Tonight I took our gator for a ride around our fields and got very angry at what I saw! I got to one field and found that it had been ripped all to hell after the snow this weekend by some f-ing asshole(s) who don't know how to stay the fuck off other peoples property! There are very many places where they ripped up the alfalfa right to the dirt and they don't understand that seed is not cheap, not to mention all the fuel you are burning planting it. Also these assholes think that farmers pay taxes on the land just for them to come along and tear the shit out of it. These people must have spent a whole afternoon out there or something because where there was snow it was packed so hard the gator did not even sink in. Plus they even built snowmen out there. This isn't new though just about every time it snows these people are out in the same field. I am the type of rider that has to be first one to ride after a snow but there have been many times that their tracks have been out there before I get there.

I had to vent a little but these "weekend warriors" from the cities come up to their "cabins", which are nicer than our house, and have no respect for property lines and no trespassing signs. If you have anything to say/add feel free.

Sorry about your field. See if you can pull prints off the snowman.

I totally agree with you. Can I ask if the field is fenced? or posted? I've some across plenty of area that isn't posted and rode. No reason to rip it to the grass tho.


I feel your pain, some people have no respect for a private land owner

yeah i agree. that is not right. i would go with teenagers or family either way it is not right. especially if snow is packed they were there for a while, but the snow coulda settled and froze overnight. like snopro said, was it posted or anything, that would be worse. prints off the snowman is a good one.. haha. i wouldnt say everyone who comes up here trespass (that being i know people from the cities and south), but yes people who would like to "pinch" around and be cool and "carve" probably do. Sorry for what happened, once again a couple people make everyone look bad. It's just too bad...

Had a problem like that before with a family that moved out next to the farm . They would rip it up in the field across from them, which was our family's . So I went over and had a chat with the newbies and explained to the city folk that there is a reason why the signs say Posted no tresspass there are crops in the fields . And let them know that the sheriff will be paying them a visit if it happens again. They never came back on to the property and no more problems happened again. On the plus side they moved away before the end of they year. Had a couple issues last year but this year not one . It was just some throttle jockeys that time. I understand your anger and I know what that can do to a field by destroying it by tearing into the soil and disturbing the crop. And at the price of alfalfa and now a more expensive cost to operate equipment . Yes I know there are idiots out there and you can't always catch'em but it never hurts to say something if you see it going on. Belive me you would help more than you know to a farmer if you were to let them know who it was or help the local fed's with a description and a time if possible. So please stay in the ditch and stay off the fields ....posted or not posted. I hope something develops in the future and ya find out who it was.........later

The field was not fenced but they drove right past a no trespassing sign when they went into the field.

Indyman,
true, not many people respect private property anymore. With an on-going problem like you apparently have I'm wondering if you have any trees or woods nearby the trespass area where you could hide a game surveilance camera.

We had a problem in the Merrifield area with people dumping trash along side a portion of a snowmobile trail. They would drive down the trail from a county road crossing, and throw out all kinds of junk.
Bottom line, the sheriff's dept. put a game cam back there, and found out who was doing the dumping. These cam's are camo-finished,battery powered, fairly small, and have "invisible" infra-red flash for night photo's.
When the cam detects motion, it snaps a picture. Images stored on digital chip. Easy to process in your computer.

My $0.02

Unfortunately I see a lot of tracks going right through areas posted. I don't think the signs are being obeyed like they used to be anymore. When I was younger I looked at those like, I may get shot if I tresspass. Now they just figure if no one is there to see em, I guess it's o.k. BS! Sorry for your field/ property.

I understand your frustration and don't blame you for being mad but don't just assume it's "us weekend warriors from the cities"!

You have to remember "us weekend warriors from the cities" often go to small towns and spend a fair amount of money on food, gas, lodging ect. So we do help keep a lot of small towns going!

Sorry you just hit a nerve with your statement, some of us city folks are very active in our sport and spend a lot of time trying to preserve it!

Amen ZR 600 cc,
I'm also a "weekend warrior" and I hate when anyone, regardless of geographical roots, gives recreational motor sports a bad rap. It's up to all of us to protect what we enjoy from people that are destructive and disrespectful of others. Indyman 19, I understand your frustration but be careful not generalize.

