Off-highway vehicle restrictions to begin during firearms deer opener

Off-highway vehicles for recreational use will be restricted in some areas of Minnesota during the state’s firearms deer hunting season, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said Thursday.

The restrictions, which apply to state forest trails and access routes but not to state forest roads, are to protect recreational riders from potentially unsafe conditions and minimize conflicts between hunters and recreational riders.

"The 2020 riding season has seen many new OHV enthusiasts hitting the trails for the first time, and many of them may not be familiar with these longstanding temporary closures," Bruce Lawrence, recreational vehicle coordinator for the DNR’s Enforcement Division, said. "If you know someone who’s new to riding this year, we encourage you to share this information with them."

Affected vehicles include all-terrain vehicles, off-highway motorcycles and registered off-road vehicles, such as four-wheel-drive trucks that aren’t being used in conjunction with deer hunting by licensed hunters.

Licensed hunters can still use the routes in conjunction with hunting activities:

• Before legal shooting time.
• From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• After legal shooting hours.

The restrictions are in effect from:

• Nov. 7-22 for the northeastern Minnesota 100 Series deer season.
• Nov. 7-15 for the Minnesota 200 Series deer season.

No restrictions are necessary in southeastern Minnesota because OHV trails there close by Nov. 1 each year.

You can find more information on the restrictions here.