At the risk of inflaming everyone's passions against them who uses some form of motorized help getting around the woods?

We're talking private ground here, not public.

Nearing 70 and dealing with significant lower back issues that make long distance walking painful. I was leery of taking the "mule" into the woods at first, but find moving slowly seems less startling to deer and especially turkey than being on foot.

At least it keeps me out there "participating".

We use big tire scooters to access public land via a dirt bike trail. Other than that, I use a walking stick frequently in the woods.

Ride on Bruce! I'll use one when or if I have to, with a cross gun strapped to the rack even. I'm a deer hunter first and foremost.

I use my 4wheeler on my place but can't use them on WMA's.

Pearl Drums x2

I use a four wheeler a lot, but try not to get too close. Have arrowed some pretty big deer with wheeler whithin a couple hundred yards.

I don't have a problem with people that need to use a 4 wheeler to get around in the woods if they are respectful of others and keep it low-key. Not racing the throttle and having a good muffler, limiting the trips through, etc. I don't see a problem with that. The problem arises with the guys that have them just for fun and are bombing around through the woods and tearing things up and don't give a damn what others are doing. That's when the trouble starts.

Guess I should have clarified I leave it about 1/4 mile or so from where I'm planning on hunting. I can still walk at least that far.

Because of bad knees I can walk maybe 100 yards. I don't have motorized bikes or four wheelers which is a good thing because I would probably kill myself. Within 100 yards each direction I do have deer that I could shoot but I don't consider that hunting. There were three nice six pointers on my property yesterday

Pearl Drums x3

Pearl Drums x4-

Using marked dirt bike trails with anything motorized on public lands violates rules and the rights of people who are out there on their own steam.

Man up, get a horse or mule.

I have 4 atrio/ventricular cylinders pushing me around the woods with 4 Valves pumping the fuel, feedin' the muscle-motor and brain-puter. Good enuf for now anyhow.

Our dirt bike trails ARE for 2 wheel motorized traffic, or you can walk or ride a pedal bike. We had to start doing this when the local ranger decided to close the forest road to all other vehicle traffic. With a little trailer we can haul our gear and deer. Works great and cut down on the competition in our area.

Lol, dirt bike trails are for motor cycles, not bicycles. If I had a 4 wheeler I'd use it. On a good day I can walk 1/4 mile. It may take me an hour but I do it. On a bad day maybe 50ft so I stay home.

'Using marked dirt bike trails with anything motorized'... GLF x2, you must mean mountain bike trails, not dirt bike... If they are marked for mt. bike only, then I agree, no motors. If you need to use a motorized vehicle to get around, then by all means, go for it. I'll need one someday, and then I'll get one because I agree with Pearl Drums and all the rest who do too.

Bruce is on private land, so he doesn't need to man up and get a mule or horse. At least he hunts instead sitting in his butt telling everybody else how to do it "right".

Do what you want on private land. Public land is another matter. Problem with motorized toys on public land boils down to alcohol.

I tell you what. I don't know what I think about young healthy people using motors but I've got bad feet and I can't breath worth a darn anymoere.

Lately I find myself sitting in my backyard (where there are no deer) with a bow in my lap instead of going hunting. Aside from not having any vacation to hunt the national forest down state, the hilly and, otherwise rough, country is a killer. Oh, I can still go for a walk out there but hauling gear like stands in and/or dead deer out? I guess not.

A local farmer gave me permission to hunt. I've been trying to find someplace to hunt for YEARS. Now I find one and the woods are a ways from the road and I don't go. I just can't a decent job of hunting that.

The ONLY good thing about getting old is not being dead... at least I think not being dead is good though I'm not as sure as I once was.

Hey JK I've got a horse. I spent about half my working life shoeing horses for a living...I think we've talked before.

I used to do a lot of riding. At one time I would have given my right arm to have what I have now...a few acres and a horse in the yard.

But...I don't want ANYTHING to with riding a horse anymore and, I'm afraid my horse feels the same way about being ridden. LOL

I would gladly give him to anybody who would provide adequate care and train him up a little bit.

I gave him away once but you know what they about something given having no value? I stopped in to see how things were going and they had him standing in a mud hole half starved without so much as a bit of shade or water to drink.

I took him back.

I do have great memories of hiking lots of hills and valleys in NV, NM, MT, WY, SD, MN, IA and Ontario. Just can't "go the distance" anymore. I do not support using them on public land and messing up some other guys hunt.

Mike, you're right for sure about troubles with horses and their eventual lack of value, given Federal law against selling them for meat when they're too broken down to ride. Friend has two like that, a real bummer.

