Castle Area Soon Closed To All OHV Use

[Joe Black]

Read the details in the general thread.

[BG2016]

Just read M H news closed whithin 5 Years

[el sparko]

they should close more areas, most of my hunting spots have been ruined by these *******es

[Grizzly Adams]

Originally Posted by el sparko

they should close more areas, most of my hunting spots have been ruined by these *******es

Patience my Son,Patience. Inevitable, but it's going to happen eventually.

Grizz

[Lefty-Canuck]

Using ATV for game retrieval will also likely be banned.....careful what you wish for.

LC

[srs123]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

Using ATV for game retrieval will also likely be banned.....careful what you wish for.

LC

fine by me, I don't mind packing out a wt. when I get a moose down i'll make sure I got a couple of friends with me to help.

nothing like walking 10 k in the bush to see a quadder zipping by in a no atv zone and have him set up in front of you.

[Alta_Redneck]

Originally Posted by srs123

fine by me, I don't mind packing out a wt. when I get a moose down i'll make sure I got a couple of friends with me to help.

nothing like walking 10 k in the bush to see a quadder zipping by in a no atv zone and have him set up in front of you.

So you think banning law abiding people from using the land for OHV activity is going to stop the people that by your own admission are already riding in in non-OHV area? Give your head a shake

This hole this is B.S the answer is more enforcement not closing land down to recreation and sportsmen. All this will do is put more pressure on other areas.

[Pathfinder76]

To understand some context here, in the Western US the biggest advocates for road and OHV closures are hunting groups. It seems that where these things aren't the hunting improves.

[ram crazy]

Originally Posted by el sparko

they should close more areas, most of my hunting spots have been ruined by these *******es

Hopefully you don't cry when they close it down to hunting as well. The problem with clowns like you are, it's all about me. We all have to ban together and play fair in the sandbox as multiple user groups, so areas don't get shut down to everyone.

[calgarychef]

I think that without quads ripping all over the place that the future of hunting might be less precarious. I choose to hunt areas where quads can't access now, like others it bugs me when I get into an area and hear quads roaring around all day.

The general public would prefer to think of hunting as a "noble pursuit" where a fellow puts on a pack and goes for a walk to enjoy the wilderness and that's an image we need to promote if we want to continue hunting.

We do need to maintain some areas for off highway vehicles to use because everyone should be able to enjoy their pursuits. It's dissapointing but like some hunters a few boneheads ruin it for the rest and this is what's happened with quads.

[bessiedog]

Ramcrazy... I'd love to play with other user groups.... but I find that the *****hat contingency of the quadder/side by side is big. Refuses to self regulate, and the law simply does not get applied to them at all. Many many many ohv users don't even have a sniff what legal-sustainable use looks like in the bush. Instead of accepting blame and changing their behavior... they use the ole 'others are worse, so what's your problem..?'... sheesh

If we had ohv cops. I believe our problems would be solved.

But we don't, and won't.... despite the obvious that greater enforcement would easily generate more revenue than the parks-ban approach.

[Joe Black]

Does unrestricted OHV use cause damage when proper safeguards(bridges et) are not in place. Yes.

Is it posssible to have set areas for all types of access, and have a mutual respect for others in how they choose to hunt? Yes

Is this a bad thing for the future of all unguided general season hunts(if hunting survives) in the eastern slopes for the future. Yes

Smoke em while you have em boys.

[hilt134]

In someways im not to sad because anyone i talk to about crown land generally gives me a run down on how ohvs are ruining the world. Never actually heard of the people i talk to using the land but they like to complain. I will say hunting 412 this year i had nothing but good to say about the ohv users. None where to invasive or just rude had a few stop and chat then go along their way.

[Bushleague]

Originally Posted by bessiedog

Ramcrazy... I'd love to play with other user groups.... but I find that the *****hat contingency of the quadder/side by side is big. Refuses to self regulate, and the law simply does not get applied to them at all. Many many many ohv users don't even have a sniff what legal-sustainable use looks like in the bush. Instead of accepting blame and changing their behavior... they use the ole 'others are worse, so what's your problem..?'... sheesh

If we had ohv cops. I believe our problems would be solved.

But we don't, and won't.... despite the obvious that greater enforcement would easily generate more revenue than the parks-ban approach.

This, every group claims that the problems are "a small select group of jerks" but with motor sports this percentage seems to be way bigger than any other group, and I say this as a guy who greatly enjoys dirt biking and quadding.

For another I cant think of any other special interest group that completely ruins the area's that they use for other interest groups. Go to any heavily used ATV area and it is often unfit for pretty much anything else. No other activity that I can think of does this to such a degree.

