Archery Elk Blue Mountains

[Woodchuck]

Now to get back to the OP's initial question. Save your points for the Colockum, there are no elk in the Blues. 

[270Flat]

 

[firecrotch]

Marengo unit is what it was called, gmu 163 and 162 out side the Nat forest.
I will say this Skywalker, if you had come on and explained your experience like you just did from the get go you would not have gotten some of the reactions you got. The fact that you just belted out names with derogatory statements is gonna draw fire. 

 

These landowners deal with a HUGE amount of people asking to hunt. The Quality permit guys for all weapons and 2 different hunt choices, the antlerless permit guys for a few different hunt choices, the general elk guys(archery and modern), the general deer guys, all the deer permit guys.

Imagine the number of people that ask each year. If I were the landowner, I would probably have guard dogs at the door and not own a telephone.

I’m not sure it “would be nice”.

Your right BB, and its going to get tougher as time goes on. Land owners are becoming more posted to their property than ever before because of the quality of elk that there are here, and more general pressure. And to be added when people like Mossback Outfitters are running around the attention is going to bring on more population in the Blues. Land owners are in a tough position. Its something ive noticed with first hand. Every year its amazing when hunting season gets closer how many friends you have, or how many people you haven't talked with in a year start calling. By the times hunting season finishes up you never hear from those friends or can't get ahold of them, but by golly the time hunting season rolls around you have all these yearly friends again expecting permission.

[Landowner]

The reality is that hunting access is very limited on private ground in Dayton 162, and it's going to get even more limited.  Landowners are overwhelmed by requests to hunt.  Add to that the fact that any land that comes up for sale is being quickly snatched up by purchasers who want their own ground to hunt and use for other recreation.  Many land transactions never get listed with realtors. 

I personally field over a 100 annual requests starting with turkey in the Spring, and of course the big game seasons, starting with archery and other seasons well before the September 1st launch dates. (not to mention the upland bird seasons throughout the Fall).  It simply is impossible to provide quality opportunities to everyone who wants to hunt.

Keeping a healthy wildlife population is a factor that myself and some other landowners I know consider in determining how many hunters to allow.  I try to keep a temperature on the game population on my ground, as my family and I enjoy seeing the wildlife---even though the elk are capable of inflicting major crop damage at times when no depredation hunting is allowed due to calving, and calves being too young to be without mom.  And yes, landowners have people who help or work for them that have earned the right to hunt, and landowners have families who also like to hunt.  Every landowner has some kind of criteria they apply to screen hunters.     

The windmill access is an interesting one. Some landowners in the 163 unit have not turned over total control to the power companies for hunting permission and access.   Not sure if the issue has been resolved, but a local landowner told me that PSE put the burden on the landowners to insure against damage to the turbines from recreational users.  Result was that some (who had never done so before) posted their ground so that they didn't need to incur the insurance costs.  I'll let Ms. Walsh wade in on the actual facts on that issue. 

On the bright side, there are a lot of quality hunting opportunities on a lot of public ground in the Tucannannon and USFS areas in the Blues.  I admire the guys who get out of their pick-ups and walk into the woods to hunt.  Too many guys driving around all day instead of hunting---and I'm not putting the disabled hunters in that category. 

[Landowner]

@Skywalker.  I spoke with Eaton and read him your posts.  He remembers you.  And he remembers a lot different story than you are telling. 

I will agree, generally speaking, that if someone gets permission to hunt---and by that I mean a firm "promise" of access that the landowner intends for the hunter to rely upon in applying for a tag---then a hunter should be able to rely upon that promise.

But, along with that comes the condition that the hunter also must abide by the deal----including sticking to where they are given permission to hunt and any other rules that are part of the permission.   

[Mr Mykiss]

Forgive me if I missed something in the past posts. And please don't take this the wrong way... you messed up dude. Were you really only planning on hunting Eaton's with your BIG BULL TAG?? Really? I mean seriously? You didn't think about any other options? You didn't have 5 to 10 other places to hunt big bulls in the Dayton unit? Seriously? I believe that you can chalk this up as a lesson learned--->Scout a bunch of areas!!
Now that I've given you a lashing just like everyone else I will share with you my lesson learned for this year. I cashed in 8 points and $500 to hunt Oregon, I scouted as hard as I could, I could've done more. After 4 days everyone I ran into had scouted less than me and had seen bulls... I still hadn't seen a elk. On day 8 I called in two bulls. The first was tiny and I didn't have a shot. The second was a "big raghorn" (not the 320 bull I had hoped for). I passed on him for 5 minutes and then called him back and put one right where I was aiming...right in the heart...it was not so. I have a picture of the arrow sticking right outta where I thought the heart would be. I found no blood and I tracked him for 4 days and that was my hunt. My lesson learned this year ----> Aim higher!!
Lessons learned and they don't come cheap...

[Landowner]

@Skywalker---I don't plan to serve as a mediator here, but feel free to contact Mr. Eaton if you feel compelled to do so.  He's not overjoyed  with how you trashed him on here under the guise of "opinions", but at the end of the day, that's between you and him.

In the FWIW column-----purely my own opinions and rambling thoughts-----landowners, like hunters, talk to one another.  Not surprisingly, guys with good reputations have better chances to secure permission to hunt than those who don't.  As with a person's reputation in any walk of life, it takes time to build it, and only a moment in time to destroy it.  And, of course, first impressions can make a difference.     

