Welcome to Snowmobiling in Wisconsin!

On behalf of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, we welcome you to Today’s Snowmobile Rider in Wisconsin—A Course on Responsible Operation.

Riding a snowmobile can be a very exciting, exhilarating experience; but in the hands of an untrained operator, a snowmobile also can be very dangerous to operate. Snowmobiles handle differently from other vehicles. Accidents happen very fast, even during routine exercises like turning, crossing a road, or riding on hills.

The purpose of the Wisconsin Snowmobile Safety Training Program is to promote responsible, safe, and ethical snowmobile use. By participating in the program, students will obtain a better understanding of their obligations to the resources, the landowner, other snowmobile users, and themselves.

The objectives of this program are to reduce the potential for snowmobile accidents, injuries, and fatalities; to reduce the potential for conflict between snowmobile riders, landowners, and other resource users; and to promote safe, responsible, and ethical use of the environment and our resources.

The Wisconsin Snowmobile Safety Training Program consists of a minimum of six hours of instruction. Instruction emphasizes the importance of laws and regulations, ethics, personal safety, and the proper use of snowmobiles.

All snowmobile enthusiasts who ride on public riding areas (trails, frozen waters, routes, permitted county and/or forest lands, etc.), who are at least age 12, and who were born on or after January 1, 1985, must complete a safety certification course. These snowmobile operators must carry their Snowmobile Safety Certificate, and they must display it to law enforcement officers when requested to do so.

All snowmobile operators are encouraged to take a snowmobile safety course, regardless of age. Parents are encouraged to complete the course with their child and to help reinforce the lessons taught in this course.

Completion of this course will not make you an expert snowmobile rider. Riders will need to practice the techniques learned in this course until they become more confident and comfortable riders.

The future of snowmobile riding in Wisconsin depends on you—ride responsibly.

	Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 101 South Webster Street Madison, WI 53707-7921 Phone: 1-888-936-7463 www.dnr.wi.gov
	Wisconsin Department of Tourism 201 West Washington Avenue PO Box 8690 Madison, WI 53708-8690 Phone: 1-800-432-8747 or 608-266-2161 www.tourism.state.wi.us/