Slow opener??? I seen more ATVs in the back of trucks than Deer!!!
If you’ll be in the woods this weekend like me, please be considerate to other hunters. If you shoot a deer in the morning, you might have to have a buddy help you drag it out as opposed to your ATV. Below I’ve posted the most recent reminder from ATVAM and the MN DNR about special ATV regulations for deer hunting in our area.
Good Luck and Be SAFE……..
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ATV and other OHV riders: Riding restrictions start with Firearms deer season opener (November 5, 2008).
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds off-highway vehicle (OHV) riders that new recreational riding restrictions will be in effect for the duration of the regular firearms deer hunting season. This restriction is intended to protect recreational OHV riders from potentially unsafe riding conditions and to minimize conflicts between deer hunters and recreational riders who may unintentionally interrupt the hunt.
The restrictions apply to off-highway vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, off-highway motorcycles, and off-road vehicles such as Jeeps and four-wheel-drive trucks that are not being used in conjunction with deer hunting by a licensed deer hunter.
In the northeastern Minnesota 100 Series deer season, the recreational riding restriction will be in effect Nov. 8 through Nov. 23. In Minnesota 200 Series deer season, the recreational riding restriction will be in effect Nov. 8 through Nov. 16.
(The 2008 Series deer season map is available at www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/deer/index.html under Maps.)
The riding restrictions do not apply to OHV use by deer hunters possessing a valid firearms deer hunting license. They may operate an OHV during the following times: before legal shooting time (one-half hour before sunrise); from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and after legal shooting hours (one-half hour after sunset). Wearing blaze orange is recommended during the firearms deer season when visiting Minnesota’s forest lands, said Capt. Mike Hammer, Education Program coordinator for the DNR Enforcement Division.
“See and be seen; it’s a common sense thing to do,” Hammer said. “The DNR urges all hunters heading afield for the firearms deer season to think about safety first.”
Planning to do some riding during hunting seasons?
With the early “special weekend” deer and bow hunting season going on right now, lots of people have questions about ATVing. I’ve posted an update from the Minnesota DNR (found below) that explains the regulations during hunting seasons. In summary, the rule is that there is limited time during the day that you can ride during the “regular” deer hunting season. There are no riding restrictions during the day for early deer or bow hunting season.
That being said I do encourage riders to respect the hunters and try to keep from scaring possible game away!!!
We’ve been out riding recently and came up on bird hunters, we stopped and talked to the hunters and determined that they were headed in the same direction as us. After talking with the hunters we were able to take a different route to our destination. The hunters were more than happy and appreciated the fact that we cared enough to just ask how there day was going and let them know we’d take a different route so we didn’t jump any birds that might be on the trial ahead.
A SAFETY TIP for everyone in the woods this time of year - Wear a blaze orange vest, hat or anything that will enhance your visibility in the woods!
We had a great time at the Fire Days Parade in Chisholm! As the pictures prove, the adults weren’t the only ones having a great time. The KIDS probably had more fun than us. The weather was great this year and I thought there was double the people this year than last.
Usually the kids are confined to riding big circles around the yard because of there age, but we let them ride along this year. Even though we didn’t get much faster than two mph everyone had a good time. Anyone interested in more information about upcoming club events or even joining the club, our new club email address is northerntraxxatvclub@yahoo.com.
From what I’ve seen and heard from the DNR, early October will be good as it gets for fall color on the Iron Range.Get the updated fall color forecast for yourself here.
The ride to Nashwauk was awesome! As you can see from the pictures we hit a little rain along the way, and it was perfect timing. We ended up on the ATV trail from Hwy 73 (Lucky’s Bar area) to Pengilly. The trail consists mainly of an abandones railroad grade that gets pretty dusty if you don’t hit it just right.Most of the time you end up riding about 100 yards apart and pray for a crosswind to keep the dust out of your face, but (of course) the rain came just as we were getting to the dusty grade.
I noticed some fall colors poking through already as I ride around! I saw a short clip on the news about it and they said it could be an early fall due to the long stretch of little or no rain. It was a dusty August on the trails and it forced me to try stay in the woods and on the weed-covered trails as opposed to the abandoned railroad grades or dirt trails.
This weekend, my plan is to head west and south instead of my typical east and north route. We’ll start in Hibbing and make a stop in Keewatin to meet up with more riders, head south to Bil-Mars Supper Club for dinner, then west toward Nashwauk, ending up in Pengilly before finally heading home. I expect some awesome views this weekend!
Back to the Fall Colors…..when it’s not real dusty, the abandoned railroad grades are a great place to go looking for new views and to find fall color. When it is dusty, some of my favorite riding is the powerlines. Some of the best places we’ve ever stopped to admire the fall colors are on the ridges and hills that the area’s powerlines follow. For the most part, you can ride across the whole Iron Range if you know what powerlines to follow (watching for posted private property and unsafe riding of course).
Where are your favorite scenic spots on the Iron Range???
Oh, don’t forget your Jacket and Gloves from here on out!!! The forecast is predicting 70 degrees during the day but LOW 40s in the evenings and early mornings. Fall is here!
