Disrupting Hunting and Fishing | Many sportsmen who use off-road vehicles while they enjoy the outdoors, are increasingly outraged at irresponsible off-road vehicle riders who are ruining fish and game habitat in the backcountry. Irresponsible riders are scaring away game for hunters and destroying fishing strams by breaking down banks and washing silt into once-pristine streams. Worse, some riders are using off-road vehicles to poach game. For example, in Ohio, a former poaching gang leader was recently caught with his off-road vehicle and eight untagged deer (see a photo of his illegal kill here).
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The Increase in Reckless Off-Road Vehicle Riding Disturbs Hunting & Fishing - Sportsmen are Growing More ConcernedAccording to a survey conducted by the Izaak Walton League of America in July and August of 2007 of state wildlife and fisheries managers: - 83% of wildlife managers say that they have seen "resource damage to wildlife habitat" caused by ORVs, following closely behind by 72% who cited "disruption of hunters during hunting season" as another impact from ORVs.
- 61.1% of surveyed wildlife program managers agreed or strongly agreed that "ORVs negatively impact hunting and habitat in my state," while 0% disagreed or strongly disagreed with that statement.
- A total of 57.2% of state fisheries managers surveyed agreed or strongly agreed that "ORVs negatively impact fishing and fishing habitat in my state." Only 7.1% of survey respondents disagreed with that statement.
- A majority (53.3%) of state fisheries managers surveyed believe that existing standards do not adequately protect fishing from ORV impacts.
- A plurality (47.1%) of wildlife managers surveyed believes that existing standards and protections in their states do not adequately protect hunting from harmful ORV impacts.
The League contacted all 50 state wildlife managers and each of the 50 state fisheries managers. A total of 34 agencies, representing 27 different states from all major regions, responded to the survey. "Hunters put so much effort and money into habitat protection and
restoration and then that habitat is damaged by off-road vehicles."
-Sportsman in Oregon quoted in the Statesman Journal,
08/08/2007 "Hunters Take on Illegal Off-Roading" Related NewsRelated Links
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