As hard as it is to believe, there are some people that only use their off-road vehicle for hunting. Since they have yet to discover how the Western Upper Peninsula has one of the best ORV trail networks in the nation, they may not be familiar with Michigan ORV laws, including those laws that pertain to hunting.

With the kids heading out to camp with grandpa, keep these laws in mind. No one under the age of 16 may operate three-wheeled all-terrain vehicles. No one under the age of 10 may operate four-wheeled ATVs, except on private land while performing farm-related work operations. Children 10 to 15 years old can ride when the operator is under the direct visual supervision of an adult and the operator possesses a valid ORV safety certificate they received by taking an approved ORV education course.

You’ll need the ORV trail stickers to ride forest roads to your camp or hunting spot that is on state forest, county and national forest land. A license is not required to operate on private lands. However to ride an ORV on designated ORV trails or routes and special ORV-use areas to get access to the private land, you’ll need an ORV trail permit. Again a trail permit is not required to operate solely on private lands. The trail permit cost is $10 (plus $26.25 for the ORV license) for a total of $36.25.

Many hunters think that they don’t need to ride an ORV trail/route, however the Upper Peninsula has over 5,500 miles of state forest roads that are open to hunters to use their ORV. This is due to the work done by our area ORV clubs and state elected officials through the passage of Public Act 288 in 2016.

What is a state forest road? A road under the management of the Department of Natural Resources. By statute, a forest road is defined as a hard-surfaced road, gravel or dirt road, or other route capable of travel by a two-wheel drive, four-wheel conventional vehicle designed for road use. A forest road does not include a street, county road or highway.

A majority of Copper Country county roads are open to ORVs, but not all. You need to check with the sheriff’s department to know what streets and county roads are open. No state highway or US highway is open to ORVs, other than a few connector routes.

PA 288 of 2016 also required the DNR to inventory all state forest roads in the Upper Peninsula by 2018. How do you know where you can ride? Interactive maps and printable maps of roads open and closed to ORV use are published annually on the DNR website. In addition, signs are posted on roads closed to ORV use. The law also allows for the cross-country retrieval of deer, bear and elk using ORVs and horses.

One misconception about the law deals with commercial forest land. This is private land that gives the landowner a reduced property tax rate/acre to those in the CFL program.

By state statute, CFL must be devoted to commercial forest management and be open to the public for foot access to hunt, fish and trap. Please notice foot access to hunt. However, that same statute determines, commercial forest land owners cannot take any action that would intimidate hunters, such as posting “no trespassing” signs and signs warning of security cameras.

Other issues are that it is illegal in Michigan to have a passenger on an ATV, unless the ATV is specifically manufactured for such use. After-market passenger seats are not legal in Michigan.

Often ORV riders are under the assumption that Michigan does not have ORV speed limits. Michigan has speed limits on county streets and roads open to ORVs. The state has speed limits on the trail. That law reads like this: at a rate of speed greater than is reasonable and proper, or in a careless manner, having due regard for conditions then existing.

While ATV operators on public land is required to wear a helmet, side by side operators and passengers do not need a helmet as long as they have the required roof and riders have their seatbelt on.

While transporting on the ORV, a bow must be unstrung or encased, a firearm must be unloaded and securely encased.

Finally, the use of an ATV or SXS is prohibited in public hunting areas during the regular November firearm deer season, from 7 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 5 p.m., except in the following circumstances: going to or from a residence or hunting camp that is inaccessible by a conventional vehicle.

Good luck, hunters! On the next “Let’s Ride,” attention will be turned to snowmobiling.