After driving around in the Mount Magazine district yesterday looking for places to camp for the upcoming hunting season, I was very frustrated to find campgrounds closed for the season. To top this, in response to new policy to keep ATV's off forest trails, most places close to a road with an opening to park a travel trailer have either had a gate put on it or a berm pushed up to prevent camping. Who are the forests for if not the public? I am so incensed about this, I have emailed my congressional delegation but I am likely to become more fired up when they do not respond. I just want a place to camp so I can take my disabled father out for what could be his last hunting season.

Notwithstanding the compassion I feel for you with your dad and perhaps I am misuderstaning, but are you saying ATVs should be permitted on Forest Service-maintained foot and bike trails? Are you also saying that campgrounds should be open year round with whatever amenities are established for the given campground? Or, are you saying the campgrounds should have a longer season?

Before setting out on an adventure like this it will help you greatly to go to your closest NFS office and speak directly to one of the forest rangers, not the person behind the desk but an actual field employee.

They have a wealth of information about OHV's and most of the time will give to you for free a "vehicle access and use map".

Also alot of the campgrounds(here in Colorado anyways, check your area) are still open to walk in access in the offseason. Meaning you are more than welcome to use the sites, just that you are limited to anything you can pack in (no vehicles/OHV's). However all amenities are locked and cant be used, but sometimes just having a table, fire pit, and level tentpad is more than enough. Usually you can get the closest site to the gate which is always a plus when packin in/out. Again important to check with your local ranger on this matter.

Good luck, and happy hunting