Trail permit sales down 35%

[Hoosier]

As any good science project requires, you need controls and then the variable to determine WHAT causes the drop in stickers. Gas prices, lack of snow, lack of spare money, lack of wife support of taking time off....the variables are numerous.

Personally I think that you CAN price the stickers too high, such as what Ontario does. Only those who don't care what the cost...who will do it anyway, will find that the cost does not enter into the mix.

I also think that since snowmobiling is an industry, not enough support is extended by the makers of sleds and those who will benefit from folks traveling all over a state. That means that the State should be kicking in to assit when the tickets fall, with the returns paid 25 fold to the state in taxes generated and income production.

Yes, all the folks who take in snowmobiler dollars need to take a good long look in the mirror...

The old ways of doin business is over. You either adapt, or you go away and start knitting socks.

A good comprehensive review of the whole process needs to be completed and some deep rooted changes need to be implimented to get things shook up ....

Most States are afraid to look outside the box.....but sometimes that is exactly what they need to do.

Free sticker weekends would be a start.....go sledding once and suddenly you have a desire to go again.

Modified sticker pricing based upon the duration of the permit.

Sticker free areas???

Cheaper stickers for areas that need a boost in trail use?

How about rebates from a pool of money for those who use the trails all season long when you can document spending $xx for the season?

These ideas are mostly lame but they are exactly what needs to be done to boost sled sales, tourist activity, and promoting winter time sport.

If there is one fault the folks who are in charge of making all these decision has, is that they keep on doing the same stuff they have done forever and can't come up with some good thought to plug the business of snowmobiling. It is a business for all the folks who depend upon the activity it brings. Local areas should be tossin in some bread to pool up resources and bringing on folks that need a nudge to get into the game.

Sometimes we need to get a great kick in the kiester to wake up and smell the coffee.....and in this case the coffee is boilin over and nobody is around to keep the grounds from gettn all over the place.

Great post. Lots to think about here.

 

[whitedust]

Snowmobling is a very expensive sport to own all your own equipment & the only way to limit ownership costs is to rent a sled & ride where you rent which reduces trail permit costs which is already on the rental sled. I would say my riding buddies of 6-10 guys completely changes every 5 years or so. Most get out due to high costs & family time conflicts plus lack of rideable snow screws up many planned trips. So with the rotation of my riding buds all things are new to some riders. I can't convince buds to buy both WI & MI stickers they just won't do it for a weekend ride so most want to stay in WI & register sleds in WI. Not my preference but I can't make them fork over the $45 for a MI trail permit for 1 weekend. A low cost weekend MI permit would appeal to these guys & get them into the UP to spend money.

 

[polarisrider1]

Snowmobling is a very expensive sport to own all your own equipment & the only way to limit ownership costs is to rent a sled & ride where you rent which reduces trail permit costs which is already on the rental sled. I would say my riding buddies of 6-10 guys completely changes every 5 years or so. Most get out due to high costs & family time conflicts plus lack of rideable snow screws up many planned trips. So with the rotation of my riding buds all things are new to some riders. I can't convince buds to buy both WI & MI stickers they just won't do it for a weekend ride so most want to stay in WI & register sleds in WI. Not my preference but I can't make them fork over the $45 for a MI trail permit for 1 weekend. A low cost weekend MI permit would appeal to these guys & get them into the UP to spend money.

My take on this is, "If you don't have the permit money, then you also don't have the money to spend at the businesses either." I would rather see the money go to the trail system then to a Bar that could care less to adding more drunks on the trail. Note: I am not pinpointing any specific Bars, but we all know this goes on.

A Trail permit needs to be factored in for each year before you even purchase a sled. It is part of the experience just the same as gas, oil, lodging, maint., carton of smokes, a new can and cool stickers.

I purchased 5 trail permits for 4 states and Ontario this past laim snow season rode about 1000 off trail miles and about 100 trail miles, sure it wasn't fair to me, but I am not complaining, The man upstairs may even send less next year. It is a roll of the dice and the cost of having fun.

Since we all have so much pie to divy up each year, I gave up cigars from my budget to buy permits with, Makes it easier to breath in the mtns. and momma isn't complaining about the smell of them.

Guess it is a priority thing.

 

[rsvectordude]

Another problem is the younger generation has no problem scanning these permits in and duplicating them in unbelievable fashion. A good scanner and color laser with the right glossy paper and a group buys one permit and a little photoshop work changing numbers around and volla how many do you want. The higher they are the more ways people are going to invent to get around them. I seen them work in person on trail stops and the DNR officer gave a quick glance and on their way they were. Doesn't make me happy knowing I spent $45 on one and they spent around $5 in glossy paper!!

 

[polarisrider1]

Another problem is the younger generation has no problem scanning these permits in and duplicating them in unbelievable fashion. A good scanner and color laser with the right glossy paper and a group buys one permit and a little photoshop work changing numbers around and volla how many do you want. The higher they are the more ways people are going to invent to get around them. I seen them work in person on trail stops and the DNR officer gave a quick glance and on their way they were. Doesn't make me happy knowing I spent $45 on one and they spent around $5 in glossy paper!!

print $20 bills it is easier.

 

[whitedust]

Another problem is the younger generation has no problem scanning these permits in and duplicating them in unbelievable fashion. A good scanner and color laser with the right glossy paper and a group buys one permit and a little photoshop work changing numbers around and volla how many do you want. The higher they are the more ways people are going to invent to get around them. I seen them work in person on trail stops and the DNR officer gave a quick glance and on their way they were. Doesn't make me happy knowing I spent $45 on one and they spent around $5 in glossy paper!!

& you ride with these dudes? lol