Mars Hill WMA in the paper today - 2012 Aug 9

[polaris_dave]

Here's some more of the same propoganda from the environmental activists.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/loc...165550196.html

In my opinion, urban sprawl has contributed to these issues. I believe that Ms. Kasuba wants her own private park/refuge to provide eco-tourism services. What people don't know is that members of her activist group have their properties bordering on the Mars Hill and they are contributing to damage of the Mars Hill ecosystem also. One member has his own private garbage dump a mere few hundred feet from the Mars Hill boundary line. If these people would practice what they preach, then even themselves should not be allowed to travel in the WMA or pollute the ground on along the boundary of the WMA.

Even the folks at Conservation recognize that these people are extremists and are the minority. My family has been using the WMA for the last century and the damage they are claiming is not true.

[Dorgie]

This Is So Brutal!

[Capt Jack]

Wow,so one sided!!!

[Cage]

They're dancing around the subject and blaming atv's, when all it is is polluters and themselves getting stuck with thier goshdarn buick that's the real issue.

All this is easily solved with what our long term goal is.....

Any areas like this should be properly managed by having a couple of designated ATV trails. ATV's, and other bikes only. Grip it and Rip it, stay on the trail, and everyone should be happy.

We ride our trails, they can take thier own polluting vehicle down thier trails, (irony in itself), and crack down on shootin' polluters in general.

It makes more sense to just complain to the media though, like it acheives anything productive other than giving a reporter something to do....

[yamahay]

Couldn't agree more Dave. It's pretty clear that this woman simply wants the space to herself.

[Grizzlypeg]

Personally I think the province should provide a designated shooting area in various regions of Manitoba. Its a public service just like any other, and where to site in your rifle is a common quest of many who don't belong to clubs. Set up a safe area and encourage people to use it.

[adventurepwrproducts]

This reporter should be terminated. Where is the story here? By the time I am done reading this article this is how one should percieve her point.
The Mars Sandhills is hers.
Atv's are the reason people shoot targets namely t.v.s and computer monitors.
We are vandals that damage property and scare people. Atv's are so bad that when she drives into the mars hills she has to steer around the ruts and ruin vegetation to avoid getting stuck (she should try using a f'n atv..) you will need your tires rebalanced if you try and drive in the sand that an atv has been through. Even though the article states someone in a truck shot the signs, mailboxes and restaurant wall..atv's caused this. She hates the hunters but she is concerned about them because our ruts prevent them from passing through "ITS GOOD GROUSE HUNTING COUNTRY" R U F'N KIDDING ME. The damage is different here? Oh my goodness, please lets keep this article on file for the hopeful one day in court? Can any one thing in this article be substantiated....yes it is both legal to atv there and shoot targets. Nothing more.
THEN..... When you read about the Conservations take on this, they may close some trails, but as far as the shooting.......na, we're good with that one.....IS THIS LADY HOLDING A SHELL IN HER HAND OR A FRIGGIN ATV TIRE????? What is your battle?? The gunfire was chasing horses.....was this story written on April 20th?
She picked up 22,000 shell casings and ATV'S are the problem? Am I the only one that is going cross eyed?? I know there are some great people on here, other dealership owners and riders that have been working this issue to the bone, and I think we should all stand up and applaud them. I am making these statements only because it is proabably alot easier for me to do so. So if we do have anyone reading this from outside associations who feel this is out of line...my name is Derek Roth and I can be reached at 204-878-3194 to discuss my opinion and/or yours.
As an Atv collective, discussions have been offered, mutual agreed upon solutions suggested, and overall care and concern for the whole situation......
Was there any attempt for the press to contact someone from the otherside of the argument? Does Ms. Kasuba offer any reasonable solutions other than closing it up to just her "preferred" uses? Someone higher up has to take notice of this....
Guns have become a problem in schools....we dont close schools to solve it.
Impaired Driving is a problem....we don't take all the cars off the road to solve it.
A crime is commited like every second....we don't take a cyanide pill and end it all...
Under the logic of Ms. Kasuba.....you would.
Has anyone looked at some of the free press comments already????
One toothed hillbillies shootin guns....we are all stupid?
5% of the people doing 95% of the damage to our sport...
Sad....seems to me there's alot more than just the tires out of balance.
Derek.

