As an avid hunter and fisherman, I spend a lot of time in the wild outdoors. In my younger days hiking into my favorite hunting areas was fun and energizing. Fishing in our local streams draining into the valley also was a relaxing endeavor. Things sure have changed.

With the change in trespass laws, it is difficult to be sure what land is accessible and remain legal. Trespassing signs may no longer be needed to be posted to advertise restricted access. Lands and streams where we used to be able to hunt and fish have been sold to those who now bar entry. An explosion of houses and cabins have been built in traditional hunting areas and critical wildlife winter ranges which disallow hunting understandably for safety reasons.

While this decreasing access is quite frustrating, I know quite a few landowners who understandably restrict access due to past damage to land, fences and livestock by uncaring recreationalists. It’s even more perturbing that they report that this damage is mostly from local residents who don’t show proper respect for others’ lands and property.

I appreciate those landowners who have granted me permission to have access. I offer to fix fences when I see issues and report anything I see that they would want to know about. Respect for the landowner’s land, property, equipment and livestock is paramount when one seeks access permission. Sadly, many don’t recognize this common courtesy which may affect access to those who do.

Now that I begrudgingly consider myself a senior citizen, I am finding it increasingly difficult to hunt where I used to hunt and fish where I used to fish due to physical limitations. For the most part I am no longer able to hike long distances, climb mountains or easily pack out harvested animals without assistance. I don’t qualify yet for being disabled in order to use my UTV on the trails during the big game hunting season, but my ability is greatly diminished due to age and physical condition.

We have a wonderful state and federal trail system in the Bear Lake area where ATV’s and UTV’s with wheelbases 50 inches and under can traverse. This has opened up the mountains and foothills to many outdoor enthusiasts; however, it’s a different story during annual big game hunting seasons.

The (ORV) off road vehicle rule adopted by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission restricts these vehicles during big game hunting seasons with some limited exceptions. The rule at face value sounds good in protecting wildlife from those hunting while riding around on these trails, but for those of us who need assistance to travel to our back country hunting destinations due to limited hiking abilities are now not able to do so even if the gun

is unloaded and cased. The same goes for a bow and arrows. There are no such limitations under federal rules on national forest lands. It comes down to restrictions placed on firearms and archery equipment.

My concern is that the rule is simply a restriction on firearms and archery equipment even when one is not hunting. When a bow or firearm is cased and unloaded, no hunting is occurring even while riding in an ORV, or even in a full sized vehicle for that matter so I struggle to see how this can be regulated under hunting rules. The rule is not extended to trucks on back country roads so why should ORV’s be restricted if not hunting during the ride to the hunting destination?

Using ORV’s to haul in camping equipment for a backwoods hunt is an acceptable exception as long as you park the OHV for the duration except for hauling out camp or harvested game. Some ORV users have tried permanently loading their unit with a tent and sleeping bag so if caught they can claim the camping exclusion. I’ve also experienced grouse hunters or recreational riders who are not restricted to using ATV’s during big game seasons drive past me into my big game hunting area scaring off game after I had hiked in that considerable distance. It seems contradictory where one is legal and another is not yet I was negatively impacted.

My sources at the Idaho Fish and Game have told me that the ORV rules are under review and may be modified soon. I understand and support the pros and cons to the issue as they have been explained to me since there are good reasons for the rule even with the consequences to some hunters. Now we await to see what the modifications may be to see if older hunters can be better served and not locked out of the backcountry during big game season.