Volunteers needed for St Helen's elk hunts

[fireweed]

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.

How many of us have actually written or called the DNR/USFS about the issue of landlocked public lands?  We all get frustrated, we get mad and rant and rave, but do we follow up?   The DNR and USFS has to HEAR it loud and clear and often (remember these are government employees).  The USFS in SW Washington right now is under tremendous political pressure to improve access near Mount St. Helens.  Contact them today!

Since everyone has email--

Peter Goldmark--commissioner of public lands
cpl@dnr.wa.gov

WDFW director
director@dfw.wa.gov

Gifford Pinchot Nat. Forest Comment form
http://www.fs.usda.gov/contactus/giffordpinchot/about-forest/contactus

Weyerhaeuser sustainability survey
http://www.weyerhaeuser.com/Sustainability/Extras/Feedback

Don't forget your state legislators and federal elected officials too.  Jamie Herrera-Butler in SW wash is pro-access and pro-timber, just the person timber industry might listen to when approached about easements to public land.

[get one leakin]

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.

Exactly

[pianoman9701]

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.

How many of us have actually written or called the DNR/USFS about the issue of landlocked public lands?  We all get frustrated, we get mad and rant and rave, but do we follow up?   The DNR and USFS has to HEAR it loud and clear and often (remember these are government employees).  The USFS in SW Washington right now is under tremendous political pressure to improve access near Mount St. Helens.  Contact them today!

Since everyone has email--

Peter Goldmark--commissioner of public lands
cpl@dnr.wa.gov

WDFW director
director@dfw.wa.gov

Gifford Pinchot Nat. Forest Comment form
http://www.fs.usda.gov/contactus/giffordpinchot/about-forest/contactus

Weyerhaeuser sustainability survey
http://www.weyerhaeuser.com/Sustainability/Extras/Feedback

Don't forget your state legislators and federal elected officials too.  Jamie Herrera-Butler in SW wash is pro-access and pro-timber, just the person timber industry might listen to when approached about easements to public land.

Good constructive post with resources for all of us, Fireweed. Thanks.