Hi Guys

Live in NJ now but in few yaers I am planning on coming down to FLA with my 69 ft charter boat. I am guessing from reading this thread FLA is ATV friendly. Here in NJ they take our taxes and registion fees but just have one small legal area 300 arces or less I think and have to pay another $200.00 . However there is over i millon arces of pineland with fire trails that we ride but have to watch out for cops . Cant wait to fish ,get suntan and ATV riding in FLA. Then I can leave my snow plow here in NJ and maybe give it to the NJ governor. Sh&^head

 

That sounds like a good plan! FL is ATV friendly except that there are only 3 public riding areas in the whole state, but two of them, Croom and the Ocala National Forest (which is the biggest) do have a good amount of riding room. Florida is planning on opening more riding areas in the next few years and funding them with new title requirements for ATVs. I hope that works out.

 

aside from croom and ONF, there is riding opportunity available at big cypress reservation down in the everglades, as well as the trails off exit 5a on I-95, near titusville. I've heard be careful what you park out there at night, a few ppl have had their vehicles/atv's stolen there, but supposedly great riding.

 

Parking there at night at 5 A isn't the problem, its leaving you keys in your vehicle while at the BP gas station while getting gas thats the problem. High school "kids" will steal you vehicle and take it it the woods we ride in and will burn it. Other than that Saturdays and Sundays are the days to ride out there. Theres alot of trails, mud, sand and water right now, loads of fun. I ride there every Sat. or Sunday out there. Now, for another couple of problems.....it is hunting season and the locals do hunt out there and they do not take too well to ATVers and non-locals. I live 3 miles from there so I'm a "local" and know how they can be at times. The next thing is the Law Enforcement, stay on the dirt and away from the pavement "if they are around like they usually are up there" you WILL get a ticket. So if anyone is up for a ride send the a private message or post in here and I'll meet you up there.

 

is hunting season over jan 5th? Thanks for the info ProEMT. Maybe its wise when going out there to shoot you an email and ride with a 'local' :-)

 

Yes deer season is over on the 5th or 6th BUT turkey starts in the spring and you can use dogs to hunt "trap" hogs year around. I'm always looking for people to ride with and me being a Professional Firefighter-Paramedic helps when someone gets hurt and most of the Law enforcement guys let me "off the hook" when I ride on the pavement.

 

As soon as I get somewhat comfortable with my atv in the next few weeks, I'll shoot you an email and and head out for a ride one weekend. Good to know you can fix me if I'm broken, lol. I plan on taking it easy for the most part and taking in some good scenery and trails. Is there a lot of paved areas you need to ride on to get to the trails that it's an issue with the cops?

 

Theres no paved roads in the way of getting to the trails. The problem with the paved roads and ATV's is theres a gas station just on the other side of I-95 "east side" and people ride thier ATV's to the gas station thats when the cops get pissed. The FHP and the Brevard county Sheriffs office are both usuall out there on weekends. Now, if you or anyone else has time off during the weekdays like I do thats a great time to ride out there. Theres hardly ever anyone out there and no cops. I do weekday day and night rides out there. As a Firefighter-Paramedic I only work 9 days a month but those days are 24 hour shifts. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] So in other words I have PLENTY of time to play.

 

The cops dont seem to be much of a worry then, as I'll fill the thing up when its on the trailer and bring an extra can full. Sounds like good riding but still worry about theft. Cotts had his truck and atv stolen from that burnt down DQ parking lot. Then someone else parked over night and their cars were stripped apparently. The gas station thing you mentioned was a new one on me. I guess some ppl do that though, leave their cars unlocked while they go in to pay, with the keys in it. I've lost a few too many car stereos to leave my car unlocked ever. If I go in to pay, the keys are with me AND its locked. Cell phones and radar detectors like to walk away sometimes ;-)

Whats the deal with the theft? Are there a lot of trucks/atv trailers parked there during the day? Honestly if someone wants to steal my jetta, I wouldn't cry about it, or the factory crappy radio. I'd rather not have it stolen if I had my choice though =]

 

It's true, there are some nice mud pits and trials in the Ocala National Forest. There's even good riding at Big Scrub, which is about 30 mins away from Ocala. I don't have pics of 4-wheeler riding, but of trucks in the mudholes.