2009.04.20
Any hunters affected by the Patterson Creek road closure?
Another reporter and I are working on a piece on off-roading, including how illegal "mud bogging" recently forced the U.S. Forest Service to close a road in the Patterson Creek area.
I know Patterson Creek is popular hunting area and I'm looking for a few hunters who may have been affected by the road closure. If you think you might be able to help me out, please call me 540-981-3395 or send me an e-mail at mark.taylor@roanoke.com. Thanks.
Mark,
As a lot of spring turkey hunters that have hunted the Patterson Creek area for a long time, we are all shut out of this area. Several years ago the road in Broad Run was effected by the illegal off road "Mud Boggers". I was witness to two of these so called high tech Rednecks. Took their tag numbers and turned them in for destroying our Forest Service roads. I was willing to testify against them. Never could find out what happened to these guys.
I've had an ax to grind with the U. S. Forest Service and DGIF for many years. Those who hunt or fish on this property have to purchase a $4.00
National Forest Stamp. No other users are required to do the same. We are told we take from the forest and our money helps to give back to the forest. However the "Mud Boggers" and others who abuse the forest leave the roads a mess and trash behind. Those who pay for the privilege to use the forest, become shut out of the resource we pay to use.
Where is the law enforcement in the case of these abusers of the resource. If caught the "Mud Boggers" should loose their play toys and receive a large fine(Tousands of Dollars)and even jail time. Sportsmen and women have carried the resource with their wallets for a long time. The so called tree huggers and antis only make noise. The "Mud Boggers" just make a lot noise and leave a big mess. They have also created problems for those who use the Potts Mountain Slope for several years.
If you recall I offered to give you a tour of the damage in Broad Run several years ago.
--Al, I remember your offer to give me a tour of the damage of Broad Run. At least in this case law enforcement was able to issue a bunch of tickets to alleged offenders, who are due in federal court in a couple weeks. How that turns out will be part of our story. Thanks for the comment. mt
Comment by al milton — April 20, 2009 @ 4:46 pm
Hey Mark, I agree with Mr. Milton. They've said for years that we hunters and fishermen have to buy a National Forest Stamp because we take away something. Trail Hikers,mud boggers, moto-crossers or whatever use and abuse the National Forest every day and never have to pay a penny. Trail Hikers in the Dragon's Tooth area are constantly setting the woods on fire, leaving trash behind,getting lost or hurt. This involves search and rescue teams, fire fighters' rescue squads etc. All at the cost of the tax-payer. It's not the money that bothers me,I would gladly pay more because it is worth every nickel, just to be able to use the National Forest. To make a long story short,EVERYONE should have to pay like the rest of us have done for Years. Thanks J.C.Steger
Comment by J.C. Steger — April 21, 2009 @ 7:48 am
this aint nothing new to anyone.
broad run has had the same problem numerous times.
so did patterson a while back
so does potts mtn every other year.
so does every other forestry road everywhere.
this stuff happens all the time.. forestry people gota go in to the problem areas with bulldozers and attempt to block the path for mudboggers to access off road areas with ditches, burms, rocks the size of volkswagons, etc. it never stops the problem only delays it. eventually somone with a tricked out enough rig will get around them and destroy everything all over again. the only difference here is that they actually caught the perps and the news decided it was worth reporting this time. potts mtn jeep trail is now closed too, dunno if its related to patterson rd problems but it has been closed in the past for the same reasons... so this wont be the end of it by any means. another round of kids will eventually turn of age for driving and the second they get behind the wheel of a 4x4 they'll be the next ones up there destroying everything. till they get caught. or not.
we can still use the land till the road opens back up.
just walk up the road or ride a bicycle.
Oh, and what about the private landowners who's only access is to use that road to access thier cabins?? can they still drive to thier own property?
