Burnett county summer funded trails season closed, fall rules apply

Summer funding season is over as of sept. 15th, however all the trails do remain open. No grooming is done until spring again. You may however still use the trails, and even other parts of the county forest that were closed during the summer season. Simple rule of thumb is...If its at least 8 feet wide you may operate your atv on it, unless signed or bermed for no atv traffic. This means most of the county forest can be rode on an atv during this fall period.

Remember that the trails are now open to trucks and any other registered vehicles. Watch for hunters using trucks on the trails

From September 16 through November 30, you may operate your ATV/*UTV on existing logging roads, fire lanes, and snow trails located on County Forest Land, as long as they are not bermed, gated, or signed as closed. These trails are currently multi-use trails and are not being maintained this time of year.

Clark County ATV Trails Open!

Click here for the PDF.

Date: 9/16/11
Clark County Forestry and Parks

Clark County ATV Trails Open!

Please remember to check trail updates before you plan to recreate as trail conditions do change throughout the open riding season. Clark County Forestry and Parks strive to provide diverse and extended recreational opportunities for everyone but trails being open are never a guarantee.

Clark County ATV Trails Are Open. ATV trails will remain open until October 31st. Trails are closed Nov 1st through December 15th.

Clark County is now part of the state UTV pilot program; UTV’s are allowed on the Clark Co ATV trail system starting in 2011. Please refer to www.wiutv.org for additional information – that is wiutv.org.

Off trail riding and excessive acceleration will not be tolerated and citations will be issued. These types of actions lead to substantial long term damage and high cost of repairs. Please use good judgment and ride responsibly to help protect the trails.

• Trail from Intersection #16 to Intersection #17 will remain closed for this season of summer ATV use. These sections of trail will be open for ATV’s & snowmobiles during the winter.
• Trail from Intersection #2 to Resewood Ave has been removed from the ATV Trail
System. This section of trail is now managed by The Neillsville Snowmobile Club.
• UTV’S/Side-by-Sides Clark County is now part of the state UTV pilot program; UTV’s
will be allowed on the Clark Co ATV trail system starting 2011. Please refer to
www.wiutv.org for additional information.

Visit the county website at www.co.clark.wi.us for updated information or Contact Clark County Forestry & Parks (715) 743-5140.
STAY ON TRAIL!!
Clark County Forestry & Parks
517 Court Street
Neillsville, WI 54456
715-743-5140

In effort to boost local economy, ATVs allowed on Tomahawk roads

http://www.wisconsinoutdoorfun.com/article/20110829/WOF01/308290081/In-effort-boost-local-economy-ATVs-allowed-Tomahawk-roads?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s

TOMAHAWK -- Motorists within city limits will now share some city roads with ATV riders.

Last month, city officials approved a measure that allows the all-terrain vehicles within city limits. In the past few weeks, officials installed road signs that alert motorists to look for ATV riders.

Mike Tolvstad, director of public works for the city of Tomahawk, said the change in regulation is an effort by officials to provide a boost to the economy here.

In the past, ATV riders were limited to ATV trails, which kept them away from local businesses, Tolvstad said.

One local restaurant owner said many people are not yet aware of the new provision, particularly tourists who vacation in the Northwoods. He's eager for ATV riders to use the new designated ATV city trail to access downtown.

"People are just starting to learn the (new ATV) trail," said Bill Schulz, co-owner for the Pine Tree Supper Club, a restaurant on Wisconsin Avenue. "We're really looking forward to next year when people from down south come up and visit the trails."

Schulz's brother Fred Schulz, who also co-owns the restaurant, already is taking advantage of the new ordinance. He has driven his ATV to the restaurant nearly every day since the measure was approved.

ATV drivers now can come into town on Mohawk Drive, Leather Avenue, Theller Drive and Kaphaem Road.

Phil Rausch, president for the Somo Area ATV Club, said he helped draft the map, which is intended to provide an access point into the city from local ATV trails such as the Harrison Hills ATV Trail.

But the new law comes with restrictions, Rausch said.

ATV riders are not allowed to use Wisconsin, South Tomahawk or East Somo avenues, but can access the downtown restaurants by riding on the alleys, Rausch said.

"It's a means of getting from point A to point B," Rausch said. "It's going to help bring business because now (riders) can stay at the hotels and ride again in the morning."

WATVA Video Recap

Something new here at WATVA... Video recaps!

In this video recap, President Randy Harden goes over the past few rides from around the state and upcoming bills / program changes.

