ATV Florida Forum

Got up to Scrub today and man was it packed! Bikes were all over the place and trucks were parked as far as three powerline poles away from the campground. I've definitely never seen this many bikes out there at one time b/f. We had a great turnout of about 25 or so bikes on our ride. Here are a few photos from today.

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Yep Dreth has done it again  :-\
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Cool Pic...have not been there for some time...looks like every one had a good time!  ;)

Nice i go in the summer it is very hot but not alot of people are out there!
You have the hole place to our self!

I was there, did any of yall see a big guy with a blue fox jersey and a green helmet riding a blue Raptor 660? IF so that was me..In the first pic one of them white enclosed trailers is ours. It was really packed today man....ALso whats up with the rangers being such a$$ holes today?

Man that looks like fun, I haven't riden fir like 3 weeks, I'm dying here!

I'm going up there in less than 2 weeks, cant wait

Yeah... They were really being arse holes today. We were riding the pipeline that morning and had three rangers to pull up while we were taking a break. They told us about the new rule changes coming into effect. (Vehicle Papers, License, Kids under 16 have to wear helmets, etc...)  They told us we were fine on the pipeline as long as we were riding on the ATV whooped out side and not on the "Clay" road......  Later in the day in a different spot on the pipeline again here comes a Law Enforcement Ranger and he says, "ALL OF IT is considered numbered road and the boundaries extend from treeline to treeline. So I nicely tell him about what the previous three rangers had told us that morning and the jackass catches an attitude. "What does the writing say in the front of my truck?" I say to him, I respect your authority as "Law Encorcement" but we're getting conflicting information here. You say no and we've been told we were fine. He continues to be a jackass stating,  "I'm the law out here." So while he's continuing w/ his Power speech I turn and walk away. They're definitely trying to run ATV's from out there. I think we're slowly we're losing ONF :(

Yea, I am getting sick just thinking about it. Was'nt this " trail system" supposed to be up and running this month? I hope they dont try to screw us over and just shut the forest down. I gotta drive 2 hours to get there but it's worth it.

We were stopped because we drove our atv through the "puddle" on the powerline. The lady said all the powerline road used to be as tall as the base of the powerlines and that there were no hills. She said the atv's doing donuts caused all the big hills on the road. She then went on to say that nothing will ever grow in the soil out there again. Then said we all needed to carry our ID, Registration, or Bill of Sale. Later in the day we left the campground and crossed over the road and turned left to get to the power lines. We were stopped by a ranger who told us when you leve the camp ground you MUST go straight past the power lines then turn left, there is no riding on the "road side" of the powerlines ANYWHERE in the area(all the way to 19). Also had another ranger tell us that starting today you can ONLY ride the powerline area and not go on any trail! We were also told a couple other stupid "laws" that I think they were just making up. Oh yeah, the lady also said "We are not Croom, they welcome atv's" . "we only allow atv's because it is a federal law."...... "There is a website online telling people to tear down the fences and ride in the pits." We asked her what the site was and she said atvflorida.com  after arguing for a minute wiht her that this site would not allow that she said she stopped a group of people that tore down a fence and showed her a print out of the site that said that. Im headed back out there in a minute and we will see what they say today!

yep...it will all be gone oneday...due to the people who like to dump in the places we ride...makes every one look bad...the days are numbered!  :'(

Yeah those rangers are something else.  Makes me wonder hearing these stories, what they're trying to do.  Obviously they don't like off-roading.  They should get some people that actually like riding to patrol around there and I think they'd do a better job of keeping the place running fair and honest, and still fun.  I want to go there soon too, fast trail riding is my favorite kind of riding.


Pff.. It takes us about 6 to 7 hours from South Florida, but we still make the drive 2 or 3 times a year.  It's alot of fun.

ya i was there also, it was packed and the rangers werent to nice either. but all in all i had a good time.

