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Post by BEN on Aug 3, 2013 9:36:40 GMT -6
We need to make it clear to the Forest Service that we want the National Forest land in MS to be open to our off road vehicles. I know it's not like rock crawling or mud bogs, but it's still a way for us to get off concrete and do a little day ride. The FS is revising a lot of how things are run and what kind of vehicles are allowed or not allowed on the land. There are a lot of National Forest trails out there that are currently closed to vehicles. Do we want to keep it this way? I was talking with a guy the other day and he led me on to this.. saying we need to make it clear how we feel about the National Forest land. The government would really like to take all motorized vehicles (atvs, suvs, sxs, whatever) out of the land for good. I know this doesn't seem like much to some people but if we lose completely here, we are only starting more domino reactions. Personally, I'm going to see if I can turn someone on to B2B in the government with our local and state reps... show them how we are a stand up group in the off-road community and that we do charity work. I want to see if we can create a relationship with our rep and show them who we really are. We need to create relationships and try to get someone to stand up for us. read about it here.. www.sharetrails.org/alerts/2013/02/11/mississippi--fs-releases-proposed-management-plan-and-deis-for-comment
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Post by Jackrabbit on Aug 4, 2013 7:20:28 GMT -6
Keep us informed Ben your doing a great job.
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Post by pentacleus on Feb 19, 2014 13:13:19 GMT -6
I'm Mississippi. Any updates ? How can I help?
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goochy
Junior Member
Posts: 93
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Post by goochy on Feb 19, 2014 15:51:45 GMT -6
Good Luck , I helped FIGHT Holly Springs National Forest . Many meetings and Thousands of dollars down the drain . There will never be a riding area ( even dirt roads ) in Ms . Very sad .......
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Post by pentacleus on Feb 22, 2014 23:00:13 GMT -6
Goochy - did you by chance use to ride a husaberg dirt bike?
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goochy
Junior Member
Posts: 93
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Post by goochy on Feb 23, 2014 7:37:03 GMT -6
Yes , I did . Now KTM 350 . Last fight with Holly Springs , we had a meeting in Senatobia with the Rangers over Holly Springs . They said it was still OPEN, we had good meeting with maps and ideas . I get in the truck drive to the riding area , and the US State Park Police ( not rangers ) , was kicking people out ! The white dude , torn down a sign that said " OPEN TO RIDE , Must be 56 in or smaller " right in front of this young kid . The officer said " I DID NOT TOUCH any sign " " It was NEVER there " He scared the kid to death , he was VERY rude . In the end 3 hrs sitting there , we could NOT ride anymore , even though the rangers a few hrs before said we could ( I had it in writing !! ) He kept putting his hand on his gun !!! Long story short , WE lost the riding area ....... and HE LOST HIS JOB!!! because of he handled us and talked to the young kids .
Good luck with any area to ride !! I Jeep , Mountain Bike , and dirt bike . SO I need more places to play !!!! I will help again in anyway I can. But I just have a bad taste in my mouth about Ms ..... they lie ....
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Post by pentacleus on Feb 23, 2014 22:42:55 GMT -6
That's a shitty story.
It amazes me that out west (Utah, CO, Montana, and others) there is an over abundance of places to go, to play, to spend time with your family, to teach your kids how to appreciate this beautiful country and planet. In the 10 yrs I've been in the Mem area it seems like a requirement that every acre is purchased and locked down. I've spent hundreds of hrs looking places to ride, hike, bike, kayak. I've scoured over GIS maps. Ridden dual sport bikes around looking for the remote dirt road. I just don't understand how areas do not exist for public use. And it pisses me off.
But I'll tell you what really gets on my last nerve. When you do find a nice place to play, you look around and it seems like every redneck is using it to dump trash! Theres a place locally that a roofer is using to dump shingles torn off. (Side note: i cant wait to catch this guy doing this). Which takes me back to one of my original points. If you have no place to teach your children to respect the land, then they will not learn, as is quite apparent
I think I need to move west and thanks for your effort and sharing the story. Btw I test rode your husaberg when you were selling. I ended up buying a ktm due to better mpg.
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goochy
Junior Member
Posts: 93
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Post by goochy on Feb 24, 2014 6:13:39 GMT -6
I remember ya ! Glad to talk to ya again !!
worst part of the story , Holly Springs National Forest asked the Memphis Motor Cycle club , to GPS every trial and fire road in park . I was asked to be on of the 2 groups . 4 guys in each group spent a couple weekends working hard to find trails and GPS the trails . Sounds like FUN to ride the closed trails again , but it was a lot of stopping and my friend making points in his GPS . I just knew the trails , so I was the leader and he worked the GPS . We got ALL the maps done , printed off ..... lots of work ... Then the park said " THANKS , now we KNOW where everyone rides , " ITS STILL CLOSED " thanks for your help making us maps " We were used ......... MMC club has 2 books that are about 10 in. thick , where they worked with the park for 10-15 years , making bridges , picking up trash , trail work , all history books now . paper weights , very sad ....
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Post by mpdxtreme on Feb 24, 2014 15:44:12 GMT -6
Not sure if this is related but years ago there was a place at Arkabutla lake to ride 4 wheelers. It was only rideable when the water was down but it was a lot of fun. Well a new (dick)Head ranger took over the Vicksburg district and told everyone that 4 wheelers were for work and hunting not recreation and that the lake bottoms were closed. They issued fines and did all kinds of enforcement and eventually closed the area to riding.
I seriously hope that that same ranger hasnt moved on to another area of MS. Now I am an officer and I will say this, this Ranger was a total prick. He was rude, unprofessional and borderline bully. He had the Barney complex. He got real pissed at me when I said to a group "don't make him madenough to take his bullet out of his pocket."
Greg G
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Post by mike on Feb 24, 2014 19:17:31 GMT -6
They still allow riding on Sardis and Enid lake beds but Arkabutla is still off limits unless your hunting or fishing
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goochy
Junior Member
Posts: 93
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Post by goochy on Feb 24, 2014 20:33:25 GMT -6
I also fought the fight with Arkabutla !!! We did trail work , picked up trash , and they still closed it !!! I loved his quote in the meeting .... " Arkabutla , lake is filling IN , because you off roaders , make the mud wash in from the banks after a rain " REALLY !!!!!!!!! Arkabuta is and always will be a MUD HOLE !!
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