Mars Hill WMA in the paper today - 2012 Aug 9

[mailman]

The final decision for the trails isnt great, but alot better than it could have been. Most of the "main" trails remain for all use. Rd 82 remains open. Access for hunters and trappers remains, but all the single track and the track on wolverine hill is closed.

[Duke_Of_URL]

I wouldn't put any blame on the Trailblazers for the direction the entire thing took. The Trailblazers attended and had representation at the Mars Hill rally last April. Terry Buss, on behalf of the Trailblazers, delivered an excellent speech with sound points and reasoning. Those points did not call for closures and bans, they called for sharing and sustainability by multiple user groups. External factors/organizations contributed to the ban/closure catalyst.

I'm reminded of that joke that tok posted (http://www.trackshare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67981) regarding how many people (Trackshare members in the context of the joke) it takes change to take a lightbulb. The first answer:

1 to change the light bulb and to post that the light bulb has been changed

The direction that the thread takes after that in the joke is exactly what has happened with this entire thing.

[kawibrute750]

Originally Posted by mailman

The final decision for the trails isnt great, but alot better than it could have been. Most of the "main" trails remain for all use. Rd 82 remains open. Access for hunters and trappers remains, but all the single track and the track on wolverine hill is closed.

What's the single track?

[B.Oakley]

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:

Anyone got a copy of the report?

If the report was released in 2008, then when did the Brokenhead Trailblazers bring their concerns about ATV use in the Mars Hills government?

How far back does this go?

[Duke_Of_URL]

Originally Posted by B.Oakley

Anyone got a copy of the report?

http://digitalcollection.gov.mb.ca/a...did=17276&md=1

[Taz]

This government report from 2008 refers to a letter sent to the Premier and others from the Brokenhead Trail Blazers May 3 2006. The report 53 pages long but quite the eye opener.

[Minty3]

Originally Posted by mailman

The final decision for the trails isnt great, but alot better than it could have been. Most of the "main" trails remain for all use. Rd 82 remains open. Access for hunters and trappers remains, but all the single track and the track on wolverine hill is closed.

Mailman, does that mean for a $5.00 trappers license in our pocket we're good to go?
thanks.

[SwampPrincess]

Originally Posted by Minty3

Mailman, does that mean for a $5.00 trappers license in our pocket we're good to go?
thanks.

No. Trappers and hunters only have permission to leave the main trail to get their game. they are expected to take the shortest possible route to get their game and then get out and back to the main trail They are not permitted to just ride wherever they want whenever they want.

[mailman]

That's correct. Also, a permit will be needed for a trapper to travel on non motorized trails. Hunters can only use machines to retrieve downed game, not to access hunting spots. The single track I referred to earlier would be the tight one track trails used by dirt bikes. Their reasoning behind closing those is because they have no ability within the law to mandate a trail dirt bike ( or any other vehicle) only. So their concern is that quads or even trucks would try going down these trails, the result being the widening ( and ruining) of those trails.

[mailman]

And, to set the record straight, the Trailblazers raised issue with trail damage on a section of trail leading into the Mars Hill WMA. This was totally merited, as quads and trucks were destroying a municipal road allowance. This is where we ALL, as atv'ers need to change our thinking. We cannot continue to rip up every mud hole we see, especially when these trails are used by others. Municipalities refuse to put any money into fixing road allowances, never mind bush trails. The trailblazers spend alot of volunteer time and money to maintain trails, only to have the destroyed by people who believe its their right to do so. Wrong. What results from this attitude is trail closure. Yes this whole thing was strted by the snowmobile club, but it was taken to the extreme by militant enviromentalists. And trust me, this was a long hard fight that we almost lost. 3 years of meetings and debates. For all who want to point fingers and lay blame, where were you these past 3 years? The only reason we have any reasonable conclusion to this is because the trailblazers, the trappers association, wildlife federation and the Brokenhead Off Road Riders fought like crazy for our trails and our bush. ATVers cannot continue to have the "we will do whatever we want attitude" or we will continue to have these battles. This may be over for Mars Hills, but its only a matter of time before it moves to another spot. This goes for mud riding on public land, drinking, littering, trespassing, etc. No its not everyone, but its is a problem and we are all painted with the same brush. AND, let it be known, that ATVMB signed off on the initial, horribly flawed trail plan, proposed last fall. They even had a rep at the open house in Beausejour to show their approval of a plan that was unfair to nearly every group wit the exception of the enviromentalists.....strange huh? And, from nearly the beginning, ATVMB ignited a firestorm by proposing an ATV park within the WMA. We had to fight that flame as it nearly got the area closed to ATVs all together. So, lets be careful what stones we throw, and at whom. Lets all learn from this issue and ride responsably, and get out, support, and create ATV clubs, to protect the sport we all enjoy.

[mailman]

And, one MAJOR win for atvěng in Manitoba with this new plan, with designated trails, clubs now have the legal ability to get permits to perform trail maintenance. This is huge, not just for atv`s, but for any group that uses trails. With this, BORR can now legally repair damage to trails, and try to negate bad publicity over trail damage. This is how snowmobile clubs have been able to fix trails, build shelters and bridges, etc. They have had designated trails, and thats the only way our sport will be able to continue. So, whether we like it or not, this IS our future.