Outlaw Snowmobiles

[bowhunter73]

 Laws are made for the good of the general public. In addition, some good people get affected in a bad way because of some laws.

 With that said, when it comes to snowmobilers I really do not give a rip! I do a lot of 4 wheeling and I have only meet/seen a few bad apples and I would say it is the exact opposite for snowmobilers.

 I personally think that most snowmobilers are disrespectful drunks with no respect for anything or anybody’s property when they get on there sled. In fairness when off of there sled they can be and most often time are great people.

 I know as outdoorsman we should band together for the good of us all. So the uneducated and the peta types don’t chip away at us but as far as snowmobiles go I say get rid of them all. I would even sign a petition or vote for anybody in office with this same view.

 You can get mad and rip me a new one if it makes you fell better but most of you know what I am saying is true.

 Why is it that they feel if there is snow on something it is theirs to ride on, in, or over. They will end if for themselves one day and I will be on the sideline cheering.

 And I do not even want to hear this stuff about it does not hurt the grass of tear up the ground because it really does not matter. Private property is just that private.

 If you have read some of my posts over the years, you will know how I feel about trespassers. On foot on a sled hunting or not. I don’t have time for these people. Also, I rarely spout off so strongly with out reason. But I believe the snowmobilers are the worst of all of them.

Before you reply I just ask thet you take a minute and think of how you or your buddys ride. And yes I ride myself
 

[BiggA]

I agree some snowmobile riders are disrespectful with where they ride. I cant tell you though how many times I have seen people on wheelers making their own trails in the state forest or just going around or over fences to closed trails. How about people who take too many fish or shoot too much game, maybe we should just ban all outdoor activities because of a few idiots!

[Woody]

It's like this with anything, a few idiots ruin it for the masses, and give the masses a bad reputation.  I've got people with snowmobiles and atv's driving on my property from time to time.  Do they have permission? Not from me they don't! 

[flaursen]

I agree somewhat to your agruement .....
I am a part of the DNR education program and a trail embassador I see the other side of the fence where people truely want to obey the laws and get educated but the laws are so missleading and obscure that it is difficult to desifer even the local cops ,state patrol and the wardens can't agree
I find that alot of people hate snowmobils or four wheelers depending on the year cause they ride with careless abandon in outskirts of towns during late nights because thats the only time they can. if a group of lawmakers would stand up and make laws that are enforceable and follow them I think it all would get better I also believe that if there was some sort of permit like our drivers permit we would weed out alot and bring the townships local cops and state authroities all on to the same page things would better for all
Don't get me wrong I too have had to replace my mailbox four times over a two week period had countless dear spooked because of this issue too but I believe if they are or were educated they would change their behavior
if all of us outdoorsman would band together to promote positive change in all of our disapplines it would better for all 

[HUNTER2]

When I bought my land last year it had a snowmobile trail going threw part of it. The snowmobile group hasn't asked me if they can still use it. I used to snowmobile and enjoyed useing the trails that farmers let people use. I havent had any problems yet. If any of my deer stands disapere or they wonder off the trail too far, it might be the end for that stretch of trail system.

[HD]

I got a trail that runs through my back 40.
This was about 10 years ago....
I had problems with the snowmobilers partying in my woods leaving all kinds of booze bottles, beer cans and I even found a few snowmobile parts from when they smashed into the trees.

So, I collected all the junk and took it to the club and showed them what I had found.
I requested them to move the trail out to the swamp, out of the woods, and to pick up the garbage.
I told them that if they wanted to keep their trail running through, they had to keep it clean.

I haven't had a problem with the garbage since.


Hunter

[jigglestick]

gary, it might be worth getting ahold of the club president ahead of time. they may not even be aware that the land exchanged hands.
you may even make some friends.

a couple examples ...a friend of mine in DL bought property in bagely.
the local trail runs right through it pretty much from one end to the other.
he planted alfalfa in one field right next to the trail and did not want the snomos riding through the alfalfa. seeing this ahead of time, he divsed an alternate route for them and then got ahold of the club people. they came out and met with him and after learning his desires, they took the brush cutter, chainsaws, and made a new route of his choice to an area where ding dongs would not be so easily tempted to swing out in the fresh untouched fields.


second, years agao, I was part of a group that founded the Range Riders atv club. one of the first atv clubs in the state. it is still in place today.
we got organized in effort to start building trails seeing the direct opposition we were facing from the snowmobile club people who were already in place.

our biggest opponent was ANYBODY from the snowmobile clubs.

all we wanted to do was develope trails not unlike the snomobile trails, but they were having none of it.
there were instances and this is fact where snomobile guys welded small spikes on the fronts of their skis. when they would catch up to an atv that was on the snomobile trail, they would snipe up behind them and make contact with their tires, slashing them.

these guys laughed about it in the bar. it was like they were on a mission.

we arranged a meeting with the club heads to see if we could work together on some trail systems.
the snomobile club guys offered up for us to meet at their clubhouse. a nice place just off the old scenic highway by round lake.
I have never felt so uneasy in a group of people before.
they shot us down with every thing we said.
a total waste of time.

we adopted the name for them "snowmobile dick heads" after that day.
they really thought their crap didn't stink.

