DNR Patrolling Roads Near Trail Crossings In Vilas

whitedust

Well-known member
I was stopped today by a DNR officer that had his snowmobile in the truck bed while exiting Trail 17 in Phelps & heading home on rarely plowed FR road after I exited an unplowed FR & heading to another unplowed FR all part of my route home from trails. The DNR officer was very polite & friendly & he said Vilas residents do have the legal right to ride roads to trails from their homes. We hit it off pretty well & I got in his truck to look at some neat software maps he had of FRs. He mapped a 2 track that could be a connector for me but required some off trail thru state forests good to know. The officer said he stopped me because the DNR had many complaints of snowmobilers riding roads instead of trails. Whenever we come off a 2-3 day snow event the temptation to ride plowed FRs is tempting to some riders. I think the DNR is ramping up road patrols because we are going into 3-5 days of light snow continuing over the weekend. It was simple for me to prove who I was & where I was going simply by showing my driver license. I would suggest you have some proof of the hotel/resort your staying at if stopped so no problems. This is just a heads up so you know how to handle the situation. :)
 

Banjo Man

New member
Knowing unplowed FR in MI. are legal but cannot figure what is in WI. I will hit an unplowed in WI. every now and then unless it is marked " No Snowmobiles " Only been stopped once just north of St. Germain but let go because DNR was not sure either.
 
L

lenny

Guest
Knowing unplowed FR in MI. are legal but cannot figure what is in WI. I will hit an unplowed in WI. every now and then unless it is marked " No Snowmobiles " Only been stopped once just north of St. Germain but let go because DNR was not sure either.

I think it's the difference of civilization and the sticks
 

whitedust

Well-known member
You are not going to see any DNR on any unplowed WI FRs & this officer had no problems with me riding unplowed FRS & even gave me leads on some other good ones. Trail 17 crosses Indian Road 2x in the area I was stopped. I had just come off the trail via an unplowed FR & had to ride a remote rarley plowed FR to my next unplowed FR connection. I think the officer thought here is some Yahoo riding this plowed FR road either by mistake or or just for the heck of it so he checked me out. I do know what is coming Friday thru Monday with a long period of light snow some people tend to think they can ride any FR more of network of wide groomed trails. lol The FRs will not be plowed until the snow stops so can be very temping. All in all a heads up & how to handle the situation if you are stopped WI or MI. Enjoy the snow! :)
 
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