Has anyone heard anything about Winston Creek Land?

[Bigshooter]

+1 piano man. I can't believe the bitching from sportsmen about efforts to expand wilderness areas, for one thing... Loss of access/habitat is THE threat to hunting - so much more serious and real than the gun issue it's not even funny. But it gets way way too little attention...

Pman said nothing about wilderness areas.

More wilderness areas is not what is needed in this State.  Wilderness areas are not very good for deer and elk anyway.  What we need is for the USFS to do more logging.

 

[mpetersen]

Remember this is only the Port Blakely land, Weyco property in the Winston is still open for public access, but for how long ??  Heard that Port Blakely security will be patrolling these areas for the guys that leased the tracts and no you can't enter at all.  It is a private hunt club for the guys who leased it.  This sucks as I killed a 6x6 bull off the 250 line last year and was hoping to do a repeat this year.  I got a feeling there is going to be some tense confrontations in that area as I'm sure not everyone who hunts up there know about this lease !!

[kglacken]

Remember this is only the Port Blakely land, Weyco property in the Winston is still open for public access, but for how long ??  Heard that Port Blakely security will be patrolling these areas for the guys that leased the tracts and no you can't enter at all.  It is a private hunt club for the guys who leased it.  This sucks as I killed a 6x6 bull off the 250 line last year and was hoping to do a repeat this year.  I got a feeling there is going to be some tense confrontations in that area as I'm sure not everyone who hunts up there know about this lease !!

This is exactly what I am thinking. I know if I was paying a bunch of money to lease land I would want others to keep out, but im sure there will be tons of people who have hunted these areas for years and will be extremely upset when they get all their gear together, drag the camper down there, get out at 5 a.m. opening morning only to have someone tell them to get off the land. I can see this causing some serious problems!

[mpetersen]

I know alot of guys including myself who have hunted these areas for many seasons. For some of them it has been generations for their families hunting up there. Now there gonna be chased out and told its being reserved for only a few !! It's going to be interesting to say the least !! Wonder if the Lewis Co. Sheriffs will have to be standing by opening day ?

[actionshooter]

It will probably get ugly with the locals and folks that have grown up there.

[mpetersen]

This leased area is bigger than I than I thought !!  This area includes the 100 line from Longbell Rd., the 200 and 250 line all the way up to the other side of Green Mountain.  The Port Blakley gates are already posted "private hunt club, no access".

[skidynastar33]

sucks all of this happening makes entering the grey area easier and easier. 

[mpetersen]

This lease is going to throw a wrench in a lot of guys plans this year including mine.  We have done well in those areas as they were the only non motorized spots left after weyco opened all their gates for modern a few years back. What really has our crew worried is weyco's access permit plans. If this spreads to the St. Helens tree farm things are gonna get really tight, and more leases, I think everyone sees the writing on the wall if this practice increases !!

[Eli346]

Not if but when these access fees and leases expand! They're going to make a trespasser and poacher out of me yet.

[mpetersen]

Guys are really going to have to pay attention where their going as state and weyco land butts up against this property and not everyone utilizes gates when they walk in to hunt. Maybe Port Blakley is going to post these hunt club signs every few yards !!

[bearpaw]

+1 piano man. I can't believe the bitching from sportsmen about efforts to expand wilderness areas, for one thing... Loss of access/habitat is THE threat to hunting - so much more serious and real than the gun issue it's not even funny. But it gets way way too little attention...

Pman said nothing about wilderness areas.

More wilderness areas is not what is needed in this State.  Wilderness areas are not very good for deer and elk anyway.  What we need is for the USFS to do more logging.

 

x2  

Absolutely agree, I've seen quite a few elk, deer, moose, turkey, bear, and other wildlife while spring turkey and bear hunting, almost all of them are in logging areas where there is food.

[dlaw]

Talked to a lady at Port Blakely today and she stated that all of the Port Blakely land in the Winston creek area from Longbell up over Green Mnt to Riffe lake has been leased by the Green Mountain Hunting club.  Interesting, and like most have said, a game changer.

[Yelm hunter]

Well I wonder if the leaser will start selling access permits to help make there money back? I heard as well that it is the Green Mountain Hunting Club.

From what they told me it covers the area from longbell rd up to green mountain. So however big that area is. They told me no public access in this area.

That's what I heard also.  No public access from the 100 line gate anymore unless you have a lease.

[Jack-Fir]

I heard of 10,000 acres being leased to one hunting party

[mpetersen]

Don't know how many acres exactly, but it includes 100, 200, 250 line to opposite side of Green Mountain. This isn't going to help an already packed area.