[Mudforce]

It is truly said how people assume we are the only ones out there. When the riding ban got lifted we went riding in the Woodridge area and came across a few cars and trucks out and about. One truck was on the same trail as us, now How hard would it be for the hot exhaust off of a truck fresh of the highway to start a fire or even a smoke out the window with out even thinking about it. I am not saying that we are not to blame for anything but why do people not see beyond the atv and look at all the other people out there. We are not out there alone.

[garyh]

Thanks for the post Dave. This has been a long running issue for you out there. I have supported you since day one , and our club as well. Let me know if there is anything we can do. Thanks.

[polaris_dave]

The good news is that a trail management plan is already being drafted by Conservation. Any of these last ditch efforts by the activists will have no bearing on the final outcome of the plan. It will be presented to us the first week of October and there will be a two week review & comment period.

[Cage]

The free press is getting a letter from me, and I'm voicing my discontent over thier bad publicity regarding atv'ers in Manitoba. This article is unfactual and completely biased, not to mention full of contradictions. It's time to start reporting some of the good events, like the club rides that consist of cleaning up and maintaining trails and making them safer for everyone to use. There are rides, derbies, and mudbogs that raise money for local charities. There is wonderful family time and good friendships that are fostered in the hobby. Get your heads out of your a**'es, free press!!
Maybe they should start hearing intelligiently and strongly worded letters from all of us??

[Grizzlypeg]

The Free Press often shows extreme bias in their articles, even making false and misleading statements. If you're going to write an editorial, don't pretend its news reporting.

[bobsyouruncle]

Anyone hear any more about the direction this is going?

The silence is deafening...............

[polaris_dave]

The working group meeting has been moved from Oct. 4 to Oct 16th. A public open house is being planned for Oct. 20th.

[Taz]

I cannot be quiet anymore, There are those who pushed for restrictions against ATV use but when it backfired and it was going to affect their and other user groups use in WMAs they jumped on the band wagon to keep access to all users groups and pointed the finger at one local lobbiest pushing for a ban. Here is the truth.




Reality Check

Top
RC-25: Does Manitoba Have ATV Policy?



Date Posted: November 10, 2011
The increased use of All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) on Crown lands has led to increased concerns about the impacts of ATVs, particularly in environmentally sensitive areas.


A report “All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) And Other Off-Road Vehicle Use On Crown Land” was issued by the Manitoba Conservation, May 28, 2008. The report was in response to concerns raised by Brokenhead Trail Blazers Toboggan Club Inc. regarding increased ATV usage, and lack of planning and legislation surrounding ATVs. Among other things, the report recommended:

• Education on responsible ATV use;
• That high resource value and environmentally sensitive sites be identified and regulations and controls put in place to protect and manage them;
• ATV Special Events Policy be reviewed and approved for the management of ATV special events;
• All designated wildlife management areas (WMAs) be reviewed and where required, management plans prepared, which among other things, will determine whether off-road vehicles should be prohibited, restricted or permitted;
• Review each provincial forest to determine if ATVs and ATV special events should be allowed, or prohibited in sensitive areas or restricted to designated trails.
• ATV use in WMAs be prohibited except on designated trails, and only during specific seasonal periods to avoid damage to trails and wildlife – with limited exception to retrieve a big game kill via the most direct route;
• The draft Off-Road Vehicle Trails Directive 4.2.5 intended to provide direction for off-road vehicles use in provincial parks be finalized, approved and put into effect;
• The draft Special Events Directive 4.4.8 intended to define the process and approval structure for special events in provincial parks be finalized, approved and put into effect;

Here is the link to the whole report http://manitobawildlands.org/gov_rc25.htm

[polaris_dave]

Originally Posted by Taz

I cannot be quiet anymore, There are those who pushed for restrictions against ATV use but when it backfired and it was going to affect their and other user groups use in WMAs they jumped on the band wagon to keep access to all users groups and pointed the finger at one local lobbiest pushing for a ban. Here is the truth.




