Friday, October 30, 2009

Agencies launch aerial patrols near Challis to monitor hunter compliance with road, trail closures



Head's up OHV hunters, the public agencies charged with enforcing motorized road and trail closures during hunting season are watching you.

The Salmon-Challis National Forest, the Bureau of Land Management, Challis Field Office, and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game in Salmon worked together to conduct aerial patrols during deer hunting season to check on compliance with motorized road and trail closures.

No citations were issued as a result of the patrols, which were educational in nature, agency officials said.

The BLM has an approved travel plan for the Challis region, and the Salmon-Challis National Forest recently approved its travel plan, but the appeal period was still open when the patrols occurred. The aerial patrols focused on hunting areas closed to motorized use where violations have occurred repeatedly in past years, officials said. These areas included the upper Pahsimeroi River area, Little Lost River, East Fork of the Salmon River and Lost River drainage.

The Challis Messenger reported on a meeting with the Custer County Commissioners, in which agency officials talked about the aerial and ground patrols. Click on the images posted on this blog to read the article from that meeting.

No further aerial patrols are expected to occur in the Challis area this year. Agency officials said that aerial patrols have been used in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest area several times in the past.

Feel free to comment about the aerial patrols in the comments section below.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

New Stay on Trails 4x4 stickers available for free

Hi all,

The Idaho Off-Highway Vehicle Public Outreach Campaign has printed a big batch of new 4-inch by 4-inch stickers bearing the message, "Stay on Trails."

The 4x4 stickers also refer to the Idaho OHV campaign web site, www.stayontrails.com, where riders can find useful videos, information and tips.

Campaign officials included the stickers as part of the fall campaign, thinking that some OHV riders and hunters may want to promote the safe and responsible use of public lands trails by placing the stickers on their trucks, trailers and trail-machines.

The Idaho OHV campaign will distribute the stickers statewide to Idaho OHV dealers, OHV clubs and public agencies.

If you read this post, and you'd like a sticker, please email Steve Stuebner, campaign coordinator, at sstuebner@drakecooper.com.

- SS

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

New hunting tips video for Idaho OHV riders is live

A new hunting tips video for the Idaho Off-Highway Vehicle Public Outreach Campaign and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game is now live on YouTube.



The video explains how hunters can research where they can ride a trail machine during hunting season, the importance of staying on trails, using your power responsibly and being a good trail ambassador.

For more information, see www.stayontrails.com.