THE RIFLEMAN Report post Posted August 14, 2012 this whole thing angers me. I think FS needs a lawsuit to challenge this. I 100% agree with some restrictions but the majority of us stay on trails anyhow. the people that don't aren't going to no matter what the rules are. and I'm angered that roads I've used for 10 years now are closed. now some of these roads yes I agree with. they go nowhere or there are other roads that get u to the same spot. BUT some of the closed roads are the only way to get from point a to point b, but I'm gonna take this up with them by filling out the proposed change form. don't even get me started with camping 10 yards off a road. half my family has asthma and can't sit in the dust from the roads. we have a 5th wheel so its not like we go far anyways but i don't like camping 30 or even 300 feet from certain well traveled roads because of the dust. this whole thing angers me. I think FS needs a lawsuit to challenge this. I 100% agree with some restrictions but the majority of us stay on trails anyhow. the people that don't aren't going to no matter what the rules are. and I'm angered that roads I've used for 10 years now are closed. now some of these roads yes I agree with. they go nowhere or there are other roads that get u to the same spot. BUT some of the closed roads are the only way to get from point a to point b, but I'm gonna take this up with them by filling out the proposed change form. don't even get me started with camping 10 yards off a road. half my family has asthma and can't sit in the dust from the roads. we have a 5th wheel so its not like we go far anyways but i don't like camping 30 or even 300 feet from certain well traveled roads because of the dust. If you don't like the dust just put large rocks in the raod to slow the a$$holes down! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Antmo23 Report post Posted August 15, 2012 More areas closed means that eventually there will be less areas that need patroling.....The FS also wants the revenue from hunters staying in one of their developed "pay" camp grounds! This eventually adds up to more money to buy doughnuts and more time to eat them! Wilderness camping will be a thing of the past in 20 years or less! BIG BRUTHA IS WATCHING! It would also be interesting to know if they are ticketing regular weekend campers or just the evil hunters! Funny you should mention that... We had 3 obvious hunting rigs at our camp and we got a warning, I didn't see him goto any other camp site after ours... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rcdinaz Report post Posted August 15, 2012 "If you don't like the dust just put large rocks in the raod to slow the a$$holes down!" Apparently I need to be more devious. This is brilliant and funny! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coues krazy Report post Posted August 15, 2012 I find it odd that most people have never heard of these new rules. I dont agree with the new laws, but way to many people dont pay attention to whats happening.We as sportsman are to used to things being the way they have always been. If we dont step up, in 10 or 15 years we wont be allowed to be in the woods. If you think I am crazy, just sit and do nothing. Gotta fight for what you beleive in and whats right. Keep up on the politics. More goes on under your nose than you can believe. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GOTMTNS Report post Posted August 15, 2012 We may need to reach out/join with the off roading clubs for the fight to keep roads and trails open, as a member of many of them I can say they have been fighting for the last few years and winning many battles. The bigger the force we have to appear at meetings, raise money for lawyers, get the word out and show we won't take this laying down the better off all of us who enjoy the outdoors will be. I know some on here are probably against the recreational wheelers, but just like us the majority are law abiding and follow the rules. United we stand a better chance of keeping our roads and tlands open, divided we will fall and lose more and more of our lands and rights. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest akaspecials Report post Posted August 15, 2012 I have to say that I'm all for closing down half of the roads in the forest. Right now you can't walk over a mile without hitting a road in most areas. This is absolutley ridiculous and there is no need for that many roads. The animals need sanctuaries so they aren't constantly being chased and harrassed. And I want solitude so I don't have to listen to people's ATVs and boom boxes while I'm enjoying nature. With that said, I am completley against how they are shutting them down and ticketing people in unsigned areas. Forcing people to camp right next to the road is also absoluetly ridiculous. I guess that's why i hike in so much. Once you get off a road you never have to deal with forest service. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Antmo23 Report post Posted August 15, 2012 Some roads, sure, but closing down so many that it's like they created a "wilderness area" is total overkill. I had a few areas in 6A that are hard to get to using to roads, without them it's dang near impossible! And that's coming from a 29 y.o. who works out just for hunting coues whitetails. And all this camping close to roads is going to get me in trouble for indecent exposure, lol. Idk about you guys, but just like a big ole camp fire, pooping in the woods is part of experience, a stinky part, but a part nonetheless. I doubt my neighbor campers are going to want to see that or smell what I ate for dinner the night before... Just my $hitty two cents.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AzHuntingAddict Report post Posted August 15, 2012 I dint think it would be this bad if they would be more clear on what is closed and what is allowable for camping. The maps they have suck to say the least. I can see getting a ticket if it was clearly shown that the area was closed, but to ticket based off of the 30 foot rule is dumb. I have yet to see the FS out, but I am sure I will see them this fall. I like the idea of getting with other outdoor groups and working together to get this resolved. I am with a 4x4 group and will bring this up with them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azshtr Report post Posted August 15, 2012 There are numerous lawsuits going. This is the closest to Arizona http://www.pacificlegal.org/releases/Feds-sued-over-halting-Tahoe-National-Forest-access-for-off-road-recreationists Hopefully the feds will loose and a rippling effect will occure. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naturegirl Report post Posted August 16, 2012 Some roads, sure, but closing down so many that it's like they created a "wilderness area" is total overkill. I had a few areas in 6A that are hard to get to using to roads, without them it's dang near impossible! And that's coming from a 29 y.o. who works out just for hunting coues whitetails. And all this camping close to roads is going to get me in trouble for indecent exposure, lol. Idk about you guys, but just like a big ole camp fire, pooping in the woods is part of experience, a stinky part, but a part nonetheless. I doubt my neighbor campers are going to want to see that or smell what I ate for dinner the night before... Just my $hitty two cents.... That's EXACTLY what I was saying months ago. Some of the areas they closed are very close to the size of the "wilderness areas" in many units. We hike A LOT too (we are not road hunters in any sense of the word), but come on 4 miles is pushing it a little (as a crow flies). And I love the rock idea...hehe. Guess I'm much too nice of a person to have thought of that one Fill out the change forms. I'm going to attach a link here in a new post. If you don't fill one out than, you can't say much more because if we are discussing it here that means we know about it. I'm not on G&Fs e-mail so I did not know about it until right before it was going into effect so I didn't say anything before but I am now. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
couesdiehard Report post Posted August 27, 2012 Well, As I feared and predicted I was scouting in my elk unit in the Coconino on Saturday, and found that nobody seemed to give a dang about road closures or camping restrictions. If I follow the rules I will be at a huge disadvantage, because looks like everyone else will be driving and camping on the "closed roads". Very discouraging to say the least. Didn't see any enforcement personell all day either. Wish I had been able to get a photo of the guys who were setting their tent camp up with a "NO CAMPING" Forest Service stake sign between them and the road 20 yards away! FS has done nobody a favor with these rule changes. The folks who didn't follow the rules before are worse now knowing there are too many closed roads for FS to patrol. Those of us who follow the rules just got screwed some more. On the bright side I did see plenty of elk despite all the yahoos. Not even going to bother going up on the holiday weekend, would just make me want to puke. Good luck to all of you on your hunts. Lee Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
