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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds off-highway vehicle (OHV) owners that restrictions on recreational riding in state forests will be in effect during part of the upcoming firearms deer hunting season.

Some state forest trails and access routes will temporarily be closed to OHVs, beginning Nov. 6. This move will protect recreational riders from potentially unsafe riding conditions, and will minimize conflicts between deer hunters and recreational riders who may inadvertently disturb them.

The trail closures specifically apply to the use of all-terrain vehicles, off-highway motorcycles, and off-road vehicles, such as jeeps and four-wheel drive trucks, by recreational riders on state forest trails or nondesignated forest access routes.[[In-content Ad]]

Licensed deer hunters may still use these routes in conjunction with their hunting activity:

· Before legal shooting hours.

· From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

· After legal shooting hours.

Effective dates of the recreational riding restrictions will be:

Nov. 6-21 for the Minnesota 100 Series deer season

Nov. 6-14 for the Minnesota 200 Series deer season

Because recreational OHV trails in southeastern Minnesota close Nov. 1 each year, no additional OHV riding restrictions are necessary in that part of the state. The riding restrictions do not apply to state forest roads.

For more information, including where the 100 and 200 series hunting boundaries are, see the 2010 firearms deer season zone map posted online at www.mndnr.gov. Or call the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 or toll-free 888-646-6367, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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