E-mail from WDFW

[bearpaw]

So if I incorporate my business tomorrow you are saying I have to open my land up to the public?   

Those are privately owned lands, they can charge if they want as far as I am concerned. Probably half this state is public land for anyone to hunt on, I just don't understand this attitude where people think they can control someone's land.

[snowpack]

What about private property rights? Have you all opened your acreage or back yards up to public use? 

That's different. This is land owned by a large corporation, not a person or persons.

private shareholders.  Still private property, not owned by all taxpayers.  As long as there aren't any pre-existing contracts, like the low taxes for allowing hunting like a few have mentioned, they are free to restrict access imo.

[Hermannr]

What about private property rights? Have you all opened your acreage or back yards up to public use? 

The idea was, you get a property tax break...basically you are being compensated for not excluding the public by not having to pay full and fair use property tax.

There was a time that the forest was taxed on it's value, but then there was no special harvest tax on the timber cut.  (back in the 50's, don't remember exactly when the law changed.)  Sometime in the 60's the timber companies lobbied for a change in the property tax law to apply the major portion of the property tax at harvest, as an extra harvest revenue tax.  The reasoning was, it was very expensive to hold timber land for 70 to 100 years when having to pay property tax on the value of the land and timber, but if taxed at harvest, the revenue would be available to pay the harvest tax.

If I remember properly another part of this was to keep the timber companies from selling stump ranch for development, or just abandoning it rather than managing it for sustained harvest.  I am old, and my memory is not what it used to be so if you really want to know you will have to go back to the LAW (the RCW) and look at the revisions, and when they happened.  It wasn't that long ago (at least to me)  Maybe 50 years?  Open space law came into exsistance at the same time.

[bobcat]

Those are privately owned lands, they can charge if they want as far as I am concerned. Probably half this state is public land for anyone to hunt on, I just don't understand this attitude where people think they can control someone's land.

I think the "attitude" comes from the fact that OUR wildlife is on their land. We just want access to our wildlife.

Timber companies benefit from ridiculously low property taxes. In exchange, the public should have access to these lands.

Otherwise, why are they given the benefit of a low tax rate while the general public gets no benefit at all?

[bearpaw]

The greater portion of my land is classified as forest land. If I can afford to pay property taxes for another 10 years I am hoping I will be able to take a few logging truck loads of trees off of it. I have never heard that because it is forested that I should have to open it up to the public. Why don't you just take it from me so you can do as you please with it. I guess that's where we are headed anyway. 

I had thought my investment in land would be my retirement, I had no idea that other hunters would feel this way. 

[rtspring]

All of us have the oppurtunity to OWN land! With that being said, buy some. Then our animals we will be on your land!  This is why I hunt National Forest Land.  We all knew the day was coming when , they would charge to hunt their land

[92xj]

Those are privately owned lands, they can charge if they want as far as I am concerned. Probably half this state is public land for anyone to hunt on, I just don't understand this attitude where people think they can control someone's land.

I think the "attitude" comes from the fact that . We just want access to our wildlife. OUR wildlife is on their land
Timber companies benefit from ridiculously low property taxes. In exchange, the public should have access to these lands.

Otherwise, why are they given the benefit of a low tax rate while the general public gets no benefit at all?

really?  You really think that about private lands?  All private lands or just private lands you feel you need access to?

The greater portion of my land is classified as forest land. If I can afford to pay property taxes for another 10 years I am hoping I will be able to take a few logging truck loads of trees off of it. I have never heard that because it is forested that I should have to open it up to the public. Why don't you just take it from me so you can do as you please with it. I guess that's where we are headed anyway. 

I had thought my investment in land would be my retirement, I had no idea that other hunters would feel this way. 

Dibs on the "hole", garden area and right behind it!

[bobcat]

really?  You really think that about private lands?  All private lands or just private lands you feel you need access to?

I think what? That the state's wildlife is on private land? Yes of course  I think that. It's a fact. What part of it do you disagree with?

[92xj]

really?  You really think that about private lands?  All private lands or just private lands you feel you need access to?

I think what? That the state's wildlife is on private land? Yes of course  I think that. It's a fact. What part of it do you disagree with?

That you deserve access to private lands to go hunt OUR animals.

[Spuddieselwwu]

I'm probably going to get bashed here... But if any of these timber companies want to start charging people to hunt their land, that's their deal.  You can either choose to hunt it or not.  It's their land, not mine.   We've had the privilege of using their land, it's never been a right. Just my 

I mean how much were your tags and special permits this year?  It's a sign of the times, hunting is expensive all around.  It sucks, but it's a reality we have to face.

[bobcat]

really?  You really think that about private lands?  All private lands or just private lands you feel you need access to?

I think what? That the state's wildlife is on private land? Yes of course  I think that. It's a fact. What part of it do you disagree with?

That you deserve access to private lands to go hunt OUR animals.

No, I never said that. But, maybe you don't understand because you don't live over here, but a very large part of the hunting in SW Washington has historically been on Weyerhaeuser lands.

Funny how those who aren't affected by this don't seem to care. You know how wolves are a big issue in the NE? Well, this closure of Weyerhaeuser lands I consider to be even more of a detriment to hunting than wolves are over there. Does that give you an idea of the significance of the problem?

[bearpaw]

I'm probably going to get bashed here... But if any of these timber companies want to start charging people to hunt their land, that's their deal.  You can either choose to hunt it or not.  It's their land, not mine.   We've had the privilege of using their land, it's never been a right. Just my 

I mean how much were your tags and special permits this year?  It's a sign of the times, hunting is expensive all around.  It sucks, but it's a reality we have to face.

 

I own about 32 acres of timberland and these guys think they should be able to use it like it's theirs. 

[bearpaw]

really?  You really think that about private lands?  All private lands or just private lands you feel you need access to?

I think what? That the state's wildlife is on private land? Yes of course  I think that. It's a fact. What part of it do you disagree with?

That you deserve access to private lands to go hunt OUR animals.

No, I never said that. But, maybe you don't understand because you don't live over here, but a very large part of the hunting in SW Washington has historically been on Weyerhaeuser lands.

Funny how those who aren't affected by this don't seem to care. You know how wolves are a big issue in the NE? Well, this closure of Weyerhaeuser lands I consider to be even more of a detriment to hunting than wolves are over there. Does that give you an idea of the significance of the problem?

Who's paying the taxes, you or weyerhauser?

[pianoman9701]

I'm probably going to get bashed here... But if any of these timber companies want to start charging people to hunt their land, that's their deal.  You can either choose to hunt it or not.  It's their land, not mine.   We've had the privilege of using their land, it's never been a right. Just my 

I mean how much were your tags and special permits this year?  It's a sign of the times, hunting is expensive all around.  It sucks, but it's a reality we have to face.

 

I own about 32 acres of timberland and these guys think they should be able to use it like it's theirs. 

There's a difference, Dale. You don't get a tax break for recreational use.

[bobcat]

I'm probably going to get bashed here... But if any of these timber companies want to start charging people to hunt their land, that's their deal.  You can either choose to hunt it or not.  It's their land, not mine.   We've had the privilege of using their land, it's never been a right. Just my 

I mean how much were your tags and special permits this year?  It's a sign of the times, hunting is expensive all around.  It sucks, but it's a reality we have to face.

 

I own about 32 acres of timberland and these guys think they should be able to use it like it's theirs. 

Funny, I agree with that too. So I'm not sure why you're arguing with me.