Alternate entrance to Island Lake. JC Penney

[G.Cook]

I would have no doubt that a lot of those trails crisscrossing the area are deer trails.
If they have been stewarding that area for years why the problem now with traffic in that area when its been going on for probably the same amount of time ? They have to know that bikers don't go off trail and use that trail only for entry and exit. Right ?
Somebody have a hidden agenda possibly ? A hidden "threat" ?
Anything beyond educational signage is bs. Especially if the signage is a bike with a line though it ? Because if that's the case they better have a sign with a line going through a hiker etc. etc. Then shoot any deer that dares trample there way through that prairie .

[fsr1]

I would have no doubt that a lot of those trails crisscrossing the area are deer trails.
If they have been stewarding that area for years why the problem now with traffic in that area when its been going on for probably the same amount of time ? They have to know that bikers don't go off trail and use that trail only for entry and exit. Right ?
Somebody have a hidden agenda possibly ? A hidden "threat" ?
Anything beyond educational signage is bs. Especially if the signage is a bike with a line though it ? Because if that's the case they better have a sign with a line going through a hiker etc. etc. Then shoot any deer that dares trample there way through that prairie .

I don't want to get in the way of a good conspiracy theory but I don't see a hidden agenda here. One of the trails I saw looked like it was deer traffic. I told Laurel and the park manager so. Further investigation is needed. (boots on the ground)

My theory is this; the volunteers see bikes while they are out there, so they assume bikers are the culprits.

When this was first brought to my attention the reports pointed toward trail construction taking place, so the DNR was concerned. Rightly so! This seems not to not to be the case. Educational signage seems to be the next step. That we are concerned pleases the park. All is well, right?

[G.Cook]

Well, I took part in a meeting last week with and about equestrians at Waterloo and I must still be a little amped . Sounds like you got a handle on it at ILRA BUT watch your back Mark.

[Redstone Liger]

I was told many moons ago that these were snowmobile trails and evidence I've seen in the past seems to back this up. I recon'd one of the spurs this spring since it looked to have recent activity. The trail is 4ft wide and showed signs of motor vehicle traffic. I found a meadow that had a lot of cutting that had been done in the grassy areas. The trimmings were stacked up nice and the area was heavily flagged.
I suspected DNR involvement as bandits don't usually stack and flag so openly. I haven't taken a look to see what progress was ever made beyond that. Nothing to draw a biker.

Could one DNR hand not know what the other is doing?

[budreybaker13]

That is not a threat for environment especially for the DENR if there is no trees or species have been cut or killed. But in this situation I do not think that species and trees are not involved, they are being cut to make the life of hikers or bikers more comfortable.