Two things I didn't want to see on my first two trips to the park this year!! Imagine having ventured into Little Osler from Skuce(those who have been there are familiar with the climb) and having had to break a little ice on Maple. Waking up at 7 am excited to try some speck fishing and hearing an ATV coming down to the lake. Then watch as two fellows push out a row boat and proceed to fish away! Not a happy camper was I after working my butt off to get there! Oh and I loved the comment of heading home to a warm bed and watching the hockey game!Not the start to this years trip plans I'd counted on. Two days later I was in a group of four on Carl Wilson as three canoes came down the lake pulled by the lead with a 2 horse motor. So much for our peace and quiet as they love fishing passed our site. I'll be leaving on Fri for 9 more days and am sure hoping things go as well as the last many years I've been able to enjoy the park. Sorry about the venting gang but I had to get some of it out!I hope some of these guys get nailed. Did I say nails -best save that pet peeve for later-



Have a great park season all

Hi Bonfield Bushwacker,

Your report is disturbing to say the least. I think that when incidents like this happen to individuals or groups they should be reported immediately, and even perhaps demand your hard earned money back. If everyone started demanding money back from every illegal ATV/motorboat use/incursion into one's solitude in Algonquin Park, Ontario Parks would have no choice but to react to the threat. Else if we do nothing, nothing will be done to curb these disturbances.

I share your concern, and see no reason why someone else's mechanized transport(illegal or otherwise) should be allowed to impact your enjoyment of the interior of Algonquin Park.

I recommend you fill out the back of your permit and submit it to the access point you entered/exited.
Also, check out the impact section on the ABR(Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists) website.
http://www.ABRweb.ca/Impact.htm

There you can download an ABR incident report form.






Mark Rubino
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler - Blog
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler

http://www.ABRweb.ca .. Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists - Caring for Algonquin's Backcountry

I was into Little Osler 2 years ago. I also noticed the road and it appeared that it was getting regular use. Now I know why. Seems like its getting harder each year to find lakes that don't get illegal entry into them. I haven't run across any of these A'holes anywhere in the park yet but when I do, I'll make a point of making sure they remember it.

They are most likely natives from the Golden Lake Band and probably well within their treaty status rights to do what they were doing.

Check with the MNR and let us know what they say.

I keep hearing the same thing over and over again. "It was a great lake until the road came" I spent 4 nights on Phillip just a few days past the opener, and my outfitter said the same thing. (Phillip) Used to be good until people started using the road. It was not natives fishing the lake it was 10 guys from the same town I live in. They drove to the lake using logging roads and fish the crap out of it two years in a row, and got caught two years in a row. They said basically, why not pay the fine...Its nothing compared to renting the canoes, paying the park fees, time and effort... Oh and that is IF we get caught in the first place. 1 or 2 cars / ATVs divided by the group is probably cheaper then what my 9 day trip was. I was told it was a 500.00 fine. We need to block the logging roads and impose fines like you would if you were poaching. Get caught in the park with your car / ATV you loose that car / atv

Indeed! We need to say 'If you do this then you don't get to fix for x years - period. Any tools you used to assist in the execution of the offense will hence be seized.' By the way, don't you risk loosing more than your vehicle if you're poaching?


Jeff

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Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists - Caring for Algonquin's Backcountry - abrweb.ca

My Algonquin Park Map - Accurate, Detailed, Free - Version 2.0!

i don't believe they were from your town
most cases are leagal use by the Golden Band

Two anonymous posters arguing over what the first one witnessed firsthand. How do you know they weren't from his/her home town? Maybe they were recognizable. "Probably" isn't proof. It seems to me that assuming everyone on an ATV or using a motor must be doing so legally is extremely naive. If that was the case, the park rangers would be out of a job! How many hectares is Skuce, and how many fish were they keeping? Does it really matter? Silly arguments.

I have no problem with those who follow treaty rights but am pretty sure it does not include the use of a 4 wheeler in the interior.

I find it really sad myself Markus! I did lodge my complaints at the gatehouse upon leaving and plan on writing a letter on my return from my trip starting tomorrow. By the way great work on forming the ABR. I look forward to submitting my app as soon as I return.