Snowmobile Safety

Snowmobile Safety Courses Offered by the DNR

Per the Wisconsin DNR website, any person who is born on or after Jan. 1, 1985, and who has reached the age of 12, must have completed and received a snowmobile safety certificate in order to operate a snowmobile in Wisconsin. The certificate must be carried while operating the snowmobile and displayed to a law enforcement officer upon demand.

This does not apply to the operation of snowmobiles upon lands owned or leased by the operator's parent or guardian. Leased lands do not include lands leased by an organization of which said operator or the operator's parent or guardian is a member.

REGISTRATION - In order to participate in a state approved snowmobile safety course, you must register online, in advance, at the Wisconsin DNR website. Space may be limited so be sure to register early. https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/Education/OutdoorSkills/safetyEducation

To refresh your knowledge of trail etiquette, please review the below videos.

Safety Education Courses

This Little Brown Sign Could Save Your Life

Oneida County Snowmobile Clubs have placed brown numbered signs, at key intersections, through their trail systems.

In the event of an emergency and when you call 911, the operator will ask you for this number. Their emergency response system can identify these numbers and give important location information to rescue personnel.

Please Make a Note of These Intersection Numbers As You Travel Our Trail System.

MFR Snowmobile Safe Riders Program "Ride Right"

We are pleased to be launching our new Safe Riders Program called "Ride Right" to you. This safety awareness initiative directly supports our clubs mission statement; To stimulate and advance the general welfare and safety of snowmobiling. The goal of this initiative is to inform, educate and promote a safe and responsible snowmobile riding culture for todays' and future snowmobilers here in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.

We have carefully culminated a collection of materials and information about snowmobiling safety that can be referenced and shared with family and friends 24/7. Even if you've been sledding for years, it cannot hurt to refresh yourself on hand signals, sledding at night, etc. It's especially important to ensure that our young riders are also apprised of how to ride safely.

Please Ride Right!

Alcohol and snowmobiling simply do not mix.

Forget that myth that alcohol warms up a chilled person. It opens the blood vessels and removes the feeling of chill, but it does nothing to increase body heat. Instead, it can increase the risk of hypothermia, a dangerous lowering of the body's core temperature. With alcohol, you may only feel warmer, while your body chills dangerously.

Alcohol increases fatigue, fogs your ability to make good decisions, and slows your reaction time. It's part of a formula for disaster. And don't forget—MOST STATES HAVE LAWS PROHIBITING THE OPERATION OF A SNOWMOBILE WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL.

Riding Position & Hand Signals

Trail Signage / Trespassing

We have almost 100 Land Use Agreements with individuals and government agencies that allow us to access their property.

The clubs in Wisconsin have a unique partnership with thousands of landowners and without their generosity, our statewide trail system would not be possible. Unlike other outdoor recreationists, we don't rely on public lands to provide the facilities. Snowmobilers rely on snowmobile clubs and their volunteer members (Dennis Mirr) to talk to private property landowners to get permission to be on their property via the trail(s)!.

What many snowmobilers don't understand is that the clubs are given permission to put a trail across that property in an agreed upon route which allows for riding only on the marked corridor. That means anytime someone rides outside of the marked trail, they are trespassing and can be prosecuted.

Every year trails are lost because of off-trail riding and loud exhausts, and re-routing a trail is not as easy as it sounds.

Please be respectful and stay on the trails at all times!

Group Riding & Riding w/passengers

Always give the right-of-way. When you approach others, slow down and give the right away to all of them. Especially..
- skiers
- hikers
- snowshoers
- horses
- walkers
- dog sledders
Always give uphill riders the right-of-way. This is why you've been instructed to slow down before approaching the crests of hills. It takes more momentum to go up than down, so allowing the uphill riders to make their ascent means the hill will clear more quickly. Riders going uphill may have a difficult time continuing to move forward if they have to stop and yield the right of way to avoid a collision. NOT DOING SO MAY RESULT IN BECOMING A SNOWMOBILE STATISTIC. RIDE RIGHT!
Remain in single file lines to avoid pile ups. Manage your distance between sleds so you can see in front of you when the snow is flying. And to ensure you're able to stop without hitting the sled in front of you. You never know when a trail will narrow, have a steep drop off or debris on it.
Let faster riders pass
Have a "lead dog" (first rider) and a "tail dog" (last rider) and create an agreed upon signal for the lead dog that tells them to stop or slow down
Don't hog the hill or the road. It's always fun to stop on the trail to take pictures, talk with friends, stretch your legs or to get directions. Just remember, you're not alone on the trail or road. Also, if you need to stop at an intersection, be sure to be as far as possible from the stopping point of the intersection and pull far enough to the side so others can safely pass.

Verifying Snow Conditions / Ice Safety

Night Riding / Rider Responsibility

Speed & Carelessness

Excessive speed is a leading cause of snowmobile crashes. While a burst of speed on a snowmobile can be exhilarating, make good choices to ensure you're in an appropriate location and in full control of your snowmobile at all times. Avoid putting yourself in danger by keeping your speed reasonable at all times for the conditions and locations you're riding in. Your speed should be slow enough to be able to safely respond to changing trail or terrain conditions, and should be reduced when visibility is poor or you are unfamiliar with the area. Never exceed posted speed limits on trails or roads, including those posted for roadways when you're operating in a road ditch.

Roadways / Railroads

Safe Riders! Snowmobile Safety Video Collection

The Safe Riders! Snowmobile Safety Awareness materials were produced through a partnership between the American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA), the Intl. Assoc. of Snowmobile Admin. (IASA), and the Intl. Snowmobile Manufacturers Assoc (ISMA) with financial assistance from the Recreational Trails Program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation - Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).