The "temporary" closing of ATV trails at Pittsfield SF is just the beginning. They did this at Tolland SF, too, a few years ago. That closing is now permanant. Pittsfield will be too, soon.

The new Anti-ATV bill that just passed recently wi give a much larger percentage of your registration money to law enforcement, so the DEM cops will be everywhere (And as we found out recently, Yes even on Sundays!) They figure funding Enforcement, instead of opening new land, is the best way to manage ATV registration money.

The frustrating thing is there is nothing that can be done. Just glad I know of 2 or 3 spots they have'nt (and can't) close down!

 

I just called Oct. Mtn and was told that they would be open for ATVs on May 1st. Where did you see that all parks would be closed?

 

Just curious. Are the new trails you guys are cutting in by permission or on your land? I've found that if you talk to land owners about land they hardly ever see they are more likely to give permissions. I know that's how we have to work things on the trails up in NH. We talk to them as a club or as a club representative.

 

I've camped in that area before- it's beautiful but, the trails looked all rocky- and the riding is just not long enough to make me want to drive 3 hours- I can cover 30 miles of trails in an hour or so. Hell- I can hit 50 - 60 miles of trails from my house and there's still a lot of trails I have not hit yet.

You can reach the NH or VT trails within 3 hours, and those trails are 50 - 500 miles long.
The DCR Keeping 14 miles of atv trails open in pittsfield is almost insulting- what's the point! Then the hassel of securing a permit before using those 14 miles of trails- I think they are hoping riders will just give up and not ride there anymore. I have a feeling Mass will be outlawing atv's in those parks soon-

 

I'm not familiar with the area Troy is talking about- but I wouldn't mind knocking on some doors and offering to take care of their property where the trail crosses in exchange for permission.
I'd say 75% of the trails around here are National Grid & Trans Canada / power-line & Gas trails- it's usually pretty empty out here except for a few jeeps and pick ups that do some off-roading.
I have noticed where some private property owners have posted signs asking ATV riders to stay to one side of the property, which I have no problem doing. There's a lot of teenage kids around here who use those "big gun" & white bros mufflers- you can hear them coming miles away! They are going to ruin it for sure- That was the residents biggest complaint when they made the owner close the uxbridge motocross track- noise pollution. I think we'd have a lot more success finding places to ride if those obnoxious exhausts were absent.

 

That sounds pretty ATV friendly to me. If you got landowner permission in writing with a waiver that they are not repsonsible for any accidents you can show it to the local authorities and I don't think they could hassle you.

 

so as far as ridding this week end, i get off work at about 3 tomorrow and i am free untill the about 7am sunday, may be we can crash some parties again.....i felt so old there but it does bring back some good memories

 

This is the reason I ride in NH now and VT in the past. They are both more ATV friendly than MA. ME is even more so. I plan on registering there and vacationing up by Moosehead. They've got 100s of miles just in that area alone and are working on interconnecting the whole state for 1000s of miles. I've always felt that Mass. just kind of holds their noses up and brushes the crumbs off the plate and says, "Here, be happy with that." NH has railtrails open all year, many different riding areas during the May-March season, and some state parks that open only in winter to ATVs. We had a good time this year and probably went on a dozen or so rides. I'm glad you have some landowners that let you ride their property. Otherwise, I don't think Mass. is worth the price of registration. Just my .02 worth.

 

100% agree- I hate this state- I was reading an article where some lawmaker in mass wanted to tax the trees on properties that are used for firewood- Like for example- I sell maybe 3-4 cord per year at $200 cut & split, and I burn about 4 cord a year myself- Trees from my property- that I already pay a $5k yr property tax on- on top of a premium "cleared land" tax which is worth more then raw land on my property- this guy wanted to tax each tree that's used to burn in home stoves.

Massachusetts makes me want to throw up! The gun laws are asinine- Mass law makers are so out of control. I dream of moving to NH- but my kids keep me here. Some day....

I guess it could be worse- It could be California. ugh- I need a drink

 

And we have a government that is trying to be just like Massachusetts and California on the federal level. Hope people wake up in November. I keep thinking I'd like to move than VT, NH, and ME start passing laws like they do here. I may end up out West someday.