7836-R4_MSA_SnowmobileMaine

Protect The Trails! About 94% of the snowmobile trail system is on private land, thanks to generous landowners who allow trails on their property. Permitting the respectful use of one’s property by outdoorsmen and women is a tradition with a long history in Maine. All snowmobilers can help to protect this privilege of access by remembering the following rules while riding: • Stay on the marked trails. Snowmobile clubs work with landown- ers to determine the best location for the trails. Remember, snow- mobiling is a secondary use of private land. The land’s primary use may be to grow trees, blueberries, potatoes, or other crops or to provide habitat for plants or wildlife. Although snowmobiles travel over snow, snowmobiling in unauthorized areas can still be a threat to primary uses. Riding off trail in blueberry barrens can compress the snow above the blueberry plants, damaging them to the point of little or no yield. Riding off trail in a tree farm can destroy young trees with subsequent loss of income for the landowner. When the secondary use of snowmobiling threatens the land’s primary use, the landowner may have to deny access. • Carry out all trash, including smoking refuse. Landowners should never be put in the position of cleaning up after the very people they have welcomed onto their land. • Stay off plowed roads. Many snowmobile trails travel over lands managed for the forest products industry. It is prohibited to operate snowmobiles on the plowed roads. Even if fresh snow has fallen on a previously plowed road that does not mean it is permissible to snowmobile on the road. Trailers and vehicles cannot be left along the side of these plowed roads. The roads are used year round to move product in large trucks which can take up the full width of the road. The illegal presence of snowmobiles endangers riders and the truck drivers trying to perform their job. • Respect our wildlife. If you encounter a wild animal traveling the trail, keep your distance and wait for them to move on, or consider another route. Do not pursue, herd or otherwise harass wildlife. The Maine Snowmobile Association and MSA clubs spend a great deal of time and effort maintaining good relationships with land- owners. Do your part to protect the trail system by showing respect for all landowners and treating their property with care. Services for Snowmobilers There are Maine businesses, Chambers of Commerce and tourism organizations throughout the state who will gladly assist with trip planning and local trail information. Snowmobiling has a significant economic impact for many communities in the state, and lodging facilities, restaurants and other local businesses look forward to the arrival of snowmobilers in their area. The advertisements in this guide and listings and links on the MSAweb site, www.mainesnowmobileassociation.com , contain information about a number of these welcoming businesses.

Snowmobiling Hand Signals Please learn these standardized signals and use them when riding. STOP

Arm raised from the shoulder and extended straight up over the head with palm of hand flat.

RIGHT TURN

Left arm raised at shoulder heigt, elbow bent and forearm vertical with palm of hand flat.

SLEDS FOLLOWING

Arm raised, elbow bent, with thumb pointing backward, in hitch-hiking motion move arm forward to backward over your shoulder.

LAST SLED IN LINE Left arm raised at shoulder height, elbow bent and forearm vertical with fist clenched.

LEFT TURN

Left arm extended straight out from shoulder an pointing in the direction of the turn.

SLOWING

ONCOMING SLEDS Left arm raised at shoulder height, elbow bent and forearm vertical, wrist bent, move arm from left to right over head, pointing to right side of trail. Left arm extended out and down from the side of the body with a downward flapping motion of hand to signal warning or caution.

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SNOWMOBILE MAINE 2021-2022