Controlled-Use Land and All-Terrain Vehicles

The closer we can get to a game animal, the easier it is to take. Access to game is a serious issue for the future of wildlife and game management.

• Before modern times, people hunted on foot. In Alaska, hunters learned to use dogs to pull sleds. Hunters could hunt farther from home and bring back heavier loads. When hunters have more access into an area, they become more efficient predators and the number of animals taken increases.

• Many hunters enjoy using all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and snowmobiles to travel into good game country. These hunters enjoy the challenge of riding these vehicles over rough terrain.
• Wildlife managers have set aside areas where hunters can use motorized vehicles to access hunting areas. Alaska’s wildlife managers have also set aside areas where motorized access is tightly controlled or even prohibited. In the Alaska hunting regulations, these are called “controlled-use areas.”
• All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are special-purpose vehicles that require careful, responsible handling and good judgment.
  • They’re useful for traveling into back country, but they can damage the environment if used recklessly. They also require training and practice to handle them safely in rough terrain.
  • Studies show that the majority of ATV accidents occur when the rider unexpectedly encounters an obstacle, such as a rock or a ditch. Maintaining a safe speed is critical.
  • If you use ATVs to hunt, prepare yourself and your family by attending an approved ATV course.
  • Before hunting with ATVs on private land, be sure to get the landowner’s permission.
  • Always follow the rules for safe and ethical operation:
    • Wear a helmet.
    • Carry firearms unloaded, cased, and on a proper gun rack.
    • When using the plastic scabbard mounted on an ATV, clear the inside of the scabbard of debris and check your firearm’s muzzle for obstructions.
    • Stay on the main roads and trails.
    • Pick your route carefully to minimize terrain damage.
    • Don’t shoot from an ATV.
    • Use ATVs only to get to the hunting area or to haul an animal from the woods.

Considerations When Hunting With All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs)

• In many states it is illegal to hunt from any motorized vehicle, including ATVs; this includes molesting, stirring up, or driving any game animals or game birds with a motorized vehicle.
• It is illegal in some states to operate an ATV off the trail, or there may be trails specifically closed to ATV use.
• In many states, it is prohibited to operate an ATV off roads or trails in a manner that damages or disturbs the land, wildlife, or vegetation.
• Some states require that ATVs be equipped with approved and operating spark-arresting mufflers and comply with sound regulations.