new Article: WDFW blindsided by Timberland Fees

[fireweed]

From Eatonville Dispatch
http://www.dispatchnews.com/?p=2838

[pianoman9701]

The DFW was blindsided, eh? Wait until wolf damage really takes off. "We had no idea this would happen." 

[snowpack]

Rayonier, Physt and others have been charging for access for years.  Wonder how long WDFW was blindsided before Weyco took out a full page ad in the regs?

[haulinbass]

It is just making it a rich mans game everybody wants to have there hands in the pot and I for one would not pay extra to hunt my great state of Washington with the DNR and inflation on tags and permit applications I am pretty sure I will not be hunting here anymore after this season. It is sad that it is coming to this.

[Goshawk]

Allow me to translate this for you.

"The WDFW had no idea  that hunters would object to paying for access to what was public lands."

[bigtex]

Allow me to translate this for you.

"The WDFW had no idea  that hunters would object to paying for access to what was public lands."

The lands were never "public", they were private lands that were open to the public. Public lands are owned by the government, not a company.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Allow me to translate this for you.

"The WDFW had no idea  that hunters would object to paying for access to what was public lands."

The lands were never "public", they were private lands that were open to the public. Public lands are owned by the government, not a company.

100% correct ..BUT do not these huge timber companies get huge Tax cuts from the government to share their lands for recreation ? The government needs to tax the living crap out of them for doing this ...pretty sad a guy can not even go on a walk with his dog because he does not have a permit ...I say  on them  :dunno:This is seriously a messed up deal !!!!!!

[fireweed]

Allow me to translate this for you.

"The WDFW had no idea  that hunters would object to paying for access to what was public lands."

The lands were never "public", they were private lands that were open to the public. Public lands are owned by the government, not a company.

But don't forget all the landlocked public lands now behind private gates and basically treated as private.  Seems the landowner next to the public road gets to control everyone else.  And its not just checkerboard, either.  Here in the SW nearly ALL of our public lands are landlocked, including an entire 35,000 acre DNR forest and a 7,000 acre WDFW wildlife area.

[Goshawk]

And,
Our own DNR continues to "swap out" public lands held close to population centers for lands held in the high elevations of North Eastern Washington where almost nobody can just drop by after work or school to enjoy.

[Alan K]

The state itself started charging for access before Weyco did, I don't see why they were surprised! 

[bobcat]

Yeah but it's only $30 to access DNR lands, and there's no limit to the number of permits they can sell. So, not quite the same. If Weyerhaeyser would sell access permits, for let's say $50 per vehicle, and no limit on the number sold, I think they'd bring in just as much money, and the average person could still afford to hunt on Weyerhaeuser.

[Eli346]

 I'm thinking about carrying a box of road flares to toss across the gated lines. Screw em.

[Alan K]

I'm thinking about carrying a box of road flares to toss across the gated lines. Screw em.

 

I remember when rumors of the access permits were floating around thinking there might be a bunch of disgruntled hunters out there . . . Sounds like this fire season could be particularly bad, and not because of the weather!   

[pianoman9701]

I'm thinking about carrying a box of road flares to toss across the gated lines. Screw em.

Really? Thinking about arson and posting it on the WWW? Brilliant. Best of luck in the future! 

[Curly]

Yeah but it's only $30 to access DNR lands, and there's no limit to the number of permits they can sell. So, not quite the same. If Weyerhaeyser would sell access permits, for let's say $50 per vehicle, and no limit on the number sold, I think they'd bring in just as much money, and the average person could still afford to hunt on Weyerhaeuser.

 

I wish WEYCO and the others would allow access like IEP does in NE Wa.  Just get a permit, what was it $40 or something, which allows you access to their lands.  In getting the permit you read the timber company rules regarding carrying a shovel, fire extinguisher, etc. and you sign something saying you understand the rules........you then have a permit for a year at a reasonable price.