    I am sorry alot feel we will be losing a place to ride but there is over 350,000 acres in ONF and that is way more than enough for us...........just my opinion in over 26 years of riding there ..............

dude, seriously next time you see that ranger, PLEASE get her name, I feel like taking a trip up there to have a chat with them.

I dunno about anyone else, but have you ever seen a thread telling people to tear down the fences?

Id@

Id@n't know?  Haven't seen one ever...  :D It's a joke....  >:(

We had a great time as well. Here's a few pics we took also.


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I am sure the rangers get there arses reamed by the deer hunters up there when the hunters hear and see atv's during deer season. Hunters with guns don't take much slack from rangers, so the rangers pass it on to anyone else which seems to be the atvers that are trying to follow the rules.   

I say that they should should develope it all into one huge subdivision so the rangers would not have any forest to protect and lose their jobs if they are gonna arses like that. Screw em all. I will ride on private land the rest of my life. Its been a while since I have been to big scrubb and if they are gonna have all these rules they can just stop it then half of them will be out of a job or have to move to another area to patrol. I respect the law and have never in 40 year been in any trouble but their is no reason to try and throw your authority around.

The ranger situation is exactly why I started goin to osceola.  Osceola is great we went out there on newyears and only saw one person the whole day.

where at in osceola?

right across from the prison.

Is that Central Florida Reception Center? I used to work at a prison and would transport inmates over there often. Never saw any trails out there though... Maybe b/c I wasn't expecting any :-\   . Anyway, if that is the spot off of the beeline I think tell me more  ;)

A bunch of us went to Big Scrub on New Years Day and it was aweful.  The rangers where constantly bugging everyone.  And it seems like they are trying to run everyone off so know one comes back.  And the hunters out there were bigger a-holes than the rangers.  It was noon and I couldn't believe the number of people hunting at that time in the heat of all things.  One of them made a comment to me about all the noise that us atv riders are making and they can't hunt.  Last time I checked, Big Scrub didn't say that it was just for hunters.  So like someone said, the hunters might be coming down on the rangers and then the rangers are taking it out on us atv riders.  I think that I won't be going back any time soon.

about the hunters, I have never hunted out there, nor do I plan to, but I do sympathize with them tremendously in the forest.

The hunters pay to be able to use the forest for their sport a couple months out of the year,,,,we use it for free all year long for ours.

during hunting season, I tend to only ride in the few hours of the day that are legal to ride and I know that the fewest hunters are likely to be out in the woods enjoying their sport.

Now with that said,,,,,they should all know that Scrub is the biggest place in the forest for OHV's and should expect them there,,,,MOST especially on a holiday weekend, so let'em get mad this weekend.

Now, as for next weekend when I plan on being out there again,,,,I will go back to riding during the middle of the day and being as quiet as possible if I see a hunter,,,or avoid the area if I see one far off in the distance.

Id@

Hunting season will be over real soon. You would think that as big as the ONF is, there would be much better places in the woods to hunt than near Big Scrub. They must be Newbie Hunters. Which is Scary!

MOst hunters are scared of the dark! This is true. And alot more of them are lazy. They don't want to have to walk more that 100 yards from their truck or atv. They may get attacked by a skunk-ape or something.  Walking 2 or 3 miles in the dark through big wild boar or black bear woods to your tree stand can get you to start thinking about some crazy stuff. I like the feeling but I feel alot better once I am 20 feet up with a big tree to my back waiting for the sun to come up.       

I was one of those hunters at one time.  And let me tell you......yall are crazy for riding up there during hunting season.    Let me finish before yall get upset.

Yes,  there is plenty of woods for everyone to enjoy.  But when you ride during hunting season you are going to run across some hunters.  It isn't like up north where they go to a treee stand and sit all day.  Most of them are dog hunters.  You think that you go through the woods fast on your atv.  These guys fly going down those little roads.  Like I said,  I was one of them.  It is also common for them to cover 5-7 sq miles.  When the dogs jump the deer the chase is on.  And the drinking starts when the sun comes up.

I say all that just to warn youwhat can happen.  A quad is no match for a truck.

