Tag Archive for 'MN DNR'

Temporary off-highway vehicle trail closures aim to protect riders and hunters

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on October 28, 2009
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Courtesy of the Minnesota DNR:

DNR NEWS - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2009

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) forest trails and
access routes will be closed to off-highway vehicles (OHV) at times
during November to protect recreational riders from potentially unsafe
riding conditions and to minimize conflicts between deer hunters and
recreational riders during the 2009 firearms deer hunting season.

The trail closures apply to the use of all-terrain vehicles,
off-highway motorcycles, and off-road vehicles, such as jeeps and
four-wheel drive trucks, by recreational riders on state forest trails
or non-designated forest access routes.

Licensed deer hunters may still use these routes in conjunction with
their hunting activity:
• Before legal shooting time.
• From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• After legal shooting hours.

Effective dates of the recreational riding restrictions will be:
• Nov. 7 through Nov. 22 for the northeastern Minnesota 100 Series
deer season.
• Nov. 7 through Nov. 15 for the Minnesota 200 Series deer
season.

Because recreational OHV trails located in southeastern Minnesota close
Nov. 1 each year, no additional OHV riding restrictions are necessary in
that part of the state.

While many recreational OHV riders have voluntarily opted not to ride
forest trails during deer hunting and small game seasons, recreational
OHV riding has become a year-around sport for many. That is why Holsten
reminds everyone who visits Minnesota’s state forests this fall to
always put safety first.

For more information, see the 2009 firearms deer season zone map posted
online at:

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/outdoor_activities/hunting/deer/2009/zone_map.pdf
or call 651-296-6157
or 888-646-6367.

Media contacts: Colleen Coyne, DNR communications director,
651-259-5023; Patricia Arndt, Minnesota State Parks planning and public
affairs manager, 651-259-5578.

Safety still #1

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on June 5, 2009
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Congrats to Richard “Dick” Parker of Grand Marais!

Safety has to be on the top of the list for ATV’ers.  I’ve seen Youth Safety Training sessions increase on the IRON RANGE over the last couple years with no chance of slowing down.  The DNR and Iron Range ATV clubs see the need and are responsing with more and more sessions available for our young riders.  For more info you can contact me or the DNR website, the link to the website is below.  Safe riding everyone!!

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/vehicle/atv/index.html

Planning to ride during hunting season? Practice safety first.

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on October 10, 2008
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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!

Continue reading ‘Planning to ride during hunting season? Practice safety first.’

Still lots of fall color & weather to enjoy!

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on September 26, 2008
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Nashwauk RideNashwauk Ride in the Rain

Some of the best fall colors are yet to be seen!

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.

Next weekend we’re turning North again!!!  Hwy 5 Bar and Grill, Side Lake, Viking Bar and maybe even the Wooden Table if time permits.

ATV Park Expansion Planning Continues

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on July 14, 2008
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From the Minnesota DNR:
Planning resumes for OHV recreation area expansion at Virginia

The public is invited to share their thoughts about the design plans for the addition to the Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area (OHVRA) with citizen advisory committee members and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resourcse (DNR) at a committee meeting on Tuesday, July 22.

The meeting will be at held at 6 p.m. at the Mountain Iron Community Center, 8586 Enterprise Drive South, just south of Highway 169 between Mineral Avenue and Mud Lake Road.

The 11 members of the advisory committee will discuss recommendations for developing and using this new 2,500-acre site near Virginia. Project planners and site designers will also share their recommended design plan for the site. They will also summarize issues and options that they considered in selecting a final design plan.

Public review of the proposal will continue until Sept. 15.

“The Iron Range OHVRA has been operating on former minelands near Gilbert since 2005,” said Les Ollila, DNR regional trails and waterways manager in Grand Rapids. “The Legislature authorized the addition of the 2,500-acre site east of Virginia in 1999, but planning was slowed by continuing negotiations with land and mineral owners.”

When completed, the Gilbert and Virginia sites will be linked via an OHV trail under Highway 135. Both sites will feature recreational trails and riding areas specially designed for OHV use. Construction on the Virginia addition to the OHVRA is expected to begin in 2009, following revisions to the facility’s master plan and completion of a project environmental assessment.

To review draft site designs or to submit written comments, contact DNR planner Brian McCann by calling (651) 259-5627 or toll free 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367), or at brian.mccann@dnr.state.mn.us. The DNR Web site, www.mndnr.gov or www.findthetrails.com and have more information about this proposal.