Ithaca 37
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More good news on the ATV front!!! 
New rules may keep hunters’ ATVs on the road
F&G to restrict Boise River drainage in fall
Hunters who use ATVs in the Boise River drainage, the most popular big game hunting area in the state, could be restricted to roads during this fall´s big game season.
The plan is part of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game´s proposed hunting regulations for Southwest Idaho. The agency is taking public comments next week at a series of open houses.
F&G commissioners will review public comments and department recommendations before setting big game rules and seasons at their regular meeting March 24-26 in Boise.
ATV restrictions would affect units 39, 40 and 22 in Southwest Idaho. With a few exceptions, ATVs could only be used on roads “open to motorized vehicle traffic capable of travel by full-sized automobiles,” according to F&G regulations. An agency survey estimates that about half of Idaho´s big game hunters use ATVs.
The agency wants to stop people from hunting from their ATVs because people who use them to hunt are more likely to kill more animals, hurting deer and elk populations. Hunting from an ATV is more efficient because hunters can find and follow animals better. The agency also is concerned that hunters are riding where they could cause damage or are not allowed.
“I think it stinks,” said 75-year-old Milt Atkinson, who uses his ATV to elk hunt west of Grimes Creek. “I sure would want to protest what they´re thinking of doing.”
Atkinson said he drives his ATV about three miles down a trail to access his hunting spot.
“For me, it would eliminate hunting because I can´t walk long distances,” he said.
Other hunters, however, say they support efforts to stop abuses of ATV riders.
ATV restrictions are already in place in 16 of F&G´s 99 hunting units. Last year, F&G applied them to units 32 and 32A. Even with the restrictions, however, ATVs can still be used during hunting seasons to retrieve downed game or set up and remove camps, even if you´re not on a road.
The rule was “very well received by the public,” said F&G conservation officer Jeff Wolfe, who added that most hunters complied with it.
Unit 39 encompasses most of the Boise River drainage. About 9,600 deer hunters and 2,800 elk hunters pursued game there in 2002.
Unit 40 includes most of the western portion of the Owyhee desert south of the Snake River, and Unit 22 covers most of the area east of U.S. 95 between Cambridge and New Meadows to the Snake River.
Idaho had 68,500 registered ATVs and motorcycles in 2002, doubled since 1997 and a 10-fold increase since 1987.
Kevin Rose of Middleton supports the rule because less ATV access will mean better hunting.
Rose hunted for 12 days last year during a late-season mule deer hunt in Unit 40. He saw few bucks but lots of hunters on ATVs.
“If you don´t have ATV access, it will definitely curtail harvest down there,” he said.
Rose uses an ATV to get to his hunting areas, but said other hunters use them to pursue game, which is illegal.
“It´s too easy to ride up and shoot them,” he said.
He added that F&G will have a hard time enforcing the rule in Unit 40 because it´s difficult to identify roads in the desert.
Richard Renstrom of Boise uses a motorcycle to hunt grouse. He supports efforts to curb abuses by ATV riders during hunting season, but disagrees with the agency´s methods.
“F&G does not have the legal authority to control transportation on federal lands,” Renstrom said. “That´s an area where they are treading on damn thin ice, legally.”
But F&G officials say they are only regulating hunters on ATVs, not recreational riders.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/Features/IdahoOutdoors/story.asp?ID=61979&S=
New rules may keep hunters’ ATVs on the road
F&G to restrict Boise River drainage in fall
Hunters who use ATVs in the Boise River drainage, the most popular big game hunting area in the state, could be restricted to roads during this fall´s big game season.
The plan is part of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game´s proposed hunting regulations for Southwest Idaho. The agency is taking public comments next week at a series of open houses.
F&G commissioners will review public comments and department recommendations before setting big game rules and seasons at their regular meeting March 24-26 in Boise.
ATV restrictions would affect units 39, 40 and 22 in Southwest Idaho. With a few exceptions, ATVs could only be used on roads “open to motorized vehicle traffic capable of travel by full-sized automobiles,” according to F&G regulations. An agency survey estimates that about half of Idaho´s big game hunters use ATVs.
The agency wants to stop people from hunting from their ATVs because people who use them to hunt are more likely to kill more animals, hurting deer and elk populations. Hunting from an ATV is more efficient because hunters can find and follow animals better. The agency also is concerned that hunters are riding where they could cause damage or are not allowed.
“I think it stinks,” said 75-year-old Milt Atkinson, who uses his ATV to elk hunt west of Grimes Creek. “I sure would want to protest what they´re thinking of doing.”
Atkinson said he drives his ATV about three miles down a trail to access his hunting spot.
“For me, it would eliminate hunting because I can´t walk long distances,” he said.
Other hunters, however, say they support efforts to stop abuses of ATV riders.
ATV restrictions are already in place in 16 of F&G´s 99 hunting units. Last year, F&G applied them to units 32 and 32A. Even with the restrictions, however, ATVs can still be used during hunting seasons to retrieve downed game or set up and remove camps, even if you´re not on a road.
The rule was “very well received by the public,” said F&G conservation officer Jeff Wolfe, who added that most hunters complied with it.
Unit 39 encompasses most of the Boise River drainage. About 9,600 deer hunters and 2,800 elk hunters pursued game there in 2002.
Unit 40 includes most of the western portion of the Owyhee desert south of the Snake River, and Unit 22 covers most of the area east of U.S. 95 between Cambridge and New Meadows to the Snake River.
Idaho had 68,500 registered ATVs and motorcycles in 2002, doubled since 1997 and a 10-fold increase since 1987.
Kevin Rose of Middleton supports the rule because less ATV access will mean better hunting.
Rose hunted for 12 days last year during a late-season mule deer hunt in Unit 40. He saw few bucks but lots of hunters on ATVs.
“If you don´t have ATV access, it will definitely curtail harvest down there,” he said.
Rose uses an ATV to get to his hunting areas, but said other hunters use them to pursue game, which is illegal.
“It´s too easy to ride up and shoot them,” he said.
He added that F&G will have a hard time enforcing the rule in Unit 40 because it´s difficult to identify roads in the desert.
Richard Renstrom of Boise uses a motorcycle to hunt grouse. He supports efforts to curb abuses by ATV riders during hunting season, but disagrees with the agency´s methods.
“F&G does not have the legal authority to control transportation on federal lands,” Renstrom said. “That´s an area where they are treading on damn thin ice, legally.”
But F&G officials say they are only regulating hunters on ATVs, not recreational riders.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/Features/IdahoOutdoors/story.asp?ID=61979&S=