There pay back was letting there dogs bark all night long in the camp ground wile we were trying to sleep.   ;)     We went on to Ft. McCoy till Sunday..Sure was quiet Sunday and Monday out at Big Scrub

its a statewide problem. the only places we can ride are wildlife management areas and national forests. this forces us to share with hunters, which isnt going to last much longer, after someone gets sick of hearing the hunters pregnant dog or when a hunter kills one of us and tells the truth why he did it. it seems that hunters have a bigger "voice" than us, so we need to get them on our side to open some riding only places in florida. i'm fed up and want to ride/camp somewhere in southern florida. the squares was my dreamplace and that was the straw which broke my god damn back!

Number 1, management areas are for hunters, hikers and natutre type folk

Number 2, i can sympathize with the hunters also, if i hunted down here, i too would be constantly pi$$ed off. Not so much because of the atvs but because of the simple fact that you sit all day in a cramped up truk, with the stinch of stale beer @ 75-80 dgres, have to listen to other redneks twine and twang bak and FIRTH about, hes goin this way or hes goin that, only to realize your goofy a$$ "deer dog" was chasin an armadillo for 3 miles. Hell id be pi$$ed off too.

Number 3, if you let a dog out of a cage, and then sit along side of a clear cut waitin to pop an unethical shot at a deer runnin 30 - 40 mph just to get away from your malnurished, cross breadded, slipper muncher. YOU AINT NO HUNTER!!

Number 4, a smart hunter doesnt hunt where there are literally hundereds of atvs or motorcycles on any given day, much less every weekend, much less anywhere near where there have been a bunch of lazy a$$ self proclaimed deer hunters slingin dogs out into the palmettos.

Number 5, if this hits a nerve, refer back to number 3

Number 6, in most states that offer the more popular big game seasons, The sale of hunting licenses is usually one of the major sources of revenue for that state. Not just hunting licenses either but everything that goes right along with it. Also not just resident licenses, a non- resident pays sometimes 3 or 4 x what the resident hunter will for a license. So with that said. Other than a few clean up rides here and there,( which in all honesty, if any developing, or land improvements are to be done in the  future), gets done anyways,what have we really done that is going to sway the (as you call em) rangers, to give us the edge when it comes down to hassling you or billy-bob over there spittin chew all down the side of his 1987 toyota 4x4.

Number 7, im a ferly unedumacated main, but i can tell you this. If i were sellin 3 truk loads of oranges to every bushel of grapefriut, i think i would lean my labor more towards the oranges..........wouldnt you?

YES, they are the oranges and we are the grapefruit.

you spelt fairlee rong?

This chik is obviously a crak head, thats rediculous. If somebody wouldve had a print out they would have confiscated and more than likely used it to file charges against anyone responsible for the web site. My god, and some of you people actually sit and argue with these dropouts. Ride 1 did the right thing by walkin away. Folks, you just have to ignore the idiots, as long as youre mindin your ps and qs you have nothing to worry about.

Sorre, i hit a wall there and did the best i could. Mama always said to sound it out. ;)

the thing about the rangers stopping everyone every time they see you is nothing new. in novemeber we went up there and let me tell you in a span of 3 days of riding we wee stopped 7 times in the trails when we were taking breaks and they came to our camp site 5 times to repeat the same things that were said since the first day we were there. it seems to me that they are definetly trying to get rid of atv's in onf just like they did at the squares. what a sad state af affaris our sport has gotten to be in this state.  and no one really gives a crap about it.

Well from my experience hunting, and I don't mean to OFFEND anyone, I have done a hell of lot better with the rifle on the gun rack rather than climbing a tree and sitting half the day.

Theres no doubt that its alot easier to road hunt, given the curious nature of the whitetail. Hell anybody could drive down the road and stop a poke at em out the window. But what about that makes a man a hunter. A hunter who is ethical and respects his sport and his quarry, isnt affraid to level the playing field and get out there amungst em. For someone to say theyve hunted for 5 seasons and killed 2 deer, and then hunted 2 seasons and killed 5 deer from their vehicle, doesnt mean theyve become a better hunter, it just means theyve opted for the more cowardly version of what they might call hunting.