I talk regularly with our local Columbia County landowners.  We talk about encounters and experiences with hunters, where they are from, how many guys are in a pick-up, the color and kind of rig they drive, who looks to be the road hunters instead of real hunters, who was caught or suspected of trespassing, everyday kinds of things that stick out when you meet and hear about people. 

And while permission is not always granted, a hunter's reputation built over time will usually increase their chances.  Persistence in moderation helps----I turn down a lot of hunting requests based primarily on sheer numbers of those requests, and it's not easy for me to say "no".   I'm mindful that it takes some courage to ask for permission, and of course, no one likes the uncomfortable moment when "no" is the word.  It gets harder to say no with that courteous and persistent hunter who doesn't take initial rejection as the end of the line.   

Every landowner has their own criteria for granting or denying permission.  For me, I like to see guys get a quality hunt without a lot of other guys in every draw and canyon.  I also try to be mindful of keeping a healthy population of wildlife.  I'm not a biologist and don't take census counts of wildlife on my ground, but I know where the wildlife hang on my place and have a pretty good sense of how the population is doing.   And, I have to allow for some family, a few long-time friends, and people who contribute to the farm operation.   

Lest I be accused of adopting only a landowner's perspective, I have to say there are a few local landowners who are plain horse's ***es in how they treat people who ask for permission to hunt.  Those few usually bleed that attitude into other areas of their life, and don't have many friends amongst most landowers, IMHO.  That's because, like some hunters, their reputation precedes them. 

And, as a final point, I don't expect gifts from those who hunt my ground.  Sure, we get some whisky and other goodies because many hunters want to express their appreciation, but that's not a requirement.  For me, I appreciate seeing someone enjoying the experience. 

[Todd_ID]

Thanks, Landowner, for being engaged in this discussion in a civil and informative way.  We, as hunters, don't hear "your" side of the story often enough, and it is good for all of us to know the manners of thinking in which landowners, in general, deal with hunters.  Maybe, just maybe, from your participation on this forum, we, as hunters, can step up our approach and be better stewards of private land which would allow us more opportunities in the future.

Thanks! 

[Bob33]

In the FWIW column-----purely my own opinions and rambling thoughts-----landowners, like hunters, talk to one another.  Not surprisingly, guys with good reputations have better chances to secure permission to hunt than those who don't.  As with a person's reputation in any walk of life, it takes time to build it, and only a moment in time to destroy it.  And, of course, first impressions can make a difference.     

I talk regularly with our local Columbia County landowners.  We talk about encounters and experiences with hunters, where they are from, how many guys are in a pick-up, the color and kind of rig they drive, who looks to be the road hunters instead of real hunters, who was caught or suspected of trespassing, everyday kinds of things that stick out when you meet and hear about people. 

And while permission is not always granted, a hunter's reputation built over time will usually increase their chances.  Persistence in moderation helps----I turn down a lot of hunting requests based primarily on sheer numbers of those requests, and it's not easy for me to say "no".   I'm mindful that it takes some courage to ask for permission, and of course, no one likes the uncomfortable moment when "no" is the word.  It gets harder to say no with that courteous and persistent hunter who doesn't take initial rejection as the end of the line.   

Every landowner has their own criteria for granting or denying permission.  For me, I like to see guys get a quality hunt without a lot of other guys in every draw and canyon.  I also try to be mindful of keeping a healthy population of wildlife.  I'm not a biologist and don't take census counts of wildlife on my ground, but I know where the wildlife hang on my place and have a pretty good sense of how the population is doing.   And, I have to allow for some family, a few long-time friends, and people who contribute to the farm operation.   

And, as a final point, I don't expect gifts from those who hunt my ground.  Sure, we get some whisky and other goodies because many hunters want to express their appreciation, but that's not a requirement.  For me, I appreciate seeing someone enjoying the experience.

Thank you for the comments on building successful landowner relationships.  There is a lot of wisdom in them.

[TheHunt]

Wow, is all I got to say on this.  The lesson learned is to get permission in writing.

Wow, Wow, Wow.... 

After reading this I could see both sides. 

The king here is the person who pays the taxes for the property.

The internet good, bad, and ugly provides a much more public view of individuals life events.

[Mr Mykiss]

And I shall eat crow. I apologize and I was in fact wrong, dead wrong. I assumed that your "special permit" was for a bull elk. In all honesty I never thought for a million years that somebody would make such a fuss over a cow tag... 

[Mr Mykiss]

We'll find you a cow next time you draw!! I didn't even get a chance to hunt when I drew my cow tag

[bullcanyon]

If this guy gave you permission before you even applied and than changed his mind.  That's a d bag move.  I don't now either party, but I feel like sky put the effort in to gain access and was granted that.  Than later denied.  He didn't start this thread, but he has added some insight to future tag holders to not take a chance on these landowners.  I'm betting they would generally give permission as long as no one in their family or close friends have the tag.  A man's word should mean something.  Apparently that's another thing that we just let slide anymore.......

[WaHeadhunter]

All I ever posted, was my EXPERIENCE with the guy. Just like a few other members posted thiers. Sorry I don't sugar coat things, and I tell it like it is. Welcome to the internet and hunt-wa.

I'm thinking one issue or point Mr Landowner was making was your blatant accusation regarding Mr Eaton being charge with felonies, that were dismissed by the prosecutor as well as you assertion that he was a crook. Those type of unfounded accusations are hardly related to your  "EXPERIENCE".

But I could be wrong. 

[huntnnw]

Sorry..hunter makes an effort for permission and gains permission on a hunt that is all but private and the landowner changes his mind..sorry nope..D-BAG!!