Volunteers needed for St Helen's elk hunts

[DARKTIMBER]

What gives them the right to lock me out of land that I am supposed to be able to access whenever I want? I pay taxes to the state, so state land in my land to use. Keep your locks off

[dreamunelk]

What gives them the right to lock me out of land that I am supposed to be able to access whenever I want? I pay taxes to the state, so state land in my land to use. Keep your locks off

What makes you think you have the right to cross private property?   Unless there is an an easement in place the states the public has access you do not have the right to cross.  That is the way our laws are written.

[snowpack]

What gives them the right to lock me out of land that I am supposed to be able to access whenever I want? I pay taxes to the state, so state land in my land to use. Keep your locks off

The state and the FS should be proactive in ensuring access to those lands.  FS seems to be so embattled with greenies I can kind of understand why they make little progress doing anything at all.  But it's not like the state hasn't known access issues were going to be more and more of a problem.  State seemed fine with gates blocking vehicles and telling folks to bike or hike, but now that they can't even do that--I would guess they will have to quit kicking the can down the road.

[jackelope]

All I know is, if there's a lock on the gate that lets me access state land it will be cut

It is a crime to destroy property, I hope you get caught by a hidden trail cam when you do this. Maybe you don't like that they own the land you want to cross, that does not give you the right to destroy property. Destruction of property is specifically one reason many private lands are off limits to the public even passing through. People with this same mentality would likely shoot game while passing through private land, thus another reason land owners lock their property, they can't trust some of the public.

Everybody reading Darktimber's post?? This is why the gates are there. This is why private timberlands are closing down their access. Because people like this just feel like they can do whatever they want, break, ruin, litter, vandalize, etc. Whatever. Thanks, Darktimber, for the example next time someone wonders why timber companies are now charging for access, or putting gates up, or closing their land. Way to go.

[bearpaw]

   yep, exactly right

[Elkstuffer]

What gives them the right to lock me out of land that I am supposed to be able to access whenever I want? I pay taxes to the state, so state land in my land to use. Keep your locks off

All I know is, if there's a lock on the gate that lets me access state land it will be cut

What a tool! He was bashing a kid on another thread for asking for opinions on hunting a new unit. I thought this site was for helping each other be better and more successful hunters. He is the exact reason that they are locking there gates.

[Bob33]

In December 2011 there was a thread about a hunter who was on Weyerhaeuser (i.e. private) land, and got locked in behind the gate after dark.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,89333.0.html

Here are some of the suggestions that were offered:
 
“A good long chain and a truck is the key”
“Sounds like a torch is in order”
“Break the locks on the gate if you can. maybe the gates shut at a certain time and the idiot who closed it thought everybody was out and wanted to go home early”
“Blow that *censored* off”.
“This is exactly why i carry my "permission slip"”
“cordless dremmel”
“Cordless SAW ZALL”
“…run a small diameter piece thru the lock hasp, wind up the 'molly' hook your tow chain onto it and give a sharp jerk with your truck, you'll snap the lock open.”
 “Long handled bolt cutters are a must. The short ones don't have enough leverage and even then you will want to use your truck to move the cutter”

It is disgusting that we have so many hunters with so little regard for private landowners. A few posts on this thread are just one more fine example, and a clear indication why more and more land is locked up or requires an access fee.

[madmack76]

All I know is, if there's a lock on the gate that lets me access state land it will be cut

and hopefully you go to jail idiot actions like this are causing half the problems.

[snowpack]

There's a difference in removing a lock to get into a place and removing one to get out of the place.  I have no plans to destroy a lock to get in, but if locked in (trapped)....the lock would be gone and I'd contact the owner about replacing it assuming they couldn't get out to open it in a reasonable amount of time.  I see those as very different situations.

[madmack76]

What gives them the right to lock me out of land that I am supposed to be able to access whenever I want? I pay taxes to the state, so state land in my land to use. Keep your locks off

All I know is, if there's a lock on the gate that lets me access state land it will be cut

What a tool! He was bashing a kid on another thread for asking for opinions on hunting a new unit. I thought this site was for helping each other be better and more successful hunters. He is the exact reason that they are locking there gates.

he's coming on here roaring dbag.

[Bob33]

There's a difference in removing a lock to get into a place and removing one to get out of the place.  I have no plans to destroy a lock to get in, but if locked in (trapped)....the lock would be gone and I'd contact the owner about replacing it assuming they couldn't get out to open it in a reasonable amount of time.  I see those as very different situations.

When you're on someone else's land, he gets to make the rules. I appreciate your willingness to reimburse the landowner in this hypothetical situation, however. That was evidently missing in the attitude of many in the other post.

[DARKTIMBER]

Never have I cut a lock. Nor do I shoot up equipment, or leave trash in the woods. So calm down tough guys. I myself have purchased a pe ell pass. So don't think I am crooked

[TommyGun496]

Never have I cut a lock. Nor do I shoot up equipment, or leave trash in the woods. So calm down tough guys. I myself have purchased a pe ell pass. So don't think I am crooked

Dont you have a marget & a toutle bull tag?  Did you buy the pe ell pass just for a deer?  Ironic you calling out 'tough guys' when you are threatening to cut locks on gates??

[DARKTIMBER]

Yeah I did draw both. Bought the pe ell pass for deer, and my father drew a cow tag for modern rifle.

[DARKTIMBER]

Decent bear hunting in pe ell too