[Pekan]

Originally Posted by calgarychef

I think that without quads ripping all over the place that the future of hunting might be less precarious. I choose to hunt areas where quads can't access now, like others it bugs me when I get into an area and hear quads roaring around all day.

The general public would prefer to think of hunting as a "noble pursuit" where a fellow puts on a pack and goes for a walk to enjoy the wilderness and that's an image we need to promote if we want to continue hunting.

We do need to maintain some areas for off highway vehicles to use because everyone should be able to enjoy their pursuits. It's dissapointing but like some hunters a few boneheads ruin it for the rest and this is what's happened with quads.

Agree.
Banning OHV's in an area doesn't mean that banning hunting is next.
Pretty tough to defend the mess left behind by some groups from random camping as well.

As for ohv bans, Bob Creek should be a good place to go in a year or two!

[Newview01]

Originally Posted by Pekan

Agree.
Banning OHV's in an area doesn't mean that banning hunting is next.
Pretty tough to defend the mess left behind by some groups from random camping as well.

As for ohv bans, Bob Creek should be a good place to go in a year or two!

What is wrong with Bob Creek now?

[GET"R"DUN]

Below is a link to the governments current plan and info on Castle area in case anyone wants to check out some maps and read up.

https://talkaep.alberta.ca/CastleMan...83ARoCHBrw_wcB

Its pretty clear that when an outdoors group (such as this) can not agree on a topic that this land use is a complicated subject and thus we need our groups at the table with government finding ways to ensure we are represented. This government left the previous 5 years worth of consultation and planning (South Saskatchewan Region Plan - https://www.landuse.alberta.ca/Regio...s/default.aspx ) in the dust and is moving ahead on its own agenda with little or no public consultation. Based on the tactic of slipping this announcement in on the same day as the 45th Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump and a short notice press meeting, they had hoped to NOT be head lining news. That is not the sort of government that we need in place. If this is the right thing to do then they should be proud to get it into the media and they should be seeking a headline in all facets of media toting their accomplishment. I applaud the enthusiasm to get something done but I am a little afraid of how it is being carried out and what the lasting results will be. Based on some of these folks personal agendas carried over from private life into their public office roles I am a little gun shy. We need to get vocal outside of our private forums and get our organizations into the media speaking up on our behalf or we will be left out on more than ATV use.

[lead chucker]

Originally Posted by ram crazy

Hopefully you don't cry when they close it down to hunting as well. The problem with clowns like you are, it's all about me. We all have to ban together and play fair in the sandbox as multiple user groups, so areas don't get shut down to everyone.

This is the statement I can't push enough. Good job

[morinj]

It's funny that this is happening as I'm currently in the market for a quad, perticularly for this area, but at the same time, I love this area soooo much that, I will not slander anybody who wants to conserve it! I will choose too follow the rules, as there is many other alternatives! That being said, these people aren't winning anybody over!

[el sparko]

Originally Posted by ram crazy

Hopefully you don't cry when they close it down to hunting as well. The problem with clowns like you are, it's all about me. We all have to ban together and play fair in the sandbox as multiple user groups, so areas don't get shut down to everyone.

you're absolutely right, we should all ban together and play fair. I'll be more than happy to go into the bush and hunt a little bit and leave the woods in the same condition I found it in.
now, the off roaders will do the same right? they won't rip up the muskeg and make bigger and bigger mud holes and leave beer cans and garbage all over the place, right?
they won't do this in ever greater numbers year after year right?
have you been to the medicine lake area lately? it's a travisty what they've done out there.

[Popman]

It is not just OHV closure. No on highway vehicles allowed off main road at all. This means no camping other than designated campgrounds and they do not allow you to hang game in these campgrounds. The way I read it is, if you do not have a horse or pack your wall tent in on your back, you won't have a camp in this area where you can hang an animal. You shoot, you go home or at least take the animal somewhere else. Also some mention in the draft of needing discharge permits for hunting in the park.
If you think this will not restrict hunting in the area I think you are very delusional.

[Redcoat27]

Unfortunately off road vehicles have done it to themselves. This maybe be the start of more closures. I think it is up to responsible Atv users to take a stand, if you see someone acting in an appropriate manner then report it to authorities.

[Wolftrapper]

Originally Posted by Redcoat27

Unfortunately off road vehicles have done it to themselves. This maybe be the start of more closures. I think it is up to responsible Atv users to take a stand, if you see someone acting in an appropriate manner then report it to authorities.

You are correct. They've done it to themselves. Hard to feel sorry for them.

