What is it about a snowmobile

That makes normally law abiding people think they can go anywhere? Let me say that I love riding them, but don’t own one because the snowmobile season in MN the last 10 years is about a week and a half long. I know a lot of people that ride often, but for some reason when law abiding people get a sled under them the trespass law gets tossed out the window. Hey fresh snow, I got to go thru that. Drives me nuts!! Every farm field that no one would even think to drive a wheeler or truck thru any other time of the year is now open to the public if it has snow on it. And of course I live next to a farm field and as long as the field is open to the public this guy next to it won’t mind if I run over 20 or 30 of his 1 year old seedling trees. After all, they have a nice layer of fresh snow on them that no one has touched yet. I know, I should put a sign up that says “seedling trees, stay off”, but that would clash with the flippin no trespassing sign that is 10′ away. I swear if I loose one more seedling to a snowmobile I am going to plant land mines.

I know not all snowmobile guys do this and appreciate the ones that don’t! Sorry for the rant, but I just watched a guy last night do this to my seedlings and his buddy followed right behind him, so I am a little miffed today! Unfortunately at 40-50mph I wasn’t able to stop them or catch them after. All I could do was

Have you tried calling the Sheriff when you see them?

Agree. I see all too much of individuals driving right past no snowmobiling signs or stay on trail signs near my house. The actions of some give all a black eye.

What makes it even worse is the fact that snow leaves tracks that are a constant reminder of the abuse of the system. Not necessarily that a snowmobile causes damage but the fact that there was a trespasser or someone not obeying the laws remains for everyone to see. If a wheeler drives on grass it goes unnoticed by most unless they feel the need to tear things up.

I have not, it’s always different sleds. There is a major trail in the ditch in front of the property so we get a lot of traffic. Maybe I should, but it would be a needle in a haystack for the sheriff.

Getting the Registration # is KEY. If you get that, and preferably a couple pics proving they were there, you will have no problem in having them prosecuted for trespass and accountable for damage.
We had that with a few when we did our forestry restoration project. Dang, the cost of labor to replace a sapling is pretty dam expensive!!

Snowmobiles… ATV’s… it’s more about the person and not the machine. They are called douchebags

I’m a snowmobiler and I don’t do that. Usually its younger males. You know how they can be.

suzuki wrote:

Usually its younger males. You know how they can be.

The same ones that I introduce to Sparky when the want to date my daughters Then for giggles, they get to see a bench group I shot with it at 400yrds its amazing how quickly they become very respectful

probably 98 percent of us do not. unfortunately we all get the bad rap for the idiot 2%.
25″ of fresh snow in Hurley. when you heading up Mike?

You could always mark a bunch of your seedlings with some 2″ gas pipe?

That would frustrate me for sure too, but be careful of putting anything out there that could injure someone or cause damage. I realize you are likely joking, but the last thing you need is a lawsuit.
If there is a way to get their registration somehow, maybe a trail cam setup or even if you happen to be there when they are doing it. That would be best.
I had a sled for years and the temptation of fresh pow is relentless, but I wouldn’t ride on someone else’s land especially if it were posted.
That’s just asking for trouble. Enough land owners get fed up as it is which causes trail closures.

steveo wrote:

probably 98 percent of us do not. unfortunately we all get the bad rap for the idiot 2%.
25″ of fresh snow in Hurley. when you heading up Mike?

Oh man!! Still trying to eke out a living in Trego this weekend. I knew we should have trailered!

Put up a barb wire fence?

red89 wrote:

Put up a barb wire fence?

thought about it, but 11 acres of fence is pretty labor intense and expensive, plus I don’t want to deter deer from coming onto the property.

sticker wrote:

I have not, it’s always different sleds. There is a major trail in the ditch in front of the property so we get a lot of traffic. Maybe I should, but it would be a needle in a haystack for the sheriff.

Maybe put up a single piece of yellow or orange plastic caution tape between field and trail?

I’ve always put this down to some snowmobilers who have the mindset that the snow is “protecting” the ground, so they aren’t hurting anything by trespassing because, hey, they aren’t even touching the “real ground”.

Personally, I think it’s worth trying the “seedlings planted” signs. If only because that tells anyone thinking about taking a run out in that field that they’re risking causing real damage and that might give some the feeling that someone would be coming after them to pay up. Again, if they think it’s just a fallow field, many of these guys think no harm, no foul so you might see some reduction if you put signs out there.

The unfortunate reality is that only a barbed wire fence is going to produce real protection when you have a trail right there.

Grouse

How long is this section of seedlings? Maybe place some of that orange snow fence in front of them in the winter? You may even be able to leave the posts in place during the summer if they aren’t too intrusive.

I saw Menards has some that even has a yellow printed caution strip at the top of it.

I would get with the club that grooms the trail by your farm. Talk to them about your problem. They have or can aquire signs that would be placed by your property to help protect it….

bigpike wrote:

I would get with the club that grooms the trail by your farm. Talk to them about your problem. They have or can aquire signs that would be placed by your property to help protect it….

I agree. The club that grooms the trail will get after it. They will put up signs to further discourage riders from going off trail. I have seen it work.

That said, after a long time away from the sport I started riding again 5-6 years ago. I have been amazed at how well current riders do in following the rules. I have two trails that run on the edge of one of my fields and have never had an issue with riders going off trail.

That does not solve the problem you are having, but I have seen bigpike’s advice work, and it does not cost you a penny or any additional work.

Good luck,