--It's my understanding that private landowners can get a key to the gate. mt
Comment by been there done that — April 21, 2009 @ 2:13 pm
I think that enforcement is the key here. I personally enjoy fourwheeling in trucks that I have built and on fourwheelers. There is a lot of pride in building something that will accomplish what a lot of these vehicles will do. For a teenager who works part time, goes to school and sinks a lot of his money in his truck, it becomes hard to finance weekend long trips to areas such as Telico so they do with what they have. I in no way support the destruction of property whether it be public or private. It would be nice if certain roads could be designated as fourwheeling roads however. Also I feel like the demonizing of an entire group of "fourwheelers" for the actions of a very few is no worse than saying that all hunters are poachers. I personally enjoy hunting, fishing, and fourwheeling and do all in a responsible, law abiding manor in places designated for such purposes. In the end, I agree completely that the closing of these roads just plain stinks. Although, instead of going after each other, wouldn't we be better suited if we united and lobbied the government just as the tree-huggers that lobby the government for this to happen?
Comment by Philip — April 22, 2009 @ 10:35 am
This is just another case where nobody was minding the store. If the New Castle District Office of the U.S. Forest Service had not been shut down there would be staff here to see these things before the damage got to this magnitude. The closure of this office in a county that consisted of nearly 120,000 acres of forest service lands is one of the worst injustices I've ever witnessed. We are told there is no money in the cofers for road maintenance. Now, with all the stimulus money being thrown around, we all need to turn up the heat on our people in Washington to divert some of that money to the Forest Service for road maintenance. But, that doesn't mean to leave the roads over on this side of the district to fall apart and send it all to Mt. Rogers and the New River Valley. I, too, am glad that the real culprits have been caught so at least this incident isn't blamed on the bear hunters.
Comment by C. B. Crawford — April 23, 2009 @ 7:09 am
Mark,can you still drive through Patterson Creek or have they put in a gate??? Wanted to hunt there next week. I killed my first spring gobbler there back in the late 80's. Thanx.
--Gated and closed, Mike. mt
Comment by Mike S. — April 23, 2009 @ 8:59 am
Found out from a friend of mine that Broad Run is closed as well as an area I know as the Shell Pit the takes you back into Fenwick Mines. The old Fenwick Mines access was blocked about 9-10 years ago after they cut the new road in, now the new road is only foot travel. It is a shame that the actions of a few are the cause of punishment for the rest of us.
Comment by Jim Basham — April 23, 2009 @ 4:46 pm
Mark- I speak as a mother and camper. Our family has camped many a three-day weekend at Patterson Creek. My husband has hunted there with the same group for 30+ years. Often I have seen the evidence people (without respect for nature and others) leave behind. Gullies in the campsites. Bottles, trash, and junk, dumped at camp sights or beside the road. It angers and saddens me that these thoughtless people enjoy destroying a place were I find peace and relaxation. Patterson Creek was something special, my then boyfriend (now husband) shared with me. We'd pack up the trucks, load up the dogs, make sure we had plenty of water and bug spray, then head off for a weekend without TV, cell phones, or housework. How did we spend our time there? One summer we discovered a mother Red Fox and her 5 kits. We watched them from afar. They would wander in & and out of the den, each trip discovering something new and wonderful. My son would pick blueberries right off the bushes to put in the pancake batter at breakfast. We'd watch the deer stroll thru the forest and drink from the creek. I took pictures of the most beautiful Mountain Laurel. We'd have two-liter bottle races down the creek. My son and I saw our first, free, black bear in the woods there. We watched silently as it ran away from us. Amazed at how swift and quiet it was. I've heard things there you never hear in the city. An owl hooting at night, the music of the cicadas, and the song of the Whip-o-Will. We were looking forward to taking our young grandsons there and having them enjoy Patterson Creek. Someone new to share that wonderful, peaceful, place with,teach about nature, and race two-liter bottles against. Now, thanks to other's carelessness, that joy may be denied us. To those who would say: "You can camp somewhere else", I would say: "Sure, but it's not the same. It's not Patterson Creek."
Comment by Terri Lynch — April 24, 2009 @ 11:20 pm
Mark,
I am glad to read the respone from other readers regarding this issue. I agree that law enforcment is a key element. There needs to be a combined effort by DGIF, US Forest Service and local law enforcement officers. I was unaware that someone had been caught this time. I hope they are found guilty in a court of law. I hope they loose their expensive play toys and have to pay for the damage they have made. An illegal hunter would loose their vehicle and gun.
