I have found that following the path of least resistance worked best for me. I have a very extensive ATV train system on our properties and have it best to just use the ATV's to push down the vegetation that is least developed and once down, the repeated trips over the trail tends to keep the vegetation down and the trail open. One of my hunt clubs used a tracked skid steer to open up some trails on a clear cut area that had grown up that worked out pretty good but once in the woods the vegetation is not that bad and the ATV can push things down OK. If I need to cut some sapplings that are a pain in the neck out of the way, I just bring a pair of loping shears and cut the sappling small enough to cut with the shears and bigger stuff I use a Stihl FS450K with a chisen tooth saw blade. Anything larger requires a chainsaw. I have a Stihl MS 192T that is real handy and small enough to put in the box on back of the ATV or just strap down. I am thinking that bring in heavy equipment into the forest is more likely to tear up more timber than the ATV trail is worth.

Something else to consider is that if you make the ATV trail too nice.........that is tantamount to ringing the dinner bell for every ATV rider and trespasser to come and enjoy your newly built trails.

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