To me it's just more BS, I ain't buying it.

Yes. To harass the elk they used hikers who hiked towards radio collared Elk until they got up and ran away. They did not use ATVs from my understanding, just hikers.

That’s my point. Unless ATV riders are chasing elk, I wouldn’t think riding would classify as harassment or cause a reduction in calf mortality.

How hard is it to see and admit

...moose were doing well - Before wolves increased for decades Unmanaged

Its just 2 and 2

Not denying or disputing that at all. I just had the thought and wanted to run it by the people who have experience around moose, just to set my mind at ease.

I believe that noisy and constant human activities during ( sensitive times) can have impact on species and that impact would be wildly variable dependent upon the species. Almost all species have young during the spring time and it seems that wolf pup survival is not impaired by those activities. As to WI, MN, MI and moose? We would also need to review grouse, wolves, whitetails, fisher, marten etc. We also need to remember that our actions that can severely reduce certain species success can greatly increase that of others. This has been ongoing for centuries and is never an issue until it becomes one regarding the politics of either popular game species on one side and endangered species on the other end of the spectrum.

Bryce

Sure wish Illinois would figure that out too. We have to quit hunting at 1pm during turkey season.

Oh I underthat... Your questions were valid

A study was done with radio collared elk that showed if an atv was driven to within a mile of the elk they would move. They had to pass laws here to prevent riders from intentionally harassing bulls in early spring to initiate the shedding of antlers. The laws were not effective enough so they closed the areas to shed hunting till May?
Now I know none of the members of this forum would do such a thing but there are a lot more “sportsmen “ that aren’t members than are. The numbers of roads in the forest that have been gated to prevent abuse by atv and sxs in the last few years is probably 60% or more. In many areas the only USFS roads that remain open are the main through roads. No doubt in my mind that letting people drive/ride any where they want is detrimental to elk deer and antelope recruitment. When I moved here twenty years ago and before that in Montana and Arizona it was common to start seeing scat and tracks of elk 1/4-1/2 mile from the nearest road. Not so much anymore unless the terrain or vegetation prevents orv travel.
I own and use a four wheeler and snowmobile but have never had to worry about getting a ticket for their misuse
like hundreds of people do each year. People are lazy and you wouldn’t believe thousands of people that ride around all day and think they are hunting. Rant over.

If elk move because they hear an atv a mile away ( I doubt I could hear one here 1/4 mile away in woods) there ain't much hope for them. What do they do when an airplane flies over or they hear a farm tractor. Helicopter would probably give them a heart attack. Glad moose ain't that jumpy.

P.S. Good thing there are no Airboats. I wish I could run away from those!

The number one reason the Moose population is dropping in Mn is Wolves. I own 40 acres 35 miles north of Duluth and have a few cameras out and about. I run my AtV a mile in to get there and all over on my trails. I consistently get pictures of Moose and calves yearly on my 40. However the calves rarely live for a year. There are very few deer in the area and now shack owners talk about seeing tracks, not even deer. I get pictures on average one or a pair of wolves at least every7-10 days. The Moose are not bothered by ATVs, but if the young get eaten before they are old enough to reproduce, the population declines. If I can figure out how to post pics, I’ll put some on of the young calves from this summer and the govt dogs that eat them.
Gary

A pack of wolves wont eat just a calf.Their main target is the adult moose,and of course if there is a calf with the cow it is finished also.
Lone black bears however will target and eat only calf moose.They are not nearly as successful a predator on an adult moose as a pack of wolves is.
Wolves do eat bears too when they get one in a burn or a clearcut.

That would be some good photos

The study "projected' 100% calf mortality. Not found, seen, recorded, documented etc. They "Think" it may happen. While it may indeed happen, lets see some proof. Most of these studies are done with a ton of bias. Anti's are involved in a lot of similar studies to try any way they can to reduce hunter numbers.

Isnt shed hunting restricted in western states for the same reason, not to stress the elk during that season?

I am a Forester that helps manage a 30,000 acre tract of industrial forest land. We used to lease the property to 15 different hunt clubs.
Lessees and others ATV use ran rampant over the entire property. The environmental impact of atv’s Was substantial, and the deer population suffered because there was no place hunters could not reach.

Now there is a conservation easement on the property and with that a ban on ATV’s. From my observations as one of the land managers, it’s the best thing that has happened on the property.

Well, the ATV's make it a lot easier for fat, lazy guys to shoot grouse off the road/trail...that's for certain. But, I guess they'd just shoot them out the truck window anyhow.

My son and I went camping in the UP after the National in Escanaba a couple years ago. Found a primitive campground off the beaten track. Beautiful, pulled in and had the whole place to ourselves. We were pumped. He rode his bicycle all over, I picked up fire wood. Hour or two later...it started. From far off we heard engines growing louder. Here they came at Mach I0. Quads, sidexsides, dirtbikes and even small Jeep. Gravel flying dust blowing right past the campground. Son was told no more bicycle and even two farm boys like us understood why this place was empty. But they eventually went on by....round 2 commenced shortly afterward, same as before. We wanted to move on but it was getting late and we stuck it out. Otherwise no way any living being would want to be around that nonsense.

Spot on imo.