WATCH OUT FOR FWC!!!!

[alafiaoutlaw]

This weekend FWC was fining several riders for riding in the area east of Delancy Unit on the other side of 19. There are no designated trail system in this area so I guess you are not allowed to ride there. They were also giving citations to licensed vehicles which were not on numbered roads. I have not seen anything that states that you are in violation for having a licensed vehicle off a numbered road but several people got citations for doing so. I feel this is taking it a little too far, especially for us that hunt. If there is any other information on this please reply.

[GrizzlyBear]

The Forest Service has determined that unless it is marked (either as a trail or a numbered road) that it is closed.  Licensed vehicles are allowed on numbered roads and trails marked for jeeps.  No distinction is made for hunting, the rule applies for everyone.

[cr1]

i have been to ocala twice and plan to go back and we always ride out of big scrub . i have never seen any numbered trails  is it legal to ride that part of onf?

[stacktester]

I was wondering the same thing if Big Scrub was still open. I plan on going this weekend just for the day.

[GrizzlyBear]

Big Scrub is in Phase II and no trails have been designated.  The area is still open.  The area east of hwy 19 north of Salt Springs was in phase I.  Trails are designated, and if it is not marked as a trail or road, then considered closed.

[alafiaoutlaw]

Big Scrub is in Phase II and no trails have been designated.  The area is still open.  The area east of hwy 19 north of Salt Springs was in phase I.  Trails are designated, and if it is not marked as a trail or road, then considered closed.

There is nothing marked at all on this area. Some intersections in this area has the brown marker holders in the ground but no path explanation on them. I was wondering if something was planned in the near future.

[banana-man]

Yes the trails are POORLY marked, and should not be enforced until they are CLEARLY marked.  The marked trails were whooped out pretty badly.  From my last visit, I'd have to say the trail system is somewhat of a failure, or at best a work in progress with a lot of work to make it self navigated. 

One of the  responses I recieved from one of the Rangers that I had questioned about the lack of markers, and confusing trails replied "Well, if you spent a few days on the trail for 8-10 hrs on the trail, you'd just know where to go"  Yeah, that's going to happen.  We were there for 4 days and did just about all the trails on the No end of the ONF, some of them a few times, and not once did we ride continously, without stopping to vote on which unmarked trail we should follow as the marked trail we started on forked into 2 or more directions.

You say "The area is still open"(Big Scrub).  Where exactly can we ride w/o getting ticketed/fined?