ATV users

[guido]

I don't think much of this.
https://albertawilderness.ca/easternslopescommunique/

[Walleyes]

Well you can't say we all didn't see this one coming. To many abusers out there and we all know it. People have to be pigs. Throwing their garbage out all over the place, tearing up hill sides and bogs.

No I don't like to see it but,, there has to be a message sent that the pigs and abusers are not welcome.

I am a quad user and love my machine but come on man,, be respectful when we are out there.

Not speaking to anyone on here I don't think but you guys know what I mean.

[AxeMan]

So just who is this group that calls themselves "Communiqué " ?
I see they quoted that guy Charlie Russell; isn't he the grizzly bear guy that was in Kamchatka.
Saw him on a TV documentary and he struck me as being a little eccentric.
They have quite the group of environmentalist supporters listed.

I agree with what what Walleyes is saying, but I see this group taking square aim at the ATV'ers and want an all out ban.  That wont be good for the average hunter guys like ourselves.
That isn't the only answer when many other activities threaten the eastern slopes as well. 
The rip and tear type of ATV'ers brought this attention on themselves though and now it has drawn the attention of the environmentalists and they have a vicious but somewhat misguided lobby.

[Walleyes]

That's always what scares a guy about this type of thing, where will they stop. We know eventually they are going to want to go province wide. In all reality I can see this never happening though. To much revenue is produced for the province with these machines and their use. If they eliminate their usage it would be a huge loss for any government coffer.

[LeverAction]

Man, this is always been I tough one for me. I own and us a SxS for hunting. I know it sounds funny but I only use it to get my game out, I like walking to hunt, but still because I use it , I have to call myself a quadder.  I also am a horse guy,(my personal preference to access the back country), and I have seen damage done by horses in the mountains as well. And I love to pack a tent in by foot(back packer). I do try to keep any damage to a minimum like many of you, I don't like what I see in the eastern sloops, but I sure don't think it should be restricted to anyone. Guess the best bet would be to try and clamp done on the abusers, no matter what they use . I do think there can be a balance, but can all parties work together to get there, is the million dollar prize. 

[guido]

These "communique" people so remind me of the anti-gun people.
The ATV's don't do the damage, people do.
Banning ATV's would be the same as banning guns.
Education and enforcement would be the answer, but "anti's" kneejerk is always banning.

[sonny]

Can't run a quad in the eastslopes but digging it up with a P&H shovel is ok....hmmm.

Don't make much sence do it?

[Walleyes]

These "communique" people so remind me of the anti-gun people.
The ATV's don't do the damage, people do.
Banning ATV's would be the same as banning guns.
Education and enforcement would be the answer, but "anti's" kneejerk is always banning.

True dat guido, true dat.

[guido]

 http://i.cbc.ca/1.3370695.1450392823!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_780/atv.jpg

 Off-road vehicle trails need to be regulated by the province, says conservationist Kevin Van Tighem. (CBC)

 A conservationist and former superintendent for Banff National Park is concerned about the destruction caused by off-road vehicles in the province.
 Kevin Van Tighem is part of a coalition of individuals and environmental groups (https://albertawilderness.ca/easternslopescommunique/) calling for strict limits on off-road vehicles on public land and bans in parks and protected areas. He told CBC's Alberta@Noon that anyone who has visited the headwaters of the Bull or Oldman rivers would be horrified by the damage caused.
 "It's not what I believe, it's what I see," Van Tighem said this week. "It's sort of like a spreading level of sheer devastation."
 ​Van Tighem is particularly concerned about the use of quads and other motorized vehicles in protected wilderness areas on the Eastern Slopes, including the new parks in the Castle Wilderness area of southwestern Alberta.
 Part of the problem is that outside of parks, there is no regulation about what riders can do.
 "It's just a dog's breakfast, you can do whatever you like. And they do," Van Tighem said.
 A call for provincial leadership

 But Van Tighem is careful to point out his problem is with the regulator, not the rider.
 "A lot of off-roaders really care about nature, they don't want to be causing harm. But they haven't been given proper facilities. ... Current government inaction has got them unable to be part of the solution."
 Worse still, he said is that the province's newly planned provincial park in the Castle region will continue to allow off-road vehicles despite its designation as a park.
 The Minister of Environment and Parks Shannon Phillips said she is still looking forward to hearing all points of view on this issue.
 "As we move forward with our park management process for the Castle area we are committed to the protection of the headwaters, as well as critical fish and wildlife habitat," Phillips said in a statement to CBC News.
 CBC Calgary contacted the Alberta Off-Highway Vehicle Association, and had not heard back by the time this story was published

KEVIN VT WON'T BE HAPPY UNTIL THE WHOLE WEST SIDE OF THE PROVINCE IS CALLED BANFF. "SHEER DEVASTATION"?? COME ON KEVIN, EVEN YOU HAVE TO GIGGLE AT THAT ONE.

[juansavio]

It's the unfortunate reality of having to dumb it down to the lowest common denominator. We (those of us who take care with our machines in the wilderness) will end up being lumped in with those of the "rip and tear" mentality, and unfortunately there isn't much we can do about that. However, I do believe there needs to be a system in place where it's not an all out free for all in how and where one can operate their machine (I expect to get flak for that one).

I guess what I'm saying is there should be more regulation in sensitive areas (recognized parks, headwater locales, etc) to ensure we are protecting areas that need to be protected. As well, there should be areas where those hell bent on submerging their machines and sporting a "business in the front / party in the rear" attitude still have an area to do so. Otherwise, we'll be right back to where we are now and its obviously not working. I think we can all agree on that.

I'm a hunter and love what I can do and where I can go with my quad. Would I rather use horseback here in Alberta, you bet. But I don't have the resources so I'm relegated to boots on the ground or thumb on the throttle. We need to protect nature from ourselves, that's for sure. That's also why we have hunting seasons and draw areas. Otherwise we'd all be out there looking for that last elk/moose/deer/etc.

Just my $0.02 for what it's worth.

[Walleyes]

Couldn't agree with you more juansavio. It all boils down to respect. Respect for the environment and other people but we all know there is very little of that this day and age. It is very bad out in our area as well. Lots of ATV users out here and they use the trails a lot. It upsets me to no end when I am out in the fall hunting and every wet area you come to is plowed out and ripped up and every mud hole has a pile of booze can and bottles at it, it's really sickening. One good thing is the zone that I hunt for deer up here is no ATV use before noon so at least in the fall it cuts down on the use but the damage is still there.

[JIMMY 808]

Fun can be killed with the pen RIP atc

[sonny]

Fun can be killed with an early model trike.

RIP... riders

[JIMMY 808]

1250000 people killed in 2010 from vehicles one person every 25 seconds roughly. 


Kind of like restricting mags to 5 shots...

[AxeMan]

Mine hasn't killed me.....yet. 

[sonny]

Come to the Hinton sand dunes Axe.

You'll have a blast..