I own a snowmobile.
it's a 96 cougar long track with reverse and a rack on back with a hitch for towing my portable.
I do not ride trails, though I am licensed and have the stud sticker all current, no way, no way in hell.

I can picture the way it was back in the late sixties, early seventies, when going out for a ride was just trail riding.
now it's a fricken race, like indy or worse cause the traffic is coming at you, blind around corners.
I feel bad for a family who buys sleds and intends on taking advantage of minnesotas vast trail system to discover the beauty that lies in an otherwise snow covered secret, only to be frightened off the trail by these maniacs.

in my opinion, the first one to the bar should have to buy the drinks. that might slow them down...

[deadeye]

flaursen,
"I believe if they are or were educated they would change their behavior"
I'm not sure what education your talking about here.  Do you really think there are people out there on snowmobiles that don't know,
A. It's illegal to drive on private property.
B. You are susposed to stay on the marked trails.
C. Don't drive drunk.
D. Don't litter.
E. Don't drive so fast you cause an accident.
F. Don't run over mailboxes.
Maybe it's just me, but I don't think anyone could honestly say, gosh, I never had a class so I didn't know you shouldn't run over mail boxes.  I don't think education is the answer.  Maybe a larger fine or loss of snowmobile would be and education for some. 
 

[sjohnnie26]

I snowmobile and have for years.  We don't ride from bar to bar but do hit trails and I agree with most that it's the few "bad eggs" that ruin it for the masses.

[Randy Kaar]

as mentioned in another post, its not only sleds but atv's as well.
have ridden atv on state land and they think they can go anywhere
they want to. beer cans thrown all over. we have to police ourselves
and be responsable.

randy

[22lex]

I don't ride snowmobiles or atv's. I only use my friends atv up north on occasion when chopping wood, or recovering game.

Some of my friends however do ride snowmobiles alot. They drink alot also when riding and I know they ride hard, wherever they want, and crash occasionally.

Few bad apples? I'd say more than a few after bartending for ten or more years off-and on and giving my fair share of rides after bar close. I'm also going to think that the percentage of speed junkies who drink a good portion of the day, and blast out on the trails is the same down here as it is up north.

I can't beat 'em all down as I do know of responsible people who do follow the rules, but I would have to say that alcohol is probably factoring in to the idiocy Bow73 is talking about.

[BamBam1970]

   It completely blows my mind to have another spportsman show up on a site like this and just bash the hell out of others.  I am both an Atv rider and a snowmobile rider.  You know, the word stereotype is a  word and thats what is being done by a few on here.  I have all the respect in the world for peoples property and if it isnt supposed to be ridden on I dont ride on it.  Look at what you have said on here.  Someone might think you are a complete Jack but does that mean everyone on here thinks that, Not at all.  You may have more friends than the rest of us.  Maybe next time you decide to blow a testicle you should think about who you insult and point the finger at.  Point it where it belongs at the idiots that cant follow the rules not the rest of us whom obey the requests of others and care about others property. 

[CampYJewel]

I myself am one them **** snowmobilers!!!  I love to go fast, can't stand the fact that there is a speed limit, get crabby when there is someone in front of me going 20, and occasionally stop and have A beer.  If you lease land from Potlatch I have most likley trespassed on your leased land.

Though I also only have one or two beers, will patiently wait to pass when you pull over, stick to the trail, and do not tresspass on private property other than listed above, which I don't do often.  

I own a 4-wheeler but have never taken "trail riding" to me 4-wheelers are for work and not pleasure.  It does drive me nuts when I see snowmobilers driving where it says "Trees Planted, new seeding" ect or anyplace off the trail.  I have never seen anyone on snowmobile actually caring a cooler to drink on the trail (except for the Old Timers ride by Lake Park) I think it would freeze!!!  I love the trails and the people who allow us to cross their property and don't want to loose it.

I do get sick of the 4-wheeler people by our farm who love to spin sh***** in the 4-way and tear the heck out of the road, the ditches ect.  Then on Sunday they head back to the cities and we have to drive on them roads every day for a month before they come and grade them, Yes they only grade the roads once a month!!!

Like everyone has said, a few bad people make everyone else sour on what ever it is be snowmobiling, 4-wheeling, hunting, ect.

There is tons of $ made in our state on all of them so unless we want our taxes to go up to help bring in more revenue we should attempt to get along a little.  And since I just bought my snomobile license for $79 the state can kiss my ***  That is a whole other subject!!!