DNR hopes to hire about 12 to help fill statewide vacancies

Taken from: http://www.wisconsinoutdoorfun.com/article/20110811/WOF08/110811048

DNR hopes to hire about 12 to help fill statewide vacancies

MADISON – Men and women passionate about the outdoors and the environment interesting in helping to protect Wisconsin’s natural resources should apply to become a state conservation warden during a warden recruitment period under way through Sept. 2, 2011.

The Department of Natural Resources expects to hire about 12 new conservation wardens in an effort to fill existing vacancies in the state’s warden force of 206 officers. The recruit wardens will begin their formal training in March 2012.

“Many of our veteran wardens are at or nearing retirement so we need to move forward as soon as possible to hire their replacements,” Darrel Waldera, training director for the DNR Bureau of Law Enforcement, said of the ongoing recruitment. “By the end of 2011, there will be 30 vacant warden positions throughout the state, with more than 15 more wardens eligible to retire by the end of December 2012.”
With the department’s budget finalized for this fiscal year, Chief DNR Warden Randy Stark says he is “pleased we’ll be able to continue filling some of our vacant warden positions. Considering the current economic conditions we feel very fortunate to be able to hire new wardens.

“It’s important to start the hiring process now so our new wardens will be ready to be placed in local communities around the state by the middle of 2013, after the recruits complete their first year of training,” Stark said. “There’s a lot of important work to do in the coming year recruiting, hiring and training quality candidates who will be the next generation of wardens charged with providing public safety and protecting Wisconsin’s natural resources.”

What does it take to be a Wisconsin Conservation Warden?
"We need men and women with integrity, strong verbal and written communication skills, and an interest in enforcing the regulations that make Wisconsin a healthy place to live and recreate,” DNR Training Director Waldera said.

But those aren’t the only criteria necessary to become a state conservation warden. Well-qualified candidates must meet high standards and be able to successfully withstand the scrutiny of a thorough background investigation.

Applicants must be at least 21 years old and have a valid driver’s license. In addition the minimum education standard is 120 academic college credits. However, candidates who have at least 60 credits can apply if they have worked at least 2 years as a certified law enforcement officer. “People who are interested in a warden position need to understand these are the minimum hiring standards,” Waldera said.

Besides the educational requirements, a clean background and an interest in protecting people and natural resources, candidates also must have solid interpersonal and communication skills needed to work with a wide variety of people from various cultures who use natural resources in a changing society.
“Much of a warden’s day-to-day work puts him or her in contact with people,” Waldera said. “Whether checking folks to see if they have the proper permits for certain outdoor activities, following up on a complaint or conducting a boating or snowmobile accident investigation, wardens must be skilled at putting people at ease, maintaining control of the situation and getting the job done professionally.”
The DNR Bureau of Law Enforcement’s mission statement calls for protecting, enhancing and promoting the safe and wise use of natural resources through enforcement, education and community-based wardening that guarantees fair and equal treatment.

“Conservation law enforcement is also about life long learning, being adaptable and having multi-cultural competence,” Waldera said. “There is a strong component of conflict resolution, a capacity to build community relationships and the determination to try and solve problems in our efforts to fulfill this mission.”
Application and examination materials are available online through Sept. 2, 2011. People without computer access may visit local public libraries or Wisconsin Job Service offices to access the application and examination through computers at those locations.

If you have questions about the hiring process, please contact Sherry Van Haren at the Bureau of Law Enforcement, 608-266-2174.

The Gandy Dancer Trail is now OPEN!

The Gandy Dancer Trail is now OPEN!!!!

Remember, the Gandy is open to bicyclers and hikers ONLY in Polk and Burnett Counties.

Thank you for your patience while we were getting the trail cleared off!

Kari Letch
Burnett County Forest & Parks

ALL Burnett County's ATV/UTV* TRAILS ARE NOW OPEN!

***THE BRIDGE OVER THE ST. CROIX RIVER ON THE GANDY DANCER TRAIL IS CLOSED TO VEHICLES OVER 1,000 LBS. GVW UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE***

All ATV/UTV trails are OPEN!!! PLEASE ride with caution as recent heavy rainfalls may have caused some washouts in areas.

These trails will remain open for the season UNLESS a Red Flag Alert for fire danger goes into effect.

Please note: It is illegal to ride your ATV/UTV on the Gandy Dancer Trail in Burnett County south of highway 77 at any time.
A BIG THANK YOU goes out to our clubs who worked extremely hard, and for many hours, to get the numerous trees off of our trails since the July 1st wind storm!