Reality Check

Top
RC-25: Does Manitoba Have ATV Policy?



Date Posted: November 10, 2011
The increased use of All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) on Crown lands has led to increased concerns about the impacts of ATVs, particularly in environmentally sensitive areas.


A report “All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) And Other Off-Road Vehicle Use On Crown Land” was issued by the Manitoba Conservation, May 28, 2008. The report was in response to concerns raised by Brokenhead Trail Blazers Toboggan Club Inc. regarding increased ATV usage, and lack of planning and legislation surrounding ATVs. Among other things, the report recommended:

• Education on responsible ATV use;
• That high resource value and environmentally sensitive sites be identified and regulations and controls put in place to protect and manage them;
• ATV Special Events Policy be reviewed and approved for the management of ATV special events;
• All designated wildlife management areas (WMAs) be reviewed and where required, management plans prepared, which among other things, will determine whether off-road vehicles should be prohibited, restricted or permitted;
• Review each provincial forest to determine if ATVs and ATV special events should be allowed, or prohibited in sensitive areas or restricted to designated trails.
• ATV use in WMAs be prohibited except on designated trails, and only during specific seasonal periods to avoid damage to trails and wildlife – with limited exception to retrieve a big game kill via the most direct route;
• The draft Off-Road Vehicle Trails Directive 4.2.5 intended to provide direction for off-road vehicles use in provincial parks be finalized, approved and put into effect;
• The draft Special Events Directive 4.4.8 intended to define the process and approval structure for special events in provincial parks be finalized, approved and put into effect;

Here is the link to the whole report http://manitobawildlands.org/gov_rc25.htm

Our snowmobile club never had any concerns with trails in the WMA, it was a mainly a concern with RM of Brokenhead road allowances at the time, which was a valid concern. Believe what you like!

[kawibrute750]

Originally Posted by polaris_dave

Our snowmobile club never had any concerns with trails in the WMA, it was a mainly a concern with RM of Brokenhead road allowances at the time, which was a valid concern. Believe what you like!

the articles you guys put in the papers said otherwise, you opened up a can of shit you had no idea was going to happen, now you can't close it or control it, we are all screwed, all user groups.

anyways how did that meeting go, pretty bad I heard, so if I drive from my property through the trails I drove on for the last 30 years to the main trail I would break the law right?

[polaris_dave]

Originally Posted by kawibrute750

the articles you guys put in the papers said otherwise, you opened up a can of shit you had no idea was going to happen, now you can't close it or control it, we are all screwed, all user groups.

anyways how did that meeting go, pretty bad I heard, so if I drive from my property through the trails I drove on for the last 30 years to the main trail I would break the law right?

Nobody at the time wanted closures, we were looking for RM support to repair mile 37 (which was in the article) and you are right this totally got blown out of proportion.

It's easy to go back in time and say "he said/she said", but in reality this would have likely happened eventually.

Of course it got taken too far, and that's when we tried our damnest to prevent an outright ban, because although I belong to a snowmobile club, my self and many of our members are also ATVers.

Should things have been done differently? Absolutely.

[kawibrute750]

How did the meeting go?

[Minty3]

Imagine; a target shooter with 6 guns! Who cares. He wasn't doing anything wrong & was spending time showing someone proper firearm handling.
Some horse people left because they heard gun shots. So what? It dosen't mean it was being done unsafely. Man how the Free Press likes to spin things.
Go after someone who is actually breaking a law; God knows there is no shortage.