NY, NJ, PA, VT, NH & ME area

[cwo4beal]

I live in central Maine and own an 09 Ranger 700 XP. We have many open dirt roads in the northern part of the state that allow ATVs. I also belong to the local snowmobile club. The problem with using their trails is that most of them pass over private land. The snowmobile club works with the land owners to develop and maintain the trail systems, but ATV owners here have no clubs and some of them do cause damage to the land. No farmer likes to find that an ATV has been doing donuts in his prime pasture land. Irresponsible ATV riders have caused us to lose several good snowmobile trails by spoiling our relationships with the land owners.

In the north, many dirt roads pass through pulp timber land and are owned and maintained by paper companies. In most cases they don't mind ATVs, but you have to be on the lookout for oversized logging trucks travelling 60 MPH or more. It's their road so you have to get out of the way.

In winter, like now, we use ATVs for ice g. I live on a lake with crappie, trout, pickerel and bass. It's great to be able to ride out on the ice with all your gear and fish for the day.

We also use ATVs for hunting. There are many roads, again up north, that are open to upland bird hunting in October and November. We pack our dogs and shotguns in the Ranger and ride for miles looking for good hunting areas. Of course, in November we hunt deer and bear, and earlier in the fall there is moose hunting by lottery. These machines are perfect for that, too.

[GRAZOR]

Welcome cwo4beal.

Interesting handle you have as I know a very favorite place, Beal's Lobster Pier in SW Harbor.

I have spent many fine vacations up near Rockwood and Moosehead Lake and driven many miles on the Golden Road up to Seebomook and Pitstons Farm. That is some of the most beautiful country on the east coast. Do they allow RZRs to drive the golden road?

Post some info about where it is that you can use your UTV so I can decide if a future vacation might include the RZR.

Most of the land owners here have completely shut us ATVers right out and for the same reasons you mentioned plus because of the idiots who treaspass and then file major law suits when they get hurt.
If I didn't belong to a hunting club with lots of land then I would not even consider buying an ATV/UTV here in NY.

Nice to have a "Vacationlander" here at the PRF.

Gary

[utvracr]

Welcome to the PRF.

I spent a lot of time around Jackman in the fall hunting.. I agree that there are many roads that are and would be perfect for riding..

I seem to remember that a couple of years ago the state limited riding to designated roads ( signs posted ) or those that you have written permission to ride.. I know that around Jackman most of the roads are NOT available.. Has that changed recently..

You can forget trying to get permission from the paper company.. They have no problem with you riding their roads ( cars/trucks ) or hunting their land as long as they do not have to get involved ( paper work ).. The only restriction was there was NO hunting around an active logging site/crew.. Avoiding the logging trucks is the local sport and challenge.. It's their roads and they have the right of way.

I too would love to vacation in that area and ride the golden road and others if they were opened up..

Once again ,, Welcome

[ranger4hunting]

I live in NWPA and we ride our local (NOT State ) back roads that are mainly dirt as long as we don't tear them up. Unfortunately the younger generation doesn't comprehend how good they have it and at time have been known to do donuts, power slides and burnouts causing the locals to complain of the ruts in the roads which will eventually cause a ban on riding on our roads. I've talked to the parents and I get "well they have no were else to ride" so lets cause problems and bite the hand that feeds ya, I'll never understand some reasoning. I ride to work on my atv and love it and hope this will never change but only time will tell.