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haul road atv use.
Posted by fullkurl on Oct 09 2005
I've kicked about road hunters and ATV slobs, and I'll probably take heat for this...Pardon any rambling.
Although I was up there and did the 5 mile + hike in and the effort paid off, I couldn't help thinking while I was up there looking over thousands upon thousands of acres of tundra that something could be done to allow for atv or snowmachine use up there. A snowmachine would leave no trace.
The 5 mile distance is extreme--outrageous really. Why couldnt the corridor be two/three miles? Obviously thats a different subject.
When considering the Dalton corridor, we tend to think that its simply "just work"--to get in and do it, then get out. But how about those who simply can't do this type of hunt? Bad backs, bad knees etc... Those of us who do this stuff easily don't think about those who can't. Just getting up there is work! Any asthma sufferers out there? Try the Steese or Taylor lately--you'll feel like you smoked a carton a day. Try the ten mile pleasure walk up on the Dalton-with a load. Ahh, refreshing!
I'm no liberal, (I call tussocks "Hillaries") and I firmly believe we should work for our supper, but ATV use could help those who have no access, or cant afford the gouging fees of an outfitter or transporter. How about military folks with limited time? Many of them are lucky to hunt at all!
We were forced to hike in up there because of the outrageous costs of transportation. No hike=no meat. Guides and air/boat transporters are LOVING that walk-in corridor!
I believe it could be done. I hunt the Steese for bou and the atv hunt isnt perfect, but it works overall.
Maybe it could be said that those who most decry gov't/state intervention are advocating exactly that!
This IS my state Bushrat, and I'd like to access more of it with the tools I have. Do you have an ATV, snowmachine, boat, plane etc?? I really respect you for your lifestyle, but do you enjoy doing whatever you please out there? Hopefully you do, after all, you are probably out there to avoid the rest of us. :) Just like many are in Alaska to avoid the rest of "them".
The ATV hunt could work up there--perhaps on a draw permit with a token fee to fascilitate a trooper to oversee it. Perhaps two trails could be used, without the option of diverting from these trails. And heavy fines for violations! Heavy fines.
Overall, the hunt could be a far cry less than the cost of a fly out hunt, and it could insure meat in the freezer for a family that can't do 10 miles, or can't leave work at the drop of a hat to hunt the Taylor, or Steese.
Yep, I'm a guy who relishes a 25 mile walk-in sheep hunt.
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