• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

NHSA

  • Join a Club
  • Snowmobilers
    • Snowmobile NH
    • Registration
    • Trail Map
    • Trail Conditions
    • Snowmobile Safety
  • News
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Grass Drags & Watercross
    • Ride-In
    • Trails Workshop
    • Annual Meeting
  • NH Grass Drags
    • Grass Drags & Watercross
    • Spectators
    • Race Schedule
    • Camping
    • Lodging
    • Racer Info
    • Race Results
    • Vendor Info
    • Sponsorship
    • Swap Meet
    • Directions
    • Fundraising Opportunities
  • Clubs
    • Club Resources
    • Fundraising Opportunities
    • Volunteers
    • Landowners
    • Annual Awards
    • Scholarships
    • Resources
  • Contact
    • Contact NHSA Office
    • Advertise
    • Officers and Directors
    • Committees
  • Shop
    • My Account
    • Cart

Snowmobilers: Stay on Trails or Stay Home!

January 4, 2019 by NHSA

Snowmobilers-Stay-on-Trails-or-Stay-Home

New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Law Enforcement Division is cautioning snowmobilers to stay on the trails this season. The issue of off-trail riding has been a growing problem in recent years. There have been a growing number of complaints from landowners, especially in Coos County, relating to snowmobiles riding off trail.

Damaged Trees

One big reason is the effect on future timber values. As snowmobiles drive off-trail into the deep powder they are damaging small trees by snapping off the tops that protrude through the snow as well as killing trees due to excessive bark damage. The effect on the timber resource is not the only issue.

Snowmobiling within the wintering habitat of moose and deer causes stress during a period of year when they are most vulnerable. This increase in stress and energy use can have fatal consequences.

Snowmobilers-Stay-on-Trails
Landowners threaten to close access because riders are not staying on established trails.

Off-Trail Use Closes Trails Permanently

Finally, the increase in off-trail riding in recent years has led to costly and time consuming rescues for NH Conservation Officers who have to rescue snowmobilers who become stuck in remote locations far from legal trails. “We would like to eliminate this conduct before landowners close off all of their lands including legal trails as well as to protect the wildlife resources and the riders themselves”, said NH Fish and Game Captain Dave Walsh, who oversees snowmobile/OHRV enforcement and education. It is essential that riders respect landowner’s wishes and their land; no respect = no trails!

The vast majority of snowmobile trails in NH are on private land where private landowners have willingly opened their forests and fields to snowmobiling. Public use of private land is a privilege. It has been a tradition throughout New Hampshire for landowners to allow use of their land for the recreational pursuits of others. However, this time-tested tradition is threatened by inappropriate uses of these lands such as off-trail riding.

Conservation Officers Enforce Law

More than ever before, snowmobilers must recognize that they must do their part in caring for the lands they enjoy in order to protect this privilege. Snowmobilers can only ride on trails that are designated and signed as a snowmobile trail. Although many new snowmobiles are marketed and capable of operating in deep powder and off-trail, if it is not a signed trail they must have written landowner permission to ride there. Conservation Officers will be enforcing this law as well as speed limits this season. To learn more about the laws and snowmobiling in NH, visit www.wildlife.state.nh.us/ohrv.

 

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Fish & Game Tagged With: Trail Riding

Primary Sidebar

kurtwicksinsurance

Poll (multi-choice)

How Do You Stay Warm?

FOLLOW US

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Tags

Access Arctic Cat Awards Camp Sno-Mo Charity Clubs Design DIY family Freestyle Fundraising Guest Writer Health History Ice ISMA Landowners Let’s Get Cookin Map New Hampshire Snowmobile Museum NH Grass Drags NHSA Office Polaris Race Into Winter Registration Fees Reviews Ride-In RTP Russia Ski-Doo Snowmobile People Snowmobile Rentals Snowmobile Safety Technology Trail Conditions Trailers Trail Riding Trail Work United Snowmobile Alliance Volunteers Watercross Yamaha

Footer

Shortcuts

  • Purpose of New Hampshire Snowmobile Association
  • New Hampshire Snowmobile Association History
  • NHSA Board Minutes
  • Privacy Policy

FOLLOW US

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • Trail Loss 101: Please Stay on Trail
  • Buying a Cheap Used Snowmobile
  • 2022 NHSA Super Raffle
  • History of the Snowmobile: Lombard Log Hauler and Model T Snowmobile
  • Snowmobilers Pack 2021 NH Grass Drags and Watercross
  • Snowmobile Sales Data for Winter of 2020-2021
  • Test Ride the Polaris Switchback Assault MATRYX

Tags

Access Arctic Cat Awards Camp Sno-Mo Charity Clubs Design DIY family Freestyle Fundraising Guest Writer Health History Ice ISMA Landowners Let’s Get Cookin Map New Hampshire Snowmobile Museum NH Grass Drags NHSA Office Polaris Race Into Winter Registration Fees Reviews Ride-In RTP Russia Ski-Doo Snowmobile People Snowmobile Rentals Snowmobile Safety Technology Trail Conditions Trailers Trail Riding Trail Work United Snowmobile Alliance Volunteers Watercross Yamaha

New Hampshire Snowmobile Association © 2022

 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.