I'm not saying that it's the weekend warriors doing it everywhere but it is here because my cousin has caught them before and has given them a serious ass chewin. I also know that it wasn't someone who lives around us because we are the only ones in the area with snowmobiles and they have been put away for weeks.

I understand your frustration with the snowmobilers riding on the field. I grew up in the cities but spent lots of time at my uncles horse stables making hay. I know not to ride on a active field and to stay off others if not given permission. But, when it comes to the part in your post about city folks and big cabins, I would have to say that you are a "little off base". Yes, there are people from the cities that ride where they should not, but there are other people "like myself" that do not ride on farmland and try be considerate.

Last but not least, what difference is it if they have a bigger cabin than your house? We have a place in northern MN and we pay 3 to 4 times the taxes than the people in town. So, should we bitch? Just my two cents. Sorry to hear about your field.

Thats a shame. Again, sorry to hear this happened, and hope it ends with that.

All Im saying with the big cabin thing is that they can probably afford to ride the trails all day instead of going a half mile away and and spending all day ripping up someone's source of income.

Indyman, sounds like that trail cam may need to pull some extra duty after deer season.

what the hell are you talking about? So if some one has a big cabin all they can do is ride the trails?

I don't know about Minn. but here in Wisconsin, unless it's your own property or you have permission, it's illegal to snowmobile or ATV off marked trails, with the exception of snowmobiles on some road right of ways and un-plowed firelanes,,, that's why there are trails so folks stay on them and off private property ticking off the property owners, if you can't stay on the trails, stay home.


Don

I'm not saying they have to ride the trails, they can ride where ever they want as long as they stay the hell off someone elses land unless they have permission to be there.

QFT. Don't stereotype against us "Weekend Warriors" which help keep a lot of the small towns in business during the winter.

your are absolutely correct Don........but my reply was to one of his other replies that said

QUOTE(Indyman19 @ Apr 14 2008, 08:02 PM)
All I'm saying with the big cabin thing is that they can probably afford to ride the trails all day instead of going a half mile away and and spending all day ripping up someone's source of income.

and I was just asking what having a big cabin (which I don't) and affording to ride on trails all day have to do with each other.

what is QFT?

With the big cabin thing I meant that those people probably have quite a bit of money whereas most farmers in this area are barely getting by and ripping up their fields is just like going into a store and stealing. Both of which take money out of the pocket of the owners.

OK then........now I understand what you where trying to say............it's one of those situations where you are trying to say one thing but it sounds like another thing to different people.....

I agree with you 100% on that!! I hope you don't have a complete lost on the crop this coming season and best wishes. Hopefully you can catch them next winter.

#1. I am a weekend warrier. I get lost sometimes. I'm sorry if I ripped up your land.

#2. My cabin IS bigger than your house. If you want a bigger house than my cabin, stop farming alfalfa.

now that i have that off my chest...your post is two fold. the people that rode on your land are idiots...but they may not be weekend warriers. I know a ton of people that are complete jackasses when it comes to riding wherever they want, and would ride over a neighbors field if they knew they wouldn't get caught.. Don't think that a local wouldn't do that to you.

It reallyis a pretty good crop to have when your a rais'n beef . Your start up cost is a bit steep but your return on the investment and lower operating cost makes a good hearty crop.......IMO ..........enough of this ......chatter . i'm sorry my mistake to start to go off in another direction . This is a sledd'n thread and I'll shut up and go outside and doo some yard work ......Later

Alright, I've had about enough of this "Weekend Warriors saving communites one winter at a time"... Just because you go to any given community and spend some time and money there doesn't make or break them. Maybe a one hit wonder bar in the middle of the sticks, but not a damn community!

You wanna know what drives the Iron Range? Mining. Not snowmobiling, four wheeling, etc.


Get the damn chip off your shoulders and realize it doesn't matter where your from, we're all sledders. Whether you trailer up here to ride or live here. What happened to this man's field is not right, and noone is going to fix it but him. We get stereotyped as snowmobilers and that we are all bad, all because of some kids that make us all look bad.


happy trails.

