bring more of the kill out of the woods with you, etc.
There is land destruction issues- admittedly. I don't have any actual, scientific analysis to go from, but I can see my tires leave marks in soil. How much? and how bad is the overall effect from alot of hunters? That would take a real test.
Still though, even though many can't qualify for the DOW definition of cripple to use an ATV, I can think of alot of older hunters no longer in the field because it's just beyond their physical abilities anymore.
For me, I'd love to get that blind that goes on the ATV, then be able to sit on that nice padded seat to duck hunt. Between carrying all the associated gear, and giving me a decent platform to sit my crippled *** on- sounds perfect. I'd get out to hunt far more often if I could use my quad as a camo'd wheelchair.
Sep 20, 2008 | 06:22 PM
#52
Pro Rider
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 338
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TheSollyLama,
I agree completely, I became disabled over forty years ago, but continued to hunt the best I could. Due to my disability I hunted with a handgun for many years as I could not walk and carry a rifle and even then fell down quite frequently. After a few years I began using a dirt bike and much later when ATV's came out I finally got one when I could afford it. It made the hunting experience much more enjoyable and opened up new areas for me. I hunt on my own land as well as public land. As I am not a paraplegic, I cannot hunt from my ATV on public land, but I may be able to qualify anyway. I am still able to walk a short distance from my ATV and sit up a stand, but as I get older, this becomes more and more difficult. I ride on my land quite frequently using my Rhino or Grizzly 700 EPS and the game pays no more attention to me than another animal. When I Bush Hog with our fairly large Case tractor, they will just look up and continue to graze.
I would like nothing better than to be able to strap on a day pack and hike back into the woods to hunt, but unfortunately that is no longer an option. It has been my experience that ATV's, if ridden properly do not harm the land nor do they run the game away.
I too believe we should encourage the sport of hunting as the numbers seem to be dwindling.
I oppose restricted hour use of ATV's for the simple fact that I am unable to remain in the woods for more than two to three hours due to medical necessities that can only be taken care of in camp. I can't wait to see how the "purists" change their mind as time takes away their youth, strength and vigor. I saw this happen to my father in law and late in life he too purchased an ATV. This became the only way he could continue the sport he so loved.
-------------
1987 YFM225 Moto 4
2006 Yamaha Rhino 660
2008 Yamaha Grizzly EPS
1989 Harley
I agree completely, I became disabled over forty years ago, but continued to hunt the best I could. Due to my disability I hunted with a handgun for many years as I could not walk and carry a rifle and even then fell down quite frequently. After a few years I began using a dirt bike and much later when ATV's came out I finally got one when I could afford it. It made the hunting experience much more enjoyable and opened up new areas for me. I hunt on my own land as well as public land. As I am not a paraplegic, I cannot hunt from my ATV on public land, but I may be able to qualify anyway. I am still able to walk a short distance from my ATV and sit up a stand, but as I get older, this becomes more and more difficult. I ride on my land quite frequently using my Rhino or Grizzly 700 EPS and the game pays no more attention to me than another animal. When I Bush Hog with our fairly large Case tractor, they will just look up and continue to graze.
I would like nothing better than to be able to strap on a day pack and hike back into the woods to hunt, but unfortunately that is no longer an option. It has been my experience that ATV's, if ridden properly do not harm the land nor do they run the game away.
I too believe we should encourage the sport of hunting as the numbers seem to be dwindling.
I oppose restricted hour use of ATV's for the simple fact that I am unable to remain in the woods for more than two to three hours due to medical necessities that can only be taken care of in camp. I can't wait to see how the "purists" change their mind as time takes away their youth, strength and vigor. I saw this happen to my father in law and late in life he too purchased an ATV. This became the only way he could continue the sport he so loved.
-------------
1987 YFM225 Moto 4
2006 Yamaha Rhino 660
2008 Yamaha Grizzly EPS
1989 Harley
Sep 20, 2008 | 08:45 PM
#53
Moto Psycho
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 8,747
Likes: 3
From: Michigan
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I think they need to relax the disabled hunter ATV laws too. My dad could barely walk from the house to the garage without stopping but still enjoyed hunting up until he died. He was crippled but not paralyzed. He SHOULD have been able to ride around looking for deer. He couldn't do much hunting of any kind on his own but was part of bear hunting parties. He couldn't run with the dogs but he could check the road for tracks and sit with a radio to see if the bear crossed the road. He didn't pull the trigger, but he was close enough to listen to the hound music and it made him happy.
Sep 20, 2008 | 09:13 PM
#54
Pro Rider
Joined: Oct 2007
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That was the way with my father in law. He had heart problems along with double hip replacements and an old gun shot wound through the femur. He refused to even get a handicapped sticker until the last year of his life. He was able to hunt on his own, but had to have help getting the deer loaded and out. He got a nice buck on our farm two months before he died.