Walking stick was mentioned. I discovered a 5 or 6 foot long by 1 1/2 inch bamboo stick makes a light weight, tough as nails walking stick. Land owner usually happy to let you have all you want.

JK, my horse isn't broke down. He's 12 or 13 years old but he's healthy.

My wife and I just never made much out of him. I've ridden him but it's been a few years.

A halfway decent horsemen/woman that wanted to do the work could probably do ok with him.

Like I said, I'd give him to the right person.

Used crutches one season to bow hunt, missed a very nice buck from 6 yards, went for a neck shot and clipped right over when it bobbed. My reasoning is that it will drop instead of going over the hill with me on crutches trailing it. I still use a stiff walking stick do to my imbalance and attach a drag scent when going in, whatever it takes.

I need a walking stick to stay out of trouble, but don't think I'll be graduating to anything motorized beyond my car. There is a lot of ATV use in areas that I hunt but most of them are restricted to the same places that a car or SUV can travel.

Every now and then there are renegades who take the ATVs out of bounds but mostly not. Guess I'm a little b****y on the subject but most of the rule breakers are non res hunters. They arrive with equipment trailers loaded with ATVs only to find that there is not much use for them.

I don't unload mine unless I need to haul out game. MGF thanks for taking the horse back. Not much worst than animal abuse. I would gladly take him as I have always been a horse person but I lost my place to keep them. >>>----> Ken

I drive the tractor down the field to get to the other end. or have the wife drop me off in the truck. and come and get me when i call her.

It was suggested to me by a game warden that I get a four wheeler. He offered a pass on public land. He knew that I detested seeing four wheeler tracks everywhere and knew that i would stay on the tractor paths. I was having a hard time walking at the time and so was my wife. I turned the offer down. I have a really cool way of pulling a deer cart, tree stand safety harness. I let anyone use it, as a result when me or my wife shoots a deer I call for help, the cart is in my cargo trailer on my yard, two inch ball. In short order someone shows up with my trailer in tow and hauls my deer out for me.

I hate recreational use of 4wheelers on public land. They tear up the land and most don't stay on the trails made for them. I'd use one on farm roads to get nearer to hunting areas, or in public areas where you have to use parking areas to go down the road and pull off to get me closer. That's allowed here. Btw, I don't drink,lol.

I started to need a 4 wheeler on private property to navigate the marshes of Dorchester Co, MD where the Sika live. I'm 73 and although I could make it in and out the 1/2 mile water path using a bamboo walking stick getting a deer or two out was getting too hard. This will be my third season now using the 4 wheeler. I was told the path may be too deep this year so I may be back to walking but at least I can get 1/2 way there.

The water and mud in this picture is mid thigh deep.

Depends on the condition of your trails...fat tired mini bikes are inexpensive and now fat tired electric bikes are becoming the fad. I am 56 and am looking at the elec. bike, just to the elevation and getting too sweaty. Shame they got rid of the 3 wheeler ATV`s.

Red d. you need one of them swamp boats with a big fan on it!

I have to use a walking stick. No other choice. <>< del

What ever it takes to get out in the woods is fine with me!

If it's private property then it's nobody's bidness but your own. I'll be 72 in January, have three bulging discs in my lower back and arthritis in my spine. I can still walk in and out but wouldn't think twice about using it if I had to. We have 112 acres of mountain land here in Pa., and it's mostly up or down, not much level ground. You do what you need to do, it's none of my concern for sure. ))

Absolutely George. And on public land, if you're legal and not disturbing others or tearing up the ground, have at it.

Even on the most painful days I can still drag the lightweight "Rollator" (rolling walker) behind me on the grass or in the woods for stumping.

I also have a lightweight folding stool to use on steep terrain.

This photo was from a seated "First Shot".

I hate recreational use of 4wheelers on public land. They tear up the land and most don't stay on the trails made for them. Gee isn't hunting recreation. Plan to use my Rollator also,augmented with a cane.

Out here in Nevada, most folks these days have some means of reaching the summits —some Ride all day, and others get off and walk ridges all day. Pretty poor sportsmen on occasion as they ride thru stalks. At 70 the ridges seem steeper than in the past.