Jewel

[thunderpout]

Sledding used to be my life once the lakes froze & the snow hit... Id be gone every weekend and went day & nite until my wallet was empty from buyin gas, I was one of those guys you could say that duct taped the throttle to the grip... its the only way to ride!  Well one nite we were grabbin a bite to eat at a place on a lake in Wisconsin, I was chasing some guys down that were going the wrong way down a lake, I hit an ice flow at night doin 75-80 mph, flipped a few times, but lived... got kinda gun shy,if ya will, of flying at light speed, actually gave up sledding cause it wasnt fun anymore cause I was so used to driving full tilt 100% of the time, needless to say, With the speed limits now, it would suck.... I especially dont see why theres speed limits on lakes...   These days my toy is big, jacked up slow  atv with big mudders on it, I dont have to worry about the speed limit cause it cant go that fast...

[bowhunter73]

It baffles me that some people can justify just about anything. Am I wrong to think you should handle your self in the same manner whether on a sled a wheeler or in your CAR or TRUCK

Would you drink and drive in your car them speed and only do this on the road except the few times you happen to cut though somebody’s yard. Then log on to a car and driver wed site and talk about it like its ok.
 

[CampYJewel]

I am not justifying anything, I am just behing honest. 

And this is not a snowmobiling website really, its more for hunting/fishing/outdoor stuff. This is one of the first snowmobiling topics I have seen.

If your trying to start a fight go ahead.  You will be fighting with yourself.

Thats what makes this world so interesting, we are all different. 

Jewel

[thunderpout]

I didnt say I drank OR went on private property, nor did I see someone here condone it, is sipping on a beer and takin a break from doing anything illegal or wrong?..... Just said I liked goin fast, and I do the same on the road when the traffic is/when conditions allow.... dont have any tickets(knock on wood) and am not reluctant to say Im a very good driver, as I was on my sleds.... I did see alot of DWI material in my sledding days, especially in northern Wisconsin, some major bar hopping goes on there... but for the most part, that isnt the case so much now as in years past,  If ya get caught now, it goes on your driving record the same as if you get caught doing it driving your car, and there are some that drink & drive, hitting bars & driving their cars, but I bet its that same small percentage & the same group of people that are doing that on whatever vehicle, boats, atv's sleds automobiles, whatever...  Bowhunter, I agree with you on the tresspassing part,  but I dissagree with ya that most sledders are disrespectful drunks... you can look at many activities and find some   holes, in fact, as an example, you could look at hunters and find quite a good number of them that do so drunk, driving around road hunting, notice the bullet holes in the signs up north/wherever, on most of the side and backroads.... thats their signature.

[zachs]

I sell snowmobiles for a living and I see all types buying new sleds, I'm also an avid snowmobiler and have been riding since I was 6 and would have to agree with the few bad apples theory. It may be more than a few but talking to my customers most are relaxed trail riders not the racer wannabee. I think the best thing we can do is not be afraid to approach the bad apples, especially if you know them and encourage them to respect the trails and our riding privileges and explain if we don't do that pretty soon we won't have any place to ride

[Duckslayer]

WOW!  Is  this ever familiar.  It was this kind of thread and posts about ATV’s that got the DNR website shut down.  I know that there are a lot of you out there that were also on the DNR forums.  Different names here for some though.    Let’s not let this forum be drug down to that level.  Let’s not use it for bashing groups of folks and venting our frustrations.  There are much better uses for this forum than that.  I am sure that there are a few bad apples in every group!  Even ice fishing!  Yeah I have seen guys get tanked in the fish house and then drive off the lake, or get tanked in the bar and then drive out onto the lake.  Won’t do any good to come here and bash them though will it?!  Best thing to do is call the Cops/Sheriff/CO or other appropriate agency.  Let’s just take note that you have brought it up and that most here will agree with you.  No sense draggin the site down into the mud slinging category.  Take care and N Joy the Hunt././Jimbo

[Dotch]

Amen Jimbo! Know lots of folks who like to ride and most are pretty law abiding types. No reason to be lumping them in with the few bad apples. Most of them do police themselves and report those who are playing where they shouldn't or behaving in an otherwise illegal manner. Lots of snow down south here and the groomers are out trying to whip these trails in shape. Not great riding in the soft stuff with no base they tell me.

[Woody]

They ought to outlaw fast food resturants too-they make people fat!   (Just trying to lighten the atmosphere a lil bit) 

[HUNTER2]

Hey Jeff, I'm going to report your avatar to the DNR. I think it has over it's limit.

[Woody]

But the bucket isn't full yet!  I wonder if tail hooking like that is illegal? 

[Cody Gruchow]

sounds like someone has something against snowmobilers. they arent the only ones that cause trouble. ATV's do the same thing, but i guess thats alright if your riding an ATV so you just turn the other cheek.