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HUNTING SEASON ATV USE TIPS APPENDIX - F “Hunting and Motorized Vehicles” How You Can Reduce ATV Impacts During Hunting Season ¾ Know the motorized vehicle use regulations for the Douglas County Forest. Contact the Douglas County Forestry Department for information before you go hunting. Respect road and area closures. ¾ Stay on existing roads or trails. Do not contribute to resource damage, habitat destruction and user conflict by creating new travelways for others to follow. ¾ User created travelways are often poorly located within riparian zones or on steep slopes creating vegetation and soil impacts. Don't make the problem worse by continuing to use these routes. ¾ When legally using an ATV on a designated road, to increase your chances of hunting success and cause less disturbance to hunters around you, access your hunting area before shooting hours and then return midday or after hunting hours. ¾ When legally using an ATV on a designated road to transport harvested big game, operate during the middle of the day (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) or after hunting hours to reduce conflicts with other hunters. Cross-country travel for game retrieval is prohibited on all areas of the Douglas County Forest. ¾ Have respect for other hunters and users of the forest. Slow down or stop your ATV when you approach others. When other hunters are present be courteous, approach slowly, pull over and stop, turn off your engine, and ask how to best proceed. ¾ Avoid the use of ATV’s in wet areas or during wet conditions. Even though trails and roads may be open for use, ATV’s can still do serious damage to wet areas and can lead to future closures. ¾ Keep your ATV properly tuned and muffled to reduce exhaust sounds and emissions. ¾ Don't widen trails and roads by forcing your ATV out and around obstacles. ¾ Park off to the side of the road or trail to allow room for others to safely pass. ¾ When overtaking others, pass in a safe and courteous manner. ¾ Limit ATV use in and around other hunters’ camping locations. Be respectful of other campers' desires for quiet and minimal disruption. These are simple things, but they can go a long way toward reducing the impact of ATV use on the Douglas County Forest. They will protect the habitat and improve the hunting experience. Following these simple guidelines will reduce the need for more stringent regulations and help retain the ATV opportunities that currently exist on the Forest. ---PAGE BREAK--- HUNTING SEASON ATV USE TIPS APPENDIX - F Facts • Since 2000, the number of All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) in Wisconsin has increased 100%. As of 2006, there are now over 235,000 ATVs registered in the state. • Studies have shown that the deer harvest increases with increased hunter access. Eventually this can lead to poorer deer age-class structure and reduced hunter opportunity. Deer use declines in areas adjacent to roads open to motorized vehicles. • Slow-moving vehicles on primitive roads and trails are more disturbing to deer than fast-moving vehicles on highways. • As motorized vehicle access increases, the amount of human pressure in the forest also increases which can seriously affect the activity patterns of deer for an area and can lead to reduced hunter opportunity. • Studies in other States have shown that hunters using ATVs are often less successful than other hunters.