Responsibility or Regulation? The Choice is Yours! Remember...

So what does this mean for the typical hunter their activity can cause and voluntarily take steps to with an ATV? It’s simple. If ATV users are irrespon- reduce those impacts. ATV users are not unique in sible with the use of their machines, then there will this respect — as more and more people use public For more information regarding this and other hunting be increasing pressure on land and wildlife manage- lands for recreation, the potential impacts of these or motorized access subjects contact the following: ment agencies to restrict ATV use during hunting activities are growing fast. Virtually all recreation Hunting season. Already there are people, among them other users — jeepers, horse enthusiasts, rafters, BLM, State Office Wyoming State Program P.O. Box 1828 Barrett Building, hunters, who are asking for a total ban on ATV use snowmobilers, hikers, campers, rock climbers, Cheyenne, WY 82003-1828 2301 Central Avenue during hunting season. motorcyclists, anglers, and mountain bikers — are (307) 775-6256 Cheyenne, WY 82002 Nobody likes regulations; but if irresponsible being asked to reduce the impact of their activities, (307) 777-7477 and ATVs ATV use continues to cause unacceptable impacts, so that public lands can be enjoyed by this and Wyoming Game and Fish Department Wyoming Office of State Lands then regulations will become necessary to ensure future 5400 Bishop Blvd. Herschler Bldg. 3W protection of public lands. A better alternative generations. Cheyenne, WY 82006 122 W. 25th Street would be for ATV users to recognize the impacts (307) 777-4600 Cheyenne, WY 82002 (307) 777-7331

Bighorn National Forest Bridger-Teton National Forest 2013 Eastside 2nd St. PO Box 1888 Know Wyoming Off-Road Vehicle Laws Sheridan, WY 82801 Jackson, WY 83001 (307) 674-2600 (307) 739-5500

• All ATVs and bikes, including those owned Black Hills National Forest Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest by non-residents, are required to display a Wyo- • It is unlawful to molest, stir up, rally or drive, in Bearlodge Ranger District Thunder Basin ming ORV permit while operating on designated any manner, any game animals or game birds with PO Box 680 2468 Jackson Street roads, trails, areas on public lands and state trust a motorized vehicle. Sundance, WY 82729 Laramie, WY 82070-6535 lands. This $15 annual permit may be purchased (307) 283-1361 (307) 745-2300 and from selling agents across the state or by calling • It is unlawful to shoot from or across the (307) 777-7477. When on roads, operators must Hell’s Canyon Ranger District traveled portion, shoulders or embankments of 1225 Washington Street 808 Meadow Lane have a valid drivers license. any road maintained by a government entity. Newcastle, WY 82701 Cody, WY 82414-4516 (307) 746-2782 (307) 527-6241 • ORVs are mostly restricted to travel upon only • It is illegal to operate an ATV or trail bike off established roads and trails. They may be operated trail or on any trail area closed to that specific Wasatch-Cache National Forest upon public lands only when on roads, trails or type of vehicle as designated by the land manage- Flaming Gorge Ranger District Evanston Ranger District areas designated “open” for motorized travel by the ment agency or land owner. PO Box 279 1565 Highway 150 S., Suite A appropriate local land manager. Contact the local Manila, UT 84046 Evanston, WY 82931 (435) 784-3445 (307) 789-3194 land manager’s office to see what is open for ORV • Operating an ATV or trail bike off roads or use. trails in a manner that damages or unreasonably Caribou-Targhee National Forest disturbs the land, wildlife or vegetative resources 1405 Hollipark Drive • When on ROADS (Forest Service, BLM, state is prohibited. Pocatello, ID 83401 park or other) designated part of the ORV Pro- (208) 524-7500 gram, operators must have a valid driver’s license; • ATVs and trail bikes must be equipped with the ORV must have brake lights, taillights and approved and operating spark arresting mufflers headlamps if operated from ½ hour after sunset to and comply with sound regulations. ½ hour before sunrise. • No person may enter private land to hunt, fish ResponsibilityResponsibility • When on roads (state, county, local or other) or trap, without permission. NOT designated part of the state ORV Program, an ORV may be operated only if it is street legal • It is illegal to shoot from any motorized vehicle, or Regulation? and has motorcycle plates; the operator must have a EXCEPT for holders of a valid WG&FD Permit and Fish Game Wyoming courtesy Photo motorcycle operator’s license and carry proof of http://wyotrails.state.wy.us for Hunters with Qualifying Disabilities. 50,000 copies of this brochure were printed by the Wyoming Off-Road Recreational Vehicle Program. liability insurance. A special thank you to the State of Idaho for the initial creation of this brochure. WhatWhat CanCan YouYou DoDo toto ReduceReduce thethe ImpactImpact ofof IssuesIssues withwith ATVsATVs ATVsATVs DuringDuring HuntingHunting Season?Season?

