Why is there Wilderness Laws?

[coues32]

Just wondering why there are Laws about no vehicle travel in these areas?Two years in a row I have called The Game And Fish and reported other hunters riding their atv's miles into the Wilderness.And get no one to show up.I use atvs also to get around but obey the Laws and walk into this area.These guys blew out almost every deer in the country and we barely took the deer that we hiked over 3 miles one way to get.

 

This year a couple of the guys I hunt with contacted the officer for the unit and another Gov. agency and they said it was to far to go in there.This is a bunch of Crap, they are illegally taking game.G&F have airplanes that we probably paid for, and could easily spot these guys.

 

This happen to anybody else?

[DesertBull]

I think you should be calling the USFS insead of G&F.

Of coarse, if you tell the G&F the violators are leaving a trail of $100 bills, they will probably be there within minutes.

[coues32]

Its on BLM land and they were contacted also.You think 4 to 6 atvs to confonscate would be worth something.

[sgha]

What unit is it in? I would contact the warden for that specific unit and really give the what for (nicely of course) and offer to meet him out there when the problem is occuring. Just my .02

[runningbird]

yep had the same thing happen this year elk huntin in 4b, every morning 4 guys just drove around the gate and headed back to hunt. we were riding our bikes the 5 miles back and they would just pass us on by. also a few miles up the road we had a fella take a bull we were calling in with a cross bow. this guy was not a limited hunter by any means. we called 3 days in a row and even told where we were camped hoping g&f would stop by. no response.

[mattys281]

yep had the same thing happen this year elk huntin in 4b, every morning 4 guys just drove around the gate and headed back to hunt. we were riding our bikes the 5 miles back and they would just pass us on by. also a few miles up the road we had a fella take a bull we were calling in with a cross bow. this guy was not a limited hunter by any means. we called 3 days in a row and even told where we were camped hoping g&f would stop by. no response.

 

 

They've been making a real effort to designate mountain bike trails in the National forests as the popularity of that activity increases, but in an area that is designated as "wilderness", they are not allowed either. No mechanical access is permitted. Here is a clip from general regulations found on wilderness.net

 

General Wilderness Prohibitions

Motorized equipment and equipment used for mechanical transport is generally prohibited on all federal lands designated as wilderness. This includes the use of motor vehicles, motorboats, motorized equipment, bicycles, hang gliders, wagons, carts, portage wheels, and the landing of aircraft including helicopters, unless provided for in specific legislation.

[Coach]

That's pretty strange. Most of the closed wilderness areas I've encountered specifically state that they are closed to "Motorized" travel, not "Mechanical". I wonder what areas in AZ are closed to bikes without being explicitly marked as such.

[mattys281]

I've been into the Bear Wallow, Galiuro, Superstition, Woodchute, & Kendrick Mountain wilderness areas, that I can think of off the top of my head. Every one of them had a little plackard thing at the beginning of the trail that showed the little pics of the Jeep, Mountain Bike, & Motorcycle w/ the circle & cross out on them, indicating they're not allowed. Foot & pack animal access only. They also usually have a little info center right at the trailhead with a sign-in sheet that has notices on it, and these also usually explain what access is allowed and what isn't. The ones around Bear Wallow Describe in detail why mountain bikes aren't allowed, and that they have established numerous other trails in the national forest that are specifically designated for mountain bikers. I can't speak for every wilderness area in the state, but mountain bikes are off limits in all the ones that I've ever been in.

 

However, it is important to note that these are all federally designated wildernesses that I'm refering to. The rules for state designated wilderness areas, such as the White Canyon & numerous others, may be different. There are also pieces of land that are designated as "primitive areas" and, again, come under a different set of regs.

 

I used to be pretty into mountain biking when I lived in Prescott & had some friends that were into it. They always complained because they felt it was unfair that horses were allowed into the wilderness & they weren't. From what I've read it seems like the main reason the bikes are kept out is to preserve the wild atmosphere, which is what most people go into wilderness areas to enjoy. There are also trail errosion issues that are caused by the long, uninterrupted tracks laid down by bikes on soft or muddy stretches of trail. The tracks gather run-off & quickly become ruts on popular trails. One bike wouldn't be an issue, but imagine if they were allowed on the Peralta trail or any other popular route that saw thousands of users per year.

[runningbird]

well the area I was referring to does allow mnt bikes, just no motorized vehicles, but strange to me snow mobiles are allowed

[Diamondbackaz]

Bikes were ruled a mechanical device and are illegal. My brother is a hard core mountain biker and that is what he told me.

[muskrat]

I have noticed lots of spots, where the "no vehicle" thing is ignored. One great example is along Ironwood. North of the "real" dirt bike track is some land, I believe State Trust Land, that is festooned with "No Offroad vehicle" signs. There are tons of quads and stuff in there - they even set up tailgate picnics, campers, sun shade things, etc....

[AZP&Y]

Bikes were ruled a mechanical device and are illegal. My brother is a hard core mountain biker and that is what he told me.

 

AzDiamondback is correct.

Recreation - Wilderness Areas support a wide variety of recreation uses that are consistent with protection of wilderness characteristics. Recreational uses in wilderness include activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, backpacking, camping, nature study, photography, and climbing. Bicycles and other forms of mechanical transport are not allowed in Wilderness Areas, since they are prohibited by the Wilderness Act.

 

The majority of AZ wilderness areas have these Carsonite (fiberglass) posts. Not all have them. But the same rules apply to AZ wilderness areas.

 

http://www.blm.gov/nlcs/wilderness/faq.htm

azP&Y