Trail Access Restrictions - No UTVs = No Horses

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ThorM465

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If a trail is going to ban the use of atvs/utvs then the use of horses and mules should be banned as well. I said what I said.

I hunted the South Piney region of the Bridger National Forest this last month. Due to the unusually warm weather (as I was told by locals), the elk were at very high elevations and due to the pressure were very deep. We found that there was no way we could compete with those on horseback, since we are not world class endurance athletes. I'm not against horseback hunting, at least I wasn't a month ago. haha I simply take issue with the governing bodies egregiously creating advantages for outfitters and small sector of the population over everyone else.

North Piney Trailhead was the most egregious example. They could have left that trail open so we could have taken our UTV a couple miles in. Instead the trail is such that after you've done several miles in on boot, your last 1/2 mile out is uphill simply because of where they choice to close the trail to UTVs. After a 13+ mile hunt that came up empty I had just enough energy left over to have kicked the guy in the face that decided where to close the trail.

I get that you don't want UTVs going anywhere and tearing up everything. I'm just saying, if you're going to close an ATV trail for hunting season it should be closed to horses and mules as well.
 
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ThorM465

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If a motorized vehicle can’t access an area a horse shouldnt either? In the western US? That’s what I deduce from that. Whew….this has to be trolling right?
No, there are areas and trails that are to small for a UTVs, but a horse can traverse no problem. I take no issue with this inherent benefit of a horse. My issue is when a trail restricts UTVs arbitrarily, particularly when it allows UTVs anytime of the year other than hunting season. All while still allowing for horses. Allow both or allow neither.

That being said I did acquire a serious disdain for horses as I was dodging horse s**t all over the trails.
 

fngTony

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Are you certain that atv use was halted specifically for the hunting season and not coincidentally because trails were tore up, fire risk (hot exhaust and tall grass) ?
 

wapitibob

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"The North Piney Trailhead provides access to North Piney Lake and North Piney Meadows ATV Trails and the Lunch Creek motorcycle trail. The North Piney Trailhead also provides access to foot and horse users to Roaring Fork Lakes, Box Canyon Pass and the Wyoming Range National Recreation Trail. Motorized use is allowed only from July 16 - October 14 each year to protect elk and big horn sheep winter range."
 

wysongdog

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No, there are areas and trails that are to small for a UTVs, but a horse can traverse no problem. I take no issue with this inherent benefit of a horse. My issue is when a trail restricts UTVs arbitrarily, particularly when it allows UTVs anytime of the year other than hunting season. All while still allowing for horses. Allow both or allow neither.

That being said I did acquire a serious disdain for horses as I was dodging horse s**t all over the trails.
I think I’ve got some cheese to go with your whine. Utv and horse in the same category? Maybe the funniest thing I’ve heard in a while.
 

Robobiss

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I wish there were *more* restrictions on ATV’s and UTV’s and I haven’t been on a horse since I broke my arm (for the second time) on dads barrel racing horse I wasn’t supposed to be riding in the fourth grade.

Keep wild places wild. There is nothing more out of place and disheartening than being in the middle of nowhere, miles from a road and having a quasi biker gang of overweight suburbanites come screaming around the bend on their expensive go-carts.

Mountain bike? Cool
Horses and mules? Cool
E-bikes? Yeah alright
Motorized vehicles? Negative. Ride them on the national forest roads with the cars if you really want to get them out of the culdesac.

Just my opinion.
 

realunlucky

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If a trail is going to ban the use of atvs/utvs then the use of horses and mules should be banned as well. I said what I said.

I hunted the South Piney region of the Bridger National Forest this last month. Due to the unusually warm weather (as I was told by locals), the elk were at very high elevations and due to the pressure were very deep. We found that there was no way we could compete with those on horseback, since we are not world class endurance athletes. I'm not against horseback hunting, at least I wasn't a month ago. haha I simply take issue with the governing bodies egregiously creating advantages for outfitters and small sector of the population over everyone else.

North Piney Trailhead was the most egregious example. They could have left that trail open so we could have taken our UTV a couple miles in. Instead the trail is such that after you've done several miles in on boot, your last 1/2 mile out is uphill simply because of where they choice to close the trail to UTVs. After a 13+ mile hunt that came up empty I had just enough energy left over to have kicked the guy in the face that decided where to close the trail.

I get that you don't want UTVs going anywhere and tearing up everything. I'm just saying, if you're going to close an ATV trail for hunting season it should be closed to horses and mules as well.
Hey I was around there too. Laced them up and went to the where the elk were with zero thought about whether the other guys had horses or not. Sure the pack out sucked but that's part of the reason elk like it there.

Nothing is worse than hearing a damn sxs all day and seeing people trying to drive them anywhere wide enough for the tires to fit though.
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