ATV's And Hunting - Why?

I remember when I was young my grandfather and Ichanges in direction as the animal makes its way
would go into the woods, and as we would make ourthrough the woods in their haste to retreat to a
way through the flora and fauna he would encourageplace of safety.
me to be as quiet as possible, so as not to "spook"With the advent of the use of the 4-wheeler or
the animals. We would not talk, only speaking inATV by hunters, it seems that people have
whispers, which were kept to an absolute minimum,forgotten how to walk into the woods. My
and we would use rudimentary hand signals tograndfather, one of the best outdoorsmen that I
communicate. We would listen for the sounds ofhave ever known, would not have even considered
birds, the snap of twigs, the rustle of leaves...allusing an ATV to go into the woods to hunt. Mind
indicating the presence or absence of animals aroundyou, ATV's were before his time, but even if he had
us.one, I know he would not have used it. Using
Today, hunters load up their ATV's, and barrel offsomething that made that much noise (or "racket,"
into the woods, making somewhere between 96 toas he would say), was quite contrary to his method
101 decibels (different sources cite different noiseof hunting.
levels, based on manufacturer, engine type, mufflerI understand why people use ATV's to get to their
type, etc.) of noise. Certainly, this is quite thedestinations. They get you there more quickly, thus
contrast from how I was raised.allowing you to have more time in the woods. They
I ask myself, how much more would people see ifprovide you with a means to transport your kill back
they abandoned their ATV's and walked into thewith little effort. You can carry all you "stuff," yet
woods, the way my grandfather taught me to do?another plus, no doubt.
In our fast paced world, even our trips into natureSurely, however, one realizes that the animals hear
have to be rushed...or do they? Can we not chooseyou coming, and hastily depart. What's more, it takes
to slow down, be quiet, and hunt or observe, orat least 20 minutes of little to no movement or
whatever else you want to do in the woods, moresound, for the natural ebb and flow of the forest to
quietly?return to normal after someone walks through a
As a tracker, it is interesting to look at animal trackslocation. Let's face it folks, animals, particularly the
after hunters go into the woods on ATV's. I have"big ones" are not stupid. (How do you think they
seen numerous examples of places where animalsgot to be "big ones" in the first place?) A very loud
have been startled by the sound of the approachingATV is a dead give-away to animals that someone
vehicle, and their reaction is amazing. How do I knowhas invaded their space, and that it is time to take
this? I've watched it happen. I could see the deer oncover.
the hillside begin to run as the ATV went up the roadATV's have their place, so I do not want anyone to
cut into the hill just above them, the hunters obliviousmisconstrue that I am opposed to their use, because
to their presence, and I watched the deer react.I am not. Having said this, I do hope that it is
After everyone had left (deer and people inclusive) Iapparent that I personally do not endorse their use
then went to investigate their tracks.as a tool for hunting, all for the aforementioned
When looking at the tracks, you can visually see howreasons.
the startle registers in the animal tracks. You can tellSo, the next time you are considering venturing into
the difference between tracks when the animal isthe woods, either to hunt or to watch "nature in the
non-excited, and when they become startled. Therewild," try walking instead of riding. Its better exercise
is "confusion" in the tracks, for lack of a better wayand you will see a lot more elusive wildlife,
to describe it. Their gate changes, along with variousguaranteed.