Got a large 4 wheel scooter coming. I can walk maybe 40 yards now due to a bad back

most of mountainous co is national forest, belonging to all of us. within a half days drive of the front range, where most coloradans live, atvs are everwhere rideable now. so is semi auto gunfire. incredibly, due to lack of respect, slobs park wherever they want right along a road, and start shooting right next to the tailgate. they don't even bother to walk in 150 feet now. there is no law enforcement of 'proximity to road' distance. shoot live trees? bfd, treehugger. plenty of these slobs are more than happy tearing all over creation on atvs. they could care less. 'don't interfere with my fun.'

i miss the old days decades ago, when it was basically quiet in the national forest. illegal riding atvs is rampant. many guys just don't seem to give a $&@& about the law when they are on the atv. the only thing that really saves an area is if is real steep and so densely forested it is unrideable. i absolutely hate atvs. the abuse of wild america, our national resource, is unreal. cretins.

my own son has two of the sumbitches. he does ride legally on legal road, as do his buddies. they ride up, park, then hoof it in to hunt. they don't ride the atv up to a spot, get off walk around a few hundred yards, and back to the atv. they pack a kill back to the atv, so they aren't riding illegally off road. many ride everywhere they ca, even right up to a kill if they can get the atv to it. i've seen these slobs riding rough shod anywhere it is flat enough they can get in. that 's the 'new way' for many. there's no respect for the resource. ok i'm done.

heck i use my truck

I like was Too Short said, "The only thing ATVs need is to come with a 5lb bag of sugar."

Well Bob, you're from CO, and I recall when it was a nice state. Not anymore. I had to be downtown Denver for a court hearing this summer. I had to step over strung out and passed out dopers on the sidewalks near the Supreme Court. That is what your state has devolved into. Only folks who can change it are the voters, but this is what they've voted for.

my own son has two of the sumbitches....public cussing everwhere you go now. LOL! *^) The Sliver and the Plank analogy comes to mind.

the wife and me both ride matching Japanese pack mules. I turned 75 this month.

James

CDuma thinking of camoing my rollanator.

It isn't anyone's business what he does on private land, except he just asked in a forum that is probably visible to about 3 billion people, if they care to look.

"Problem with motorized toys on public land boils down to alcohol."

Well if you have a bunch of degenerates ripping around that would probably be problem number one, but access and wilderness are basically incompatible. Hunting may or may not require wilderness, but hunters are increasingly a smaller proportion of the users of wilderness. Some very large private property owners maintain the undeveloped quality of their land, but short of restrictions on land use what any individual does with their property is up to them. What I notice on my property is a lot of people max out the density on adjacent lands, but hunt without asking, or walk on, or motor on my mostly undeveloped land. That is a smart strategy if you are a taker in life.

Join 'Backcountry Hunters and Anglers'. There is strength in numbers.

PS I share Bob's hatred of those toys-for-lard-butts.

I do appreciate a good walking stick and try to make a new one each year. Prefer wild cherry.

I have been using drop offs and drag services this year a little bit.LOL

Does that count?

I hunt private property 5-600 hundred acres. I have terrible knees and have started to take atv within a few hundred yards of where I plan on hunting the atv has made a world of difference for me..

Good friend of mine had/has similar back problems. He just can't get up an down the ridges like he used to. He uses a 4 wheeler to go to and from stand, and to haul his game out on.

Doesn't make me think any less of him.

use what you need don't worry about others opinions. Get outside, anyway u can:)

Ever good thing can be misused. How about computers? The problem is a total lack of respect for the law and their fellow man. No consequences for their bad actions. If the law can't enforce it just legalize it. It starts at home and in school and this is what it leads to. >>>----> Ken

Private property like George said nobody should have a say in it.

Public land many places its not allowed.

Here in PA you can get a permit to drive in gated forestry roads if your handicapped or disabled. I'm not sure what all that involves, but I think its a good thing.

What I don't like is when healthy adults ride their ATV's where they do not belong or are prohibited.

I will be 53 this winter I still walk and pack back in and still enjoy it. The day is possibly fast approaching that I will not be able to.

But when I'm older or no longer able to hike in public ground will I really want to be far off the beaten path alone, even on an ATV ? Not sure? what if it breaks down?

ATVs are a real problem where I hunt. I hunt private property and a lot of people ride their ATVs all over without permission. I don't understand why people who don't own property buy them and think it's okay to ride all over someone else's property. I have trail cameras out and get people riding their ATVs almost every time I check them. The worst part is they drive right through the middle of prime hunting areas looking for deer. Get off your A$$ and take a hike. They are great for dragging deer out of the woods but not for scouting.

Sometimes people need medication but don't know it . I think there is a disease of machoisam. The only way that some people will understand that others need some assistance is when they get older themselves, and finally they see the light !

DS

The private ranch I hunt is 36 square miles. I am a wimp and do use ATV's and vehicles to get around. This is not a very intelligent thread.

I think you hit the nail on the head DeerSpotter.

I hunt on both private and public land. I use my Honda pioneer to set up stands and to take them down at the end of the season. I always walk to my stands and only use the Honda during the season to get a deer out if I am lucky enough to get one. On public land of course no atvs as it should be. If I get one on public land at nearly 70 I have to get help.