[khruby]

Originally Posted by Redcoat27

Unfortunately off road vehicles have done it to themselves. This maybe be the start of more closures. I think it is up to responsible Atv users to take a stand, if you see someone acting in an appropriate manner then report it to authorities.

There's not many areas that large off road trucks can go in the castle , there are areas where smaller trucks can get but they are good trails and not many places to get off those trails. For the most part if your driving In the south from my perspective is the damage comes from ATV's and not trucks. The trucks stay on the trails turn around and come out. The quads push through the holes, stir up the trails and make more mud holes from getting stuck. I've never seen a pick up going more then 20 k's an hour on the trails but yet you could get past by 15 quads that go 60 to 100 km's an hour tearing up the trail... Its amazing to see that but no one says anything about that.

I think that there should have been more enforcement in the castle instead of all the cutbacks and we would not even been in this situation. We will now see hunting go right down the drain along with your camping in your favorite spots, We will be quading an 4x4'ing but we will be crammed into the already crowded rec areas in the south. Wait till we see the first hotel, or gas bar come up in the Lynx Carbondale junction and think well that wasn't in the plan. Well it is! it in the online survey about how much development are you willing to have in the Castle Wildlife area, you can't give a proper response to that question or many others on the survey. I believe it was in another report I read and i'll link to it.

And goodbye to hunting in the south... Since I was 5 when I took my first elk with my Father and Uncle I've been hunting the same grounds, it has changed.. roads and bridges are added.... trails rebuilt. But you can still go find a bull or chase a big mule but you have to work for it. That's all going to be gone for everyone, but you'll be able to go hike and go for a mountian bike ride!. It dose not say that now but I'd be willing to bet that will change just like they said when this first came through that quads and highway traffic would be allowed but restricted, but now not allowed.

Voice your opinions to MLA!

[Headdamage]

The area was great before the quads and such got loose in the place. When it was only 4x4 trucks the damage was very limited and the trails where in much better shape. In the 90's when I used to go back there there would often be grass growing on the trails because there was so little traffic. As quads got popular the trails and surrounding areas started to bet torn up to the point that it was difficult to even drive a 4x4 truck on the trails anymore.

[mclean]

This is pretty much the same reaction we had prior to the making of K-Country a number of years ago at the meetings in Calgary, we made much the same requests such as reasonable access to the back country, quadding and 4x4 , biking areas, Areas to set up hunting camps in hunting seasons, We can all see what happened in what is now K-Country, It is great for some i guess, but without a horse getting into the back country is just about impossible. The bottom line is in Westcastle we do have too many people using a quite small area, and a few people abusing the area does make it bad for everyone, I love using the back country and think the government has their mind made up and it is a done deal, Again i hate to lose access to the area.

[Joe Black]

DIscharge permit, hmmmmmmmmmm

What you anti OHV eletists think of that smoking gun?

Oh not to worry. Business as usually without those pesky ATV's right?

I did read that in the draft as well. I do not hunt that area, so the actual hunting restrictions that WILL be placed in the area will not affect me positively or negatively. I am concerned of the overall ramifications of the NDP doing as they please, having a anti hunt/OHV/trapping/fishing/ etc agenda.

For those who feel this is a good thing, I suggest you sit down, read the 164 page document BEFORE you go online and agree to it cause you figure it's going to increase your hunting opportunities. You make the bed, you lay in it.

[Wolftrapper]

Originally Posted by Joe Black

DIscharge permit, hmmmmmmmmmm

What you anti OHV eletists think of that smoking gun?

Oh not to worry. Business as usually without those pesky ATV's right?

I did read that in the draft as well. I do not hunt that area, so the actual hunting restrictions that WILL be placed in the area will not affect me positively or negatively. I am concerned of the overall ramifications of the NDP doing as they please, having a anti hunt/OHV/trapping/fishing/ etc agenda.

For those who feel this is a good thing, I suggest you sit down, read the 164 page document BEFORE you go online and agree to it cause you figure it's going to increase your hunting opportunities. You make the bed, you lay in it.

I don't think we can do anything unfortunately. There has been to many bad apples for to long now. A lot of people have been waiting for a Govt like we have now. We are far outnumbered.
I didn't vote for them.

[Joe Black]

Oh, forgot one thing.

Anyone who agrees with this as they see this as an advantage they will now have In their hunting pursuits in that area, please, do me a favor.

PM me in five years, after your hunting opportunities have been taken away/eroded, and let me know what the sensation ........yourself is really like.

[Mr Hawken]

The hunting is going to be taken away regardless of using quads or not. Just by using abusing the lands of which we hunt will just speed up the process. I grew up hunting the castle area it's a shame but it is what it is.