ATVs provide many advantages to Here are a few tips: lighter weight and low-pressure tires hunters, and as a result the use of ATVs reduce impacts, ATVs can still do serious • Know the vehicle use regulations for the damage to wet areas. during hunting season has increased area you are hunting. Contact the local dramatically in the last 10 years. While BLM Field Office, Forest Service Ranger • Keep your ATV properly tuned and District, Office of State Lands or Wyo- muffled to reduce exhaust sounds and ATVs have made access to some ming Department of State Parks office for emissions. backcountry areas and big game retrieval travel management information before you go. Respect road and area closures. • Don’t widen single-track trails by easier for many hunters, their increased forcing your ATV down the trail. use has created some problems: • Stay on existing roads or trails. Do not contribute to resource damage and habitat • When overtaking others, pass in a safe and courteous manner. • HUNTER CONFLICT: destruction by creating new travelways for others to follow. Conflict is occurring where ATVs have increased • Limit ATV use in and around camp- Interesting Facts: access into areas that were lightly used in the past. • ATV travelways within riparian zones grounds. Be respectful of other campers’ or on steep slopes inflict vegetation desires for quiet and minimal disruption. • Elk use declines in areas adjacent to • NOISE: damage and soil erosion. Don’t make the These are simple things, but they can go a roads open to motorized vehicles. The sound of an ATV may chase deer and elk away problem worse by continuing to use these from other hunters. This creates hard feelings routes. long way toward reducing the impact of among hunters who used stealth and stalking skills ATV use. They will protect the habitat • Slow-moving vehicles on primitive and improve the hunting experience. to get into a prime spot only to have their efforts • To increase your chances of success and roads and trails are more disturbing to cause less disturbance to hunters around Following these guidelines will reduce the spoiled by an ATV. elk than fast-moving vehicles on you, access your hunting area on existing need for more regulations and help retain the ATV opportunities that currently highways. roads and trails before shooting hours, • CLOSED AREAS: then hunt on foot. exist. Operation of an ATV in areas where they are not • As motorized vehicle access increases, allowed irritates other hunters who have specifically • Retrieve harvested big game during the the quality and amount of elk habitat selected their hunting area to avoid motorized middle of the day (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) to are degraded. An open road density of vehicles. reduce conflicts with other hunters. three linear miles of road per square Travel off trail only if travel regulations permit. mile of land seriously reduces the • OFF-TRAIL USE: value of that area for elk. An open Cross country travel on ATVs can create a network of • Have respect for other users. Slow down road density of six linear miles per new travelways that cause soil erosion and damage or stop your ATV when you approach square mile can reduce elk use to near to fish and wildlife habitats. others on the trail. When meeting eques- zero. trians, approach slowly, pull over and • FAIR CHASE: stop, turn off your engine, remove your Increasing numbers of hunters are actually hunting helmet and ask how best to proceed. • Hunter check station information has with their ATVs rather than on foot. This behavior shown that hunters using ATVs are raises concerns of “fair chase” and can reflect poorly • Avoid the use of ATVs in wet areas or during wet conditions. Even though the often less successful than other on hunting and hunters. hunters.