To be clear I only use the Honda on private land to set up and take down stands.On public land I always hunt from the ground

On your own private land so whatever trips your trigger.

Much of the NF land in this Country has been ruined because of the widespread proliferation of 4 wheelers. I wish the powers that be would close some of the roads to 4 wheelers but permit access with pickups and autos - here's my reasoning. Many people ride 4 wheelers "recreationally" which often means large groups of them going fast. Try to camp near a road in about any National Forest and you'll have 4 wheelers roaring past your camp all day, especially weekends. Difficult to relax, hike on a road, or even drive to and from camp without being engulfed in a cloud of dust. The people responsible for regulating them really did a disservice to the American people, who own the National Forests and pay their wages, by opening the roads to them. I fully support people's right to recreate on 4 wheelers, some like that just like we like bowhunting, but just like we are restricted to areas and seasons, they should be too. How about charging them $1500 for a "non resident 4 wheeler registration"? No one bats an eye at charging us these type of fees to hunt sheep or moose!

I hunt a couple thousand acres of private land. We have steep hills, cypress sloughs, and river bottoms with lots of deer and hogs. The Polaris ranger in low gear works great for me. We maintain our own roads and have learned through the years that the side by sides that run under 25 mph don't do near the damage to your roads and trails that four wheelers and fast moving play toys do. Kids playing on four wheelers can wreck a lot road maintenance in short order. We have had good luck with the Kubota rtvs for the last 10 years or so. If you use it like a tool rather than a plaything, it will last you the rest of your life. Public land? No way to regulate it - they should keep them out.

My age is quickly climbing and my pyhical abilities are dwindling,so yes the ATV comes into play. I live in rural farming community and the treed areas are a mile or so apart. I use ATV or pickup to get there and walk after that. I have been in bush hunting along a game trail or where seismic cut line was made and had a vehicle drive by. The shock on there face ( priceless) . I stopped them and asked what they were doing driving around.Finding out also they did not have permission. By calling land owner the problem got resolved. But ruined the day for me. If I’m lucky the ATV only will get used to transport my game out.

Two hundred years ago life was very tough for most folks. There were very few fat people. Plus I think people were very tough. There was little simpering liberalism.

Now we drive everywhere. Some even circle the parking lot trying to get the close spot by the door, or, hold up a line of vehicles while waiting for someone to pull out when there's a parking spot three stalls away. That's disgusting.

It's our culture. Fatties with a cig stuck in their face get out of the vehicle and flick the butt as they waddle into walmart, and flop into a battery cart. Vehicles have allowed this, along with a complete lack of self control. Plenty of folks are in such bad shape they just as soon sit, all-day- long, unproductive, every day. That's no life. I'm off to a day of work. Thanks, God.

If that's what it takes to keep you out there, by all means use it ! There is a difference between ATV use, and ATV abuse !

I broke the transverse process of L-5 pulling on a stuck deer last year and had to have fusion to stabilize everything.

The surgery didn't come out as well as I had hoped and I have limitations now. The neuropathy in my feet can be really painful if I overdo and get my back in a bind, a flare up can last for weeks. I am not going to attempt to drag a deer.

I have a 4 wheeler in my truck that I will only use for deer recovery. I can drive my truck anywhere on the 350 acres I hunt but prefer to walk in but not as far as I once did before I hurt my back.

Not a fan of carbon arrows, four wheelers, off road motorcycles, in line muzzle loaders and especially some of those that use them. I have gone high tech, I got adjustable carbon hiking sticks, they even have a spring in them. They break done short enough to put in my back quiver. I had a four wheeler muzzle hero come across Waterman creek, which is rather high at the moment, from private land come in on me last night. His excuse was the state bought the property that he use to drive his pickup across and he had no choice. I am partially disabled, I made the mile hike without my hiking sticks, I sure could have used them to get back to my car. Anyway, this manly man was in his mid thirties and he had no choice, so he had to use the four wheeler. With an arrow on my bow string, I told him that he was going back where he came from and that he was not going to put his wheels on the beaver damn to do it. He said that meant that he would have to go out across public land and he could get caught. I told him that was already caught. He left across the new state property in a hurry. Funny part was, there is some state land across the creek that he road along. I think he was trespassing on the private land that borders that. Just before sunset 8 deer were on that small chunk of public land, including the massive 12 pointer that I was hoping to get.

I should add that it was caked with mud and I could not make out the plate number as he was riding away. Not a lot the game warden can do other than keep an eye out for him, which is understandable.

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