Bartram Lake Trail

[Angela]

We had a report today that the first 1/4 mile of this trail leading from Lake Springs back towards Petersburg was in disarray. Someone had broken or bent over several saplings across the trail. They had also pushed a large rock onto the trail. Finally and most disturbing they had gutted a deer leaving coagulated blood, innards, a head and legs right there on the trail. Use caution while riding this trail, always wear orange, try to ride mid-day not near sunrise or sunset and please report anything incidents like this so they can be reported to the proper authorities.

[lostagain82]

the sunday that i meet the hunters they were walking up the gravel rode the one you ride a little ways on they said that it was a hunting club that lease the land around the trail is the trail on private land seems like you could hold the hunt club responsilbe

[terryg]

I can vouch for the report as I rode the trail today (sunday). They had also knocked down the trail signs and placed them across the trail. Some real nice hunters we have.

[Angela]

Unfortunately hunters are like mountain bikers (and actually any group) a few bad apples can give the whole bunch a bad name or bad reputation in a community. We just have to keep our eyes and ears open and report these instances as quickly as they occur. Hopefully the responsible hunters out there will also be on the lookout for these bad apples...........just as we try to educate bikers who might be doing destructive things that won't be well received...... they don't want to lose rights and privileges because of a few bad ones either.

[chileanrastabilly]

Anybody got Bounce fabric softener?

[Paul]

The ACOE have been notified and they are investigating. Please post or send me an email if you see any other damage to the trail.
[e-mail]

[joxur223]

Maybe they read my redneck hunter comment and got offended!

I usually pack my camera if I notice anything I'll take a pic of it.

[Angela]

Alright............I'm biting........what is the Bounce fabric softener for???

[chileanrastabilly]

The Bounce has a strong "human" scent which deer can pick up very quickly. It is difficult not to be ignorant when circumstances like these arise. Hopefully the COE can do something about it. I cam upon a coon hunter the other night while nightriding. He was very friendly and not at all bothered by me being out there. Go figure.-M

[Angela]

Maybe some of them just "know" that if those $#%# mountain bikers hadn't scared off all the deer they would have had at least three 8 point bucks hanging in their freezers by now.

[wienerdog]

That's the same area where we saw a group of 4 hunters shooting like mad just for the heck of it not 15' from the trail Sunday afternoon January 23rd. We were wearing blaze orange as was my Great Dane and we came down the trail yelling, "don't shoot!". The hunters were of course not wearing orange. They didn't seem all that surprised to see us and their kid made "meowing" noices at my dog (which she ignored). Not wanting to mess with people of questionable intelligence with guns, we just rode on. I just figured they didn't quite know where they were. Umm...isn't this area also close to a campground? Are they *really* allowed to be shooting there? The were gone when we returned down that portion of the trail, but it was pretty unnerving that they were that close and shooting randomly.

So has anyone heard anything from the hunt club? I really like this trail and having my dog run along behind me is really getting her in shape for the spring agility trials and flyball tournaments--not to mention gives me a (false) sense of security when it's just two women riding. But that was a smidge dangerous!

Judith