atv trails and memberships ?

[blasted_saber]

Here you can use trails to fish, hunt or access your land if it does not cross anothers private land, without a permit. There is no part of the trail here that crosses private.

For the majority of ontario's population trails do cross private property. Vermillion Bay is a lot different then southern and central ON.

[Matt Walker]

All good points for consideration.

Point of reference, I'm a fisherman, have been since I was a child, generational if that helps with perspective.

I fish about five weeks a year North of North Bay, and I've been camping and travelling Crownland for the past 25yrs, always practice no trace camping, and have been travelling these, un maintained/logging roads and Queens Bush Trails, and up till about 3yrs ago, I was never questioned about what I was up to, in the recent past it seems every time I leave the pavement someone flags me down in/on a Jeep/ATV and my intentions, keeping in mind I'm driving a Jeep with a boat and Camping gear for a weeks stay, as well I drive in, and I drive out a week later, not like I'm doing any major back country travel.

I had one young guy tell me I was trespassing, and recommended that I purchase a permit first.

These Clubs are good if this your thing, but I don't believe that they're non profit, or as honourable as they would have you think.

Someone is making serious money, from selling land use permits for land they don't own.

[dutchhunter]

that is the nice part of having a trapping lic ,we can us all the trails on public land with out there lic .Dutch

[chris lavoie]

Trails in Vermilion Bay use to cross private but about 8 or 9 years ago they moved all trails to crown.

[ginochipchip]

sorry guys on way home from a install
i was thinking the trails on scotch line minden area and the trails near black river
there is some nice spots to go camping there with my family fish and huntmy atv is for fishing on the lake when water is hard but finding other uses for it.
thanks all
gg

[Savage308]

As a former director of one those ATV clubs and as a former warden I have a few small things to add to this discussion. Snowmobile clubs have provincial support and a whole lot of years building the industry as it is today. Atv clubs are only supported by it's membership revenue and it is truly a burden just trying to build a trail on a volunteer basis alone. More often than not you here complaints about why are there not more trails connected, why can't I use the trails built by another ATV club? The answer is overly simple, people expect the trails to be there ready to ride and go for miles without interruption instantly, but are not interested in the actual making of the trails. The dangers of which can be extensive. As far as permits go, I personally can't be bothered with them, just as soon as you buy one they start hounding you for volunteer hours and club participation. Don't get me wrong folks, if it's your thing to be a part and contribute, go for it. I had some of my greatest moments within that venue. But it's more important that you know the LAW put upon rider by the police forces and each municipality.
Wear the gear, be plated and insured, I never once stopped or sent anyone back out of the woods as a trail warden. If it's plated and insured, you are wearing the safety gear, mindful of the laws I doubt you will ever be charged and if you do it rarely stands up in court. One more thing I really think you ALL should be aware of, the insurance the clubs claim to provide you, only protects them. If you get hurt, or you hurt some one else it can and will fall back onto your house insurance policy. You are wide open to law suit!! Beware, be safe!

[Pat32rf]

Our biggest problem around here seems to be that few people know what is Crown versus private. There are landowners with thousands of acres of land that OFSC trails cross, but it is PRIVATE land. There are also corridor trails that follow rail beds or hydro lines that are PRIVATE. There are miles of trails where Land Use agreements have been signed with the townships. These might as well be private. There are miles of OFSC trails that are signed AS IF they are private, but are on Crown Land.
It is only the later that you can use to access back lakes, hunt camps etc. South of Bancroft there are hundreds of acres and dozens of lakes, interconnected with groomed trails where you can use whatever you want, whenever you want, except when there is a car rally running. Up by the park there are trails where a club has a signed agreement with a township covering TOWNSHIP owned property that you will need a permit to use. This is not Crown, but township owned land....and classed as private.