It is sad that your father could no longer hunt, but good that he was still able to enjoy a part of it. I hunt with my wife and sons and being with them in camp will make me happy when I can no longer go out.
It is sad that your father could no longer hunt, but good that he was still able to enjoy a part of it. I hunt with my wife and sons and being with them in camp will make me happy when I can no longer go out.
Sep 21, 2008 | 12:20 AM
#55
Moto Psycho
Joined: May 2008
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From: Michigan
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When me and my brothers were just pups my dad would take us coon hunting. We couldn't always keep our eyes open in the wee hours, but when when we heard the hounds yowwwp we woke up in a hurry. Even as toddlers we all knew immediately from the sound whether the coon was treed or not. When it <u>was</u> treed, one dog would be standing against the tree when we got there and the rest were watching. The classic Colt Woodsman and a kid holding the flashlight did them in quick. Those were good times. You're never to young or too old to enjoy some part of the hunt even if it's not a real active part.
My dad used to deer hunt all the time by stalking them. He didn't want to sit around in a blind. I think an ATV would have worked well for him if he could legally hunt from it. When he couldn't walk through the woods anymore he went bear hunting with that bunch of wildmen instead. One guy had a dog standing up chained to an eye-bolt through the middle of his carpet-covered truck hood, while they drove around the woods. When he caught the scent all hell broke loose and it was time to... Release the Hounds, as Mr. Burns would say. He got some nice pictures of bears up trees before the other guys shot them.
Before that we used to hunt coyotes on snowmobiles. That's what we were doing when my uncle died of a heart attack. As long as these old timers died in the woods doing what they wanted, they didn't care. It's better than dying in bed or on the toilet. Since they're going to be out there anyway we should make it easy on them. We bend over backwards to accommodate everyone else in the world, so why not the old people who are crippled but not paraplegic?
My dad used to deer hunt all the time by stalking them. He didn't want to sit around in a blind. I think an ATV would have worked well for him if he could legally hunt from it. When he couldn't walk through the woods anymore he went bear hunting with that bunch of wildmen instead. One guy had a dog standing up chained to an eye-bolt through the middle of his carpet-covered truck hood, while they drove around the woods. When he caught the scent all hell broke loose and it was time to... Release the Hounds, as Mr. Burns would say. He got some nice pictures of bears up trees before the other guys shot them.
Before that we used to hunt coyotes on snowmobiles. That's what we were doing when my uncle died of a heart attack. As long as these old timers died in the woods doing what they wanted, they didn't care. It's better than dying in bed or on the toilet. Since they're going to be out there anyway we should make it easy on them. We bend over backwards to accommodate everyone else in the world, so why not the old people who are crippled but not paraplegic?
Sep 21, 2008 | 03:00 AM
#56
Pro Rider
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,448
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Hunting from an ATV
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: jumbofrank
I think they need to relax the disabled hunter ATV laws too.</end quote></div>
Many states do make allowances. Missouri does. You just have to have your doctor fill out a form and you can hunt from a vehicle.
They have other variances for other disabilities too. In my case I have a bad shoulder and upper back and after having my doctor fill out the proper paperwork and mailing in the form I can legally use a crossbow or a string locking device for archery season.
I think they need to relax the disabled hunter ATV laws too.</end quote></div>
Many states do make allowances. Missouri does. You just have to have your doctor fill out a form and you can hunt from a vehicle.
They have other variances for other disabilities too. In my case I have a bad shoulder and upper back and after having my doctor fill out the proper paperwork and mailing in the form I can legally use a crossbow or a string locking device for archery season.
Sep 26, 2008 | 11:21 PM
#57
Elite Pro Rider
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 20,641
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Hunting from an ATV"></title><script src=
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: TheSollyLama
but Jumbo, there are shades of cripple. I am handicapped due to a motocross injury that nearly cost me a leg. I can walk (on even terrain) for some distance, but even minor hills present a challenge for me. Also carrying heavy gear, like say, a bunch of duck decoys, blind, shotgun, shells, etc......
But, technically I don't fit CO's definition of disabled enough to use an ATV hunting. Clearly I need one. I can't drag an elk out of the mountains on my back.
The arbitrary limits used on ATV's for hunting don't really work. Anymore than saying at 21 you suddenly become responsible enough to drink where the day before you weren't......
Beyond my specific case, I don't see much reason to restrict ATV's from hunting. Like you, I see it as a 'vehicle' so shooting from it should be illegal (unless you pass the cripple litmus test of course) but I think the ATV offers oppurtunites that Dept Of Wildlife conservation should embrace.
An ATV would allow hunters to get further into the woods and target herds that end up under-hunted because of remoteness. Also taking the pressure off the heavily hunted herds that are simply accessable.