I didn't know there were different versions of hunting, but I guess there could be ;) All in fun super.

What I don't get is... They know that 4 wheelers frequent this spot and come to that exact spot to hunt :-\  . What's the logic behind that??? As big as Ocala National Forrest is they chose Big Scrub to do their hunting :(

Probably hoping the atv's will scare some game there way. (Team Hunting)
On a serious note, it's probaly like having a good fishing spot, you always go back there.

Here's the deal whether we like it or not. ATV and other types of off road enthusiasts don't even come remotely close to generating the type of revenue for the state that hunters generate. In addition, the hunters are far more organized and financially sound. (Ever been to a Ducks Unlimited or NWTF Dinner?) Couple that with the fact that: (a) off road sports are are far greater liability to the state than hunting; and (b) most of the property ORV's frequent were purchased with money raised from sportsmen generated revenue and it becomes quite obvious who wins.

Until the ORV community makes a better image for itself, gets better organized and coughs up some serious money, things will keep moving hte way they are.

god i hate reality! :'(

Now, thats the truth! It sucks, but its the truth.

We are the outlaws untill we make a better name for our selfs. >:D  One day we will be baned from evey place in Florida but the L-Crosses or the Mudfests or other areas alike. ??? 

Not steered in your direction bro, its just annoying to have to swerve around somebodys mutt thats gotten away from em and cant be found. Looks like to me peta would put a ban on that type of hunting, due to the fact that some of these folks look at these dogs as throwaways. If they find em great, if they dont oh well. What good does it do to set loose a dog thats been trained to run down the very same deer that the average hunter spends thousands a season to hunt.  To all you fisherman out there, i liken it to chumin with live shiners, kinda defeats the purpose.

I think we could get greengriz to take us up in a helicopter and shoot at the hunters deer. I think it would be fun hunting for deer from the air though, like they do the big ole elephants in africa.

I've saw video from austrailia where they hunt from the same kind of helicopter I fly.

In the near future all persons riding, hiking or just camping will be required to purchase a managemnt stamp just like the hunters have always had to do.

i personally have never had a problem with getting some sort of pass to go ride. what i don't like is the harrasement that you get when you go there on your quad.
sell a pass expalin the rules once. not everyday at our campsite or everytime you see taking a break on the trail by a numbered road.

I'm going there tomorrow morning, hopefully it isnt as packed when I get there.

toomey,,,dude it takes you 6-7 hrs.to get to scrub??????.i went up there 2 wks.ago it takes me right at 5 hrs...i drive a dodge 2500 diesel,with 27' enclosed trailer,cruising at 80mph..and stop  twice for fuel and kids to relieve themselves,,lol...i live in pembroke lakes,,follow me up sometime,,i'll let you draft off my trailer...lol

I'm a regular visitor and just signed up so hope I'm doin this right. I was down at Scrub on New Years. I hope things stay cool down there. We have been going there for 3 years and enjoy it a lot. Took my daughter to Osceola today. Man what a different type of terrain. My 350 Rancher 4x4 got her done!!!!. I was only rider there I think in the Quail Management area. If anybody knows better places let me know.

Forgot to say that most of the trails I went on had a lot of water. My daughter and I did our fair share of propping legs on fenders. Glad I didn't get stuck. Nextel works good at Osceola but dang where u gonna find somebody. I did take the GPS and another thing is the trails were marked good as to where you can and cannot go. Hopefully if the trail system at Scrub is put in it will be marked well. If people can't follow the easy sign system like Osceola then they can go home. I hate seeing what some clowns have done to the areas around scrub. I'm in to ATV'ing for the long haul and want ONF to be open for all to enjoy. It's a free 4 all right now but if we get together and act responsible I think we can keep a good thing. ONF is a privilage to us, not a right.