Public land question

[shoaf72]

Are we allowed to cut fallen trees and use atvs to hang stands on public land? I thought I read somewhere that we couldn’t do that but now I can’t find it? I was out a couple days ago on some public land and saw where people had cut fallen trees to make it easier to get their stands back and it looked like the weeds were pushed down from a atv or utv then went back yesterday to do fishing at this public land spot and there was a truck and trailer backed up to the trail that the weeds and trees were cut on and as I was fishing the truck and trailer left with a atv on it

[icobailey]

You are not allowed to cut any trees on state owned lands or operate Off-Road Vehicles on state owned lands without a issued permit. That being said you can apply for a permit to cut firewood at many of our state forest offices. You can also apply for a handicap permit to operate an ORV in certain areas of our state properties. You will need to check with your local state properties to see where handicap access hunting areas are located. I have pasted the applicable rules below. As always if you have any questions or concerns please let our dispatch know at [phone].

312 IAC 8-2-10 Preservation of habitat and natural and cultural resources
Authority: IC 14-10-2-4; IC 14-11-2-1
Affected: IC 14

Sec. 10. Except as authorized by a license, a person must not do any of the following within a DNR property:
(1) Molest an animal den or bird nest.
(2) Collect any wild animal or part of a wild animal, except as authorized by section 3 or 4 of this rule. Exempted from this subsection [subdivision] is any shed deer antler.
(3) Damage or collect a plant or pick flowers. Exempted from this subdivision are the following:
(A) Berries.
(B) Fruits.
(C) Nuts.
(D) Fallen cones.
(E) Mushrooms.
(F) Leaves.
(G) Greens.

312 IAC 8-2-8 Vehicles, trails, boats, and aircraft
Authority: IC 14-10-2-1; IC 14-10-2-4; IC 14-11-2-1; IC 14-19-1-1
Affected: IC 14-19-1-0.5; IC 14-22-11-1

Sec. 8. (a) A person must not operate a vehicle:
(1) at a speed greater than:
(A) thirty (30) miles per hour on straight, open stretches of road; or
(B) fifteen (15) miles per hour on steep grades or curves or where posted; or
(2) except as provided in section 17 of this rule, other than on a public road.
(b) A person must not park:
(1) a vehicle;
(2) a boat; or
(3) associated equipment;
except at a site designated by the department.
(c) A person must not operate a motorized cart on a DNR property except as follows:
(1) The person must demonstrate both of the following:
(A) The person holds a valid driver's license.
(B) The person:
(i) is at least sixty-five (65) years of age that is evidenced by the valid driver's license; or
(ii) has a disability, as defined by the federal Social Security Administration guidelines (42 U.S.C. 416), that is evidenced by documentation from the Social Security Administration.
(2) A person must not operate a motorized cart other than within a campground.
(3) A motorized cart must, if operated between the hours of sunset and sunrise, have a lamp on the:
(A) front exhibiting a white light visible at least five hundred (500) feet ahead of the motorized cart; and
(B) rear exhibiting a red light visible at least five hundred (500) feet behind the motorized cart.
(4) A restriction applicable to the operation, parking, or other use of a vehicle under this section also applies to a motorized cart.
(5) As used in this subsection, "motorized cart" has the meaning set forth in IC 14-19-1-0.5.
(d) Unless an activity is licensed or exempted from licensure under this rule, a person must not do the following:
(1) Leave the designated pathway for a trail while moving cross-country.
(2) Except on a trail designated for the purpose:
(A) hike;
(B) bike;
(C) ski;
(D) horseback ride; or
(E) operate an off-road vehicle or snowmobile.