Also, with dwindling hunter numbers, anything we can do to encourange more people hunting is probably a good move. And lastly, the use of an ATV allows you to possibly track downed animals better, bring more of the kill out of the woods with you, etc.
There is land destruction issues- admittedly. I don't have any actual, scientific analysis to go from, but I can see my tires leave marks in soil. How much? and how bad is the overall effect from alot of hunters? That would take a real test.
Still though, even though many can't qualify for the DOW definition of cripple to use an ATV, I can think of alot of older hunters no longer in the field because it's just beyond their physical abilities anymore.
For me, I'd love to get that blind that goes on the ATV, then be able to sit on that nice padded seat to duck hunt. Between carrying all the associated gear, and giving me a decent platform to sit my crippled *** on- sounds perfect. I'd get out to hunt far more often if I could use my quad as a camo'd wheelchair.</end quote></div>
There should be no reason that people with disabilities cannot be accomidated in some form. I can see where there could be issues when it comes to hunting public land, though....
I'm pretty healthy; I work out, run, and hike quite a bit as do most guys that I know, and not a single one of us could drag an entire elk out of the mountains by themselves. Depending on how far back in the hills it went down, one person may never get the whole thing out.
I agree that any mode of transportation will leave some form of a track. ATV's are not the worst thing out there. I have seen horse trails that are far worse than any ATV trail I have ever seen, and would be happy to show anyone who would care to meet me in So Cal.
but Jumbo, there are shades of cripple. I am handicapped due to a motocross injury that nearly cost me a leg. I can walk (on even terrain) for some distance, but even minor hills present a challenge for me. Also carrying heavy gear, like say, a bunch of duck decoys, blind, shotgun, shells, etc......
But, technically I don't fit CO's definition of disabled enough to use an ATV hunting. Clearly I need one. I can't drag an elk out of the mountains on my back.
The arbitrary limits used on ATV's for hunting don't really work. Anymore than saying at 21 you suddenly become responsible enough to drink where the day before you weren't......
Beyond my specific case, I don't see much reason to restrict ATV's from hunting. Like you, I see it as a 'vehicle' so shooting from it should be illegal (unless you pass the cripple litmus test of course) but I think the ATV offers oppurtunites that Dept Of Wildlife conservation should embrace.
An ATV would allow hunters to get further into the woods and target herds that end up under-hunted because of remoteness. Also taking the pressure off the heavily hunted herds that are simply accessable.
Also, with dwindling hunter numbers, anything we can do to encourange more people hunting is probably a good move. And lastly, the use of an ATV allows you to possibly track downed animals better, bring more of the kill out of the woods with you, etc.
There is land destruction issues- admittedly. I don't have any actual, scientific analysis to go from, but I can see my tires leave marks in soil. How much? and how bad is the overall effect from alot of hunters? That would take a real test.
Still though, even though many can't qualify for the DOW definition of cripple to use an ATV, I can think of alot of older hunters no longer in the field because it's just beyond their physical abilities anymore.
For me, I'd love to get that blind that goes on the ATV, then be able to sit on that nice padded seat to duck hunt. Between carrying all the associated gear, and giving me a decent platform to sit my crippled *** on- sounds perfect. I'd get out to hunt far more often if I could use my quad as a camo'd wheelchair.</end quote></div>
There should be no reason that people with disabilities cannot be accomidated in some form. I can see where there could be issues when it comes to hunting public land, though....
I'm pretty healthy; I work out, run, and hike quite a bit as do most guys that I know, and not a single one of us could drag an entire elk out of the mountains by themselves. Depending on how far back in the hills it went down, one person may never get the whole thing out.
I agree that any mode of transportation will leave some form of a track. ATV's are not the worst thing out there. I have seen horse trails that are far worse than any ATV trail I have ever seen, and would be happy to show anyone who would care to meet me in So Cal.
Sep 27, 2008 | 11:45 AM
#58
Pro Rider
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 338
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Hunting from an ATV
I also live in Missouri, how do you get the proper paperwork and forms? I have contacted MDOC, but have not received a response. How long does it take to process the paperwork? I would like to get it by deer season in November, but I am familiar with how slow government works.
Sep 27, 2008 | 03:54 PM
#59
Moto Psycho
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 8,747
Likes: 3
From: Michigan
Hunting from an ATV
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: tripleR
I also live in Missouri, how do you get the proper paperwork and forms? I have contacted MDOC, but have not received a response. How long does it take to process the paperwork? I would like to get it by deer season in November, but I am familiar with how slow government works.</end quote></div>
I laughed when I saw the words "government" and "works" together. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] Yeah, they're pretty slow.
I also live in Missouri, how do you get the proper paperwork and forms? I have contacted MDOC, but have not received a response. How long does it take to process the paperwork? I would like to get it by deer season in November, but I am familiar with how slow government works.</end quote></div>
I laughed when I saw the words "government" and "works" together. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] Yeah, they're pretty slow.