No ATV's in Chippewa National Forest-Upset Hunters

[winterhwt]

I am a hunter and have hunted for years in the great Northern Woods of Minnesota.  I now live in Alaska and wanted to come back to MN to go deer hunting again.  I just recently found out that the trails in the Chippewa National Forest are off limits to ATV use.  Now for me, this issue is not as a big a concern as it is for my elderly father who deserves the right to use the trails as well as his ATV.  I am assuming that ATV use has gone crazy and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife or the U.S. Park Rangers have shut trails down because of erosion.  Is there not an uproar of hunters in this area?!?!  Why is there not an set time for ATV use in this area during the deer hunting season?  This should especially be made available for senior citizens.  I am thinking letters should be written to our U.S. representatives and Senators and they need to be called to get some change in this federal land decision.  Can someone please tell me if anyone person or group is spearheading this or if a grassroots start up is happening?  Any suggestions would be helpful. 

[dakids]

Welcome.  I also hunt in the chip.  Most trails are still open to ATV use in the area that I hunt.  The few trails that I know that are closed still get used by ATVs during the deer season.  I know of no group that is pushing to open or close more of the trails.  I have hunted one trail that was closed and the hunting was pretty good as I was the only person using it.  I didn't shoot anything as they didn't have big enough headgear to warrent the long, hard drag by myself.  Good luck and don't be a stranger on this website.

[glenn57]

I to hunt the Chippewa national forest in Itasca county and was just up there using ATV to check stands and have heard of no issues. we have a cabin in the CNF AND ARE UP THERE ALOT. only thing I know of the government getting pissy about is cutting wood in areas not considered blowdown areas. you need to get a permit for that.