I agree with Terri Lynch that trash is another problem in this resource. As you ride through the resource this is very evident. I have found beer cans a mile up the side of a mountian when using the resource. This is uncalled for and has a simple solution. If you pack it in pack it out! Better yet drink at home.
I am not opposed to purchasing a National Forest Stamp. However I do think that everyone who uses the resource should be required to purchase this stamp. This would help generate more revenue for law enforcement.
I hope that the media can help bring about some resolve with these issues and this resource.
Comment by Al MIlton — April 27, 2009 @ 8:49 am
Leave it closed.Most of the guys that hunt there will park on top of you and think nothing of disrupting your hunt.Kind of scary meeting all the drunks driving out after partying all night.And did i mention the group of PA hunters that leave their trash every year.
Comment by TA — April 27, 2009 @ 3:12 pm
Mark I talked to you a couple months ago about a rumor that the road was blocked at Patterson Creek.Sorry to hear that it wasn't a rumor.You mentioned that you and someone else was going to follow up on the matter. I know from the articles I have read that there was some citations that were issued and some court dates scheduled. I would like to know what kind of punishment was given to the ones responsible that caused the road to be closed in the first place.I also was affected by the road being closed. I spring gobbler hunt there and also camp there during the year. Me and my hunting buddies set up deer camp every year there and we always have to clean up the trash before we set up.The people with the four wheelers go down there and do their joy riding and make a mess of the land and then head on home. One of the favorite places they like to tear up just happens to be where me and my hunting buddies set up camp every year. Once the repairs are made our group will probably be forced to find a new camp site because they'll block off the entrance going into the place. Wherever our campsite is this coming hunting season I can speak for the group that as always we'll leave it in better shape than we found it.Thanks to a few thoughtless people a lot of us will have to pay for their stupidity.
Comment by Gary Lynch — May 4, 2009 @ 11:03 pm
ahhhhhhhhhhhhaahahhaahahahaahahahah
so after all this bitchen and cryn and federal officer stake outs and lord knows how much additional taxpayer dollars being thrown at this re-occuring problem AND the district manager for our federal forests wanting to close all roads in the eastern district through the winter months...
(comon now that is just crazy..lets be a little fair now)
per the article on the front page the only punishment that judges are imposing to the 40 offenders that were caught under the late night stakeouts is a $350 FINE
to bring in a little gravel!!!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
i doubt that even lets the man break even on thier all nighters in the woods. . . .
O I JUST LOVE IT. . . . . .
Comment by lover of irony — May 11, 2009 @ 9:26 am
so it looks like the offenders win and the general public looses.
great.
why not hang hundreds of hours of community service over those kids heads and make them pick up the TONS of trash (BEER CANS & BOTTLES) that litter every forestry road in the country.
why punish everyone and close the roads?
Comment by camper — May 11, 2009 @ 10:31 am
Mark,
I commend Laurence Hammack and you for the article, "Serious Mud Slinging". The ugly truth is out for the public to read and weep over. Those sportsmen and women that use this great resource for hunting and fishing have known of these problems for years.
Judge Urbanski is not teaching the "Mud Slingers" anythigh or doing the resouce justice with the $335.00 load of gravel fine. The damage exposed in the article of May 11, 2009, shows more damage than a load of gravel will fix. This issue needs to be addressed by the full weight of the law. Give the "Mud Slingers" the max penelty. Make them serve their time on weekends, from 6:00PM Friday until 6:00PM Sunday evening. Hold their expensive play toys hostage, until the pay their $5,000.00 fine in full. Don't forget court cost either. If they loose their weekend play time for six months and some money maybe they will learn something.
Another course of action is to have DGIF law enforcment join the US Forest Service law enforcement officers in patroling this resource. DGIF collects $4.00 dollars from all the sportsmen and women who use this resource for huting and fishing. When the roads are damaged by the outlaw "Mud Slingers" they are closed to the sportsmen and women and their money that they payed for a National Forest Stamp is wasted.
This is an old issue and it must be brought to a head. Closing the forest service roads is not the answer. Make an example of the law breaking "Mud Slingers" until they stop breaking the law. These law breakers use the forest service roads because private land owners will not let them damage their property.
Thanks for helping to expose this problem.
Comment by al milton — May 18, 2009 @ 3:11 pm