Easy with the mining shit!! You guys haven't done any real mining in twenty years. The range is flat on its face and the only thing that is going to save the mine is Polymet and some of the new mining that will be taking place in the next few years!! I have a buddy that works at one of the mines and he thinks the workers are a bunch of lazy fucks!!! If it weren't for the people building cabins and retirement homes, how could the local hardware stores and cafes stay open or if the lake crowd doesn't spend money at the gas station. Take a look at Ely they know what makes money for them. It's the tourist. I don't care what the rangers say , they like our money no matter how much they bitch about us.

Thats funny. Record ore productions say otherwise. I am contracted by our local mines. If you care to exchange first hand knowledge....

Anyways, Polymet is being built as we speak for a 20 (twenty) year precious metals mining operation. < this won't save anything, but then again there's nothing to save. Minnesota Taconite, has over a 100 years worth of ore mining left if you wanna spend the money to get it. They just recently announced their expansion at Keewatin Taconite, which will be boasting production 60%. So tell me what precious metal mining is saving?

Since you know so much about the mining and whats happening here... why don't you enlighten us with Mesabi Nugget and Minnesota Steel projects as well????? and the 2 or 3 other projects in the works that are scheduled for start up dates just a year after these.



Anything else? I'm in the trade.

Not towards the Mining area though.

I've talked with many communities up North and they say that they barely survive without any snow. Many people that go up to these select communities are from out-of-areaville. Example, Winter Warriors.

We're not saving communities, just helping support. Don't get me wrong, I really do think what they did to that persons land is bad and should not be condoned. But I also ride other peoples land, of which is Grand-In-Aid, and I stay on the trail.

Edit: Please don't think I'm arguing at you though, just saying my point. We are all snowmobilers though.

Your not a weekend warrior, snowmobiler is more like it!

It just pisses me off when ppl who travel, wherever it may be, think that they are what keeps it going. I'm sure money spent anywhere is appreciated!!!!

You are right there is nothing to save. I guess we will have to buy our orr out of country. Since it is cheaper to buy it from another country and ship it here than it is to produce it here. I guess we have to remember labor is our number one cost. We may have a 100 year supply but we can't afford to go get it when every guy thinks they need $60,000 to lift a shovel.

However, the precious metals mining will be more cost effective and we will be able to compete in a global market. This is the last chance for our mining to regain a foot hold in the market on a global scale.

It's not the cost to get it outta the ground. It's becoming more evident that shipping costs in pellet form are ovewhelming... and now the Minnesota Steel project will put to test making steel right at their site and shipping it in slabs... whether it's most cost effective or not. Time will tell.

Our economy is stronger with our mining industry then anything. If these mines folded up, noone would have reason to live here. It happened when LTV closed, I can't tell you how many kids in school I was in class with moved because their parents lost their jobs. The area suffered a bit loss, and the employee's lost even worse. Retirements half taken or completely gone. People moving away, unemployment rising, etc.

Im sorry to hear that people were out tresspassing on your fields. Are you sure that you aren't over reacting a little. There use to be a farmer up by my cabin that would come over and bitch and get all pissed off every time somebody crossed his alfalfa field. I always stayed off his field because he was the type of guy that would take pot shots at you if he saw you on his field. I made it a point to look at his field when it started growing in the Spring and I could never see any evidence of snowmobile tracks after it started growing. The only reason this guy was bitching was because the guy was a prick. I'm not saying it is right to go on other peoples property but as far as screwing up your crop unless they were grass dragging on it without any snow it will grow just like the rest.
Riley

there are many spots that were ripped up right to the dirt. i don't think that will grow back.

Even though what I'm about to say is complete bullshit....and I know it....it's the truth.


If you don't want people riding on your property, you need it completely fenced off and marked very well. It sucks that it has to be this way, but with many people in this day and age, they just do not give a shit about anyone else or their crops.

Signs just don't cut it. So sorry to say, but..............I don't even want to say this..............It's your own fault for not having it fenced off.

Ely makes money off tourism BUT IT AINT the snowmobilers that keep Ely in business.

Saying Polymet is gonna save the range is like saying opening a McDonalds in Grand Forks is gonna save North Dakota.

