people at closed gates

[hornhunter1987]

 people hunting in areas that are closed to fire danger really piss me off. it sucks that the law obeying people cant get in there and hunt but the idiots that dont know any better or dont care just go right in.  sorry i just needed to vent a little.

[windygorge]

call the timber hotline

[bankwalker]

There's a number to call at every single one of those gates. Well most of those gates anyway.

[bankwalker]

For what it's worth, I drove around my house (matlock area) this afternoon on my way home from capital forest and didn't see a single vehicle parked at any of the gates. I was pretty surprised to not see anyone.

[PolarBear]

Not only was there one guy parked at the Weyco gate  by my house but I heard the first shot of the day coming from the same area at 6:00 am.  A full hour before daylight.  I later heard 4 more shots around 8:30.  Keep in mind that at this gate there is more than a half dozen bran new do not enter due to extreme fire danger signs.  While I am typing this, I just heard 3 more shots in a closed area.   

[bobcat]

I saw two vehicles parked at a Port Blakely gate near my house yesterday afternoon. Assuming they were muzzleloader elk hunting, just where I've been wanting to hunt, but couldn't because it's closed.   

[bullcanyon]

Bunch of rigs parked around mineral gates today too.  All had signs yesterday. Well except one that I am pretty sure I know who took it down.  Buddy had two rigs parked on his property down in pleasant valley. Older style white dodge and a newer black quad cab. He got their plates.  Waited for them, but I think they knew he was there. Every year its the same song and dance.  Heard 30+ shots from down the road when my son and I got home around 1:30.  Freaking city puke  drive me nuts.  What is wrong with these people??? I know all city slickers aren't trash, but there are enough of them that I have a bad taste in my mouth.

[windygorge]

i haven't called the hotline, but maybe they opened it because of the rain, but haven't removed the signs.   

[bankwalker]

I've been calling the Simpson/green diamond hotline all day. Monday they will evaluate the rainfall and decide.

[BOWHUNTER45]

I seen gates open today that are not usually open and I stayed out ...that was tough 

[akirkland]

Bunch of rigs parked around mineral gates today too.  All had signs yesterday. Well except one that I am pretty sure I know who took it down.  Buddy had two rigs parked on his property down in pleasant valley. Older style white dodge and a newer black quad cab. He got their plates.  Waited for them, but I think they knew he was there. Every year its the same song and dance.  Heard 30+ shots from down the road when my son and I got home around 1:30.  Freaking city puke  drive me nuts.  What is wrong with these people??? I know all city slickers aren't trash, but there are enough of them that I have a bad taste in my mouth.

ON HIS PROPERTY?!?!?!?!

[fishngamereaper]

Same thing over in kitsap/mason....people tresspassing on Pope land...stupid people suck.

[DRDANTDC]

Same thing over in kitsap/mason....people tresspassing on Pope land...stupid people suck.

The Hancock website says that all their tree farms are open. I don't know about anybody else though.

[deerhunter_98520]

I drove by a few weyco gates with big orange signs that says closed to public access with trucks parked next to them and i passed a warden not 2 min before this...figured he would sit and wait to write a big fat ticket or go in after them but nope...when i drove back by a half hour later they moved to another gate

[Yelm hunter]

Seen a few trucks off Johnson Creek Rd in Rainier parked and hunting with big bright orange signs that say CLOSED!! I don't know why people can't read? It's those people that are going to make weyco not open the gates for next weekend. But I did hear from a warden the gate will be open next weekend for sure... They were going to open it today but at the last minute had a coin flip not to is what the warden said... So I don't know! I guess we will wait and see what happens next weekend.

[yorketransport]

I've seen a couple rigs parked at the gates along Bald Hills road. I called the number to report it, but I doubt anything will happen.

Andrew

[Gundy]

people hunting in areas that are closed to fire danger really piss me off. it sucks that the law obeying people cant get in there and hunt but the idiots that dont know any better or dont care just go right in.  sorry i just needed to vent a little.

My ol Granny used to tell me " Worry about yourself, that will keep you busy enough"

[brokehunter]

Weyco opened St. Helens Tree farm to walk in only yesterday. So maybe they didn't get around to all the gates yet to remove their signs?

[PolarBear]

Seen a few trucks off Johnson Creek Rd in Rainier parked and hunting with big bright orange signs that say CLOSED!! I don't know why people can't read? It's those people that are going to make weyco not open the gates for next weekend. But I did hear from a warden the gate will be open next weekend for sure... They were going to open it today but at the last minute had a coin flip not to is what the warden said... So I don't know! I guess we will wait and see what happens next weekend.

I heard several rifle shots today from the Johnson Creek side of the Deschutes.  I called the guy in that was parked at the gate by Mayhan's on Vail Cut Off. That is where I heard the shot at 6 this morning.  I doubt if anything will happen.

[Hunter Dug]

What you guys dont understand ( or  ) is a warden cannot do anything about people parked at gates or even trespassing unless the land owner catches the violators and wishes to press charges.  Even if the warden sees people trespassing he can not do anything about it unless the land owner states he wishes to press charges for trespassing, this is why they turn a blind eye to all these people parked at these gates.  This is why you have to call the numbers listed.  9 times out of 10 there will be no response to your calls.

[RifleRidge]

Weyco opened St. Helens Tree farm to walk in only yesterday. So maybe they didn't get around to all the gates yet to remove their signs?

Did you hunt this area yesterday?... I hear that the gates out here were a parking lot...

[trophyelk6x6]

Mason lake area in Belfair had trucks at all the closed gates parked right in front of the big orange green diamond signs. I assume they didnt care since it started raining here saturday morning.

[logger]

Just went and checked our gate, trucks everywhere, I had 6 blaze orange signs that said active harvest, closed to unauthorized personel, some *censored* ripped everyone of them down.

[yorketransport]

Just went and checked our gate, trucks everywhere, I had 6 blaze orange signs that said active harvest, closed to unauthorized personel, some *censored* ripped everyone of them down.

So do you work for one of the timber companies? If so, are there any plans to fine folks who willfully ignore posted closures?  I'd love to see that happen! I just get annoyed by people who choose which rules they want to follow. It makes the rest of us look bad.

Andrew

[sirmissalot]

Just went and checked our gate, trucks everywhere, I had 6 blaze orange signs that said active harvest, closed to unauthorized personel, some *censored* ripped everyone of them down.

Did this happen to be on port Blakely ground outside of randle? I saw all the signs torn down last night and rigs at every gate.

[madcow41]

Is it illegal to part at gates on national forest land?

[bullcanyon]

Forest service is all good.  Most of the roads are normally ok and after this weekend will probably be open. I heard a bunch opened up this morning.  Haven't checked the orm land around here today, but it was closed yesterday.  Seen several rigs parked at gates yesterday afternoon on the way to my sons football game. Big red signs don't say it clearly enough....

Might be good advice Gundy, but a bunch of these guys are hunting areas that I've scouted all summer and I did not take my son up there because it was closed. I can see the units from my porch, but wasn't going to walk in there.  So you think I shouldn't be ticked off?

[fish vacuum]

What you guys dont understand ( or  ) is a warden cannot do anything about people parked at gates or even trespassing unless the land owner catches the violators and wishes to press charges.  Even if the warden sees people trespassing he can not do anything about it unless the land owner states he wishes to press charges for trespassing, this is why they turn a blind eye to all these people parked at these gates.  This is why you have to call the numbers listed.  9 times out of 10 there will be no response to your calls.

The land owner does not have to catch people behind their gates. Maybe it's an arrangement that some timber companies have with WDFW enforcement, but the officers can take your info, check with the timber outfit later, and then take whatever action they feel is necessary.
I know someone who was caught behind a private timber gate by WDFW enforcement. The gate was open to the public but closed to motorized vehicles and he was on a motorcycle. The officer took his info and said he would contact the timber company's lands manager. Depending on what the lands manager said, there would be future contact that could include a citation in the mail. The issue ended with a phone call from the lands manager.

The issue of trespassing should burn those of us who play by the rules.

[kalamasasquatch]

I KNOW wfdf can ticket you on weyerhauser land without contacting the timber company.

[Ziptie]

"What Is Poaching?
Poaching is the illegal taking or possession of game animals and fish, non-game, and protected, threatened, or endangered fish and wildlife species. Hunting deer/elk with the aid of a spotlight, closed season, closed area, possessing over the legal limits of fish or wildlife, killing of protected and endangered fish or wildlife, or destruction of critical habitat owned or controlled by WDFW are just a few examples. Please refer to the hunting or fishing regulations posted on the WDFW website for further definition.
Reward Program
Violator information that leads to a conviction, could be eligible for a cash reward (up to $500), or hunting bonus points (up to 10 points). Hunting bonus points provide a greatly improved chance for drawing special permits for hunting. Annually, about $ 8,000.00 is paid, and about 90 individuals receive special hunt drawing bonus points."

Pictures and a call to the hot line or game warden, would be worth a try I would think….

-Zip