Foreign demand for steel is driving the mines and they are running full speed ahead. So much so that they figure in a few years the Iron Range will not be able to handle the workforce demands and people will have to come in from out of area. When the mines are rolling such as now, MANY other spin of businesses are also doing well.

Snowmobiling is a very small part of the Iron Range's economy. Opening weekend of fishing probably has more economic impact than every weekend of winter combined.




owned

what was the main topic again?

Bold --


I guess some people just don't understand... although the economy as a whole in this country seems to be on a downhill slope... around here it's just not so bad, being the mining industry drives so much of it. Some people just don't see ALL of the contractors that serve these mines. Literally hundreds of contracting outfits serve our mines across the area, which in turn give thousands of people jobs in the area. It's a detrimental impact on our society if something happens like LTV's closing...

I agree, we need to keep the mining going. I am a big fan of trying to keep as much industry in the US as possible. My line of work has a lot to do with the steel industry and I want to see it grow. I am glad to see the efforts they are taking to keep the jobs and become more productive. But, we have to admitt mining in MN has had a big slow down in the last number of years. Now that China is building infostrucure like we have never seen it is helping us out a bit.

I have a place up there on the range and have been proud of the industry in the past and not so sure about the present. From what you have said and what I have experienced, things are looking up for the mines in the future. But I still stand that there are small towns that count on the tourism to help put food on the table.

It has been a good convesation thank you!! Sorry for taking over the post and getting off topic!!

No hard feelings, just a POV from someone in the industry, right here. Lol.

No worries just having converstaion!! Have a good summer and I will be up to enjoy the area and try to help the economy by buying gas and food and other goods.

If you are game you should check out the floatilla at Bayview on Vermillion on July 5th!

I've seen the pictures, but personally never been to it myself. Something about being just straight wasted and being in a boat.... afraid I might swim to the bottom


Maybe a water skip in July would be a cool addition? haha

lol - weekend warriors make up the majority of profit for sales. They also make up a majority of farming profit, when you dudes flip land that has been govt taxed poorly for the last 20 yrs, and turn it into a few million dollar development.

no one i know would stop and build a snowman, guessing on the edge of your property?
Guessing its your neighbors?

...

Yeah it was close to the edge of our property but it couldn't have been our neighbors because none of them own sleds.

Our neighbors have an abandon farm that butts up against our property. They live 30 miles away. One year, we wanted to log off some of our land and instead of going over half a mile on our land through fields and creeks, we asked her (it's her mom's land and he's just married to her) if we could drive on their driveway with the logging equipment. (it was 300-400 yards) She said yes that's fine. The loggers had to clear logs across the driveway and in the yard to get through, no big deal. So I was ripping around on the 4 wheeler and watching them log and I drove through their driveway and saw an old orange jeep or something sitting in the yard of the farmstead and two guys standing there by it. So I went over there to talk to them and it was the guy and his son. (the owners husband) He asked me what i was doing and all that. Then he said "get off this land and if I ever see you on this land again, I'll shoot you."

So a couple years later, this guy comes to his land and sees his gate knocked down and a 4-wheeler highway going into the property. So the doorbell rings at my parents. He askes me if I've been back there and i said no. (which i had been once, but just to see what the tracks were all about.) I told him that it was our neighbor kids. So he went over there and talked to them. The mom said "you are just picking on us 'cuz we are Indians." So appreantly they can go anywhere they want cuz they are indian.

Before this they were leaching another neighbor's pond without permission. Driving almost a mile through fields and field roads to get to this pond. Before that, the dad was running an outfitting business without a license. He fished out our lake by himself. He would take home 5 gallon buckets of crappies and sunny's every night. And the only way to get onto the lake was to go through the adandon farmstead mentioned above.

They have since moved back to the Turtle Mtn Reservation in ND.

I don't understand some people. I agree with you 100% Indy.

That is in the works. We are looking for a pontoon we can modify to launch off the front, do a circle and ride back on. That or launch from bayview and take a lap. LOL The only problem is the Fuzz is pretty thick that day!!

Ya, the boats are pretty thick too lol. Would be easy to modify it as a landing pad if you wanted... just need a crank down pad hinging i into the water about a foot...

i still dont get why a sledder would stop and build a snowman. Us weekend warriors ride, eat, poop, ride.

Not necessarily in that order.