Copalis Permit Questions

[kglacken]

I too drew a copalis hunt this year and I've already bought my access permit.  As far as the scouting, I tried going today.   Every gate was closed and the only open gate had a large red dot.  I'm going to give them a call tomorrow to find out when I can scout.  From what I saw, its pretty thick and flat.  Maybe it'll look better once we get in there.

I am going to give them a call tomorrow as well and see what info I can get out of them

[oldschooltrucks]

I was told to wait for the information packet to come in the mail and they would not answer any questions until I have recieved it and then they would answer specific questions I had.  Hurry up and wait lol.  I'm just itching to get out there!

[brew]

I too drew a copalis hunt this year and I've already bought my access permit.  As far as the scouting, I tried going today.   Every gate was closed and the only open gate had a large red dot.  I'm going to give them a call tomorrow to find out when I can scout.  From what I saw, its pretty thick and flat.  Maybe it'll look better once we get in there.

hate to be the buzz kill but your primary observations are correct...thick and flat...a lot of advice is to hunt the north end by the quinault rez but i had the most luck heading west of the humptulips store and finding access roads that headed north---didn't start seeing much sign (peels and scat) until closer to Memorial Day weekend...saw one bear around the opener (mid april) and then nothing else till late may...don't get discouraged

[oldschooltrucks]

Thanks for the advice.  I'm amazed that bears are already out farther east.  I can only hope its the same for the copalis area.  I really have high hopes this year lol.  Either spring or fall.  Question, do spring bears respond to calling or is that better for fall?   I have a rabbit in distress call but I don't know if I should try to use it. Thanks

[CementFinisher]

should be out earlier in copalis , with its warmer temps. plenty of browse already growing

[bobcat]

Calling will definitely work in the spring. We called a bear in on May 15, during my Capitol Forest spring bear hunt. Then the following weekend on May 22, called another bear in, which I killed. About 20 minutes after I shot that bear, another bear walked right through the middle of the clearcut, obviously looking for that fawn in distress it had heard.

[oldschooltrucks]

Great!  I will give it a try then.  Thanks for the advice

[pd]

Resurrecting this thread!

I checked the Rayonier website for any updates to the hunting rules for the 2014 Spring Bear season, but I didn't find anything useful.  For the Copalis unit (GMU 642), does one need to purchase access permits from Rayonier?  How much?  Where is this information?

Any advice from previous tag holders would be appreciated.  Thanks in advance.

[Bob33]

Resurrecting this thread!

I checked the Rayonier website for any updates to the hunting rules for the 2014 Spring Bear season, but I didn't find anything useful.  For the Copalis unit (GMU 642), does one need to purchase access permits from Rayonier?  How much?  Where is this information?

Any advice from previous tag holders would be appreciated.  Thanks in advance.

If I were you, I would call Rayonier.
http://www.rayonierhunting.com/Permits/PermitsHome.aspx

[pd]

If I were you, I would call Rayonier.
http://www.rayonierhunting.com/Permits/PermitsHome.aspx
[/quote]

Thanks, Bob.  I have already.  Their recorded message is all about land leases, nothing about access permits.  I am not starting a hunting lodge, I just want to know how much it costs for a single permit for Spring Bear season.

[ouchfoss]

I've heard a few rumors from different people locally that the whole lease and permit access thing is going to stop and those areas are going to back to being public access. Supposedly its because of the whole timberland tax exemption thing and that by charging recreation fees it changes their tax bracket. Not sure how that would change the spring bear hunt though. Could also be complete BS too but I'm sure we'll find out soon enough.

[kglacken]

Heres advice from a previous tag holder.... Dont apply...
In all honesty if you have a tonnnnnn of time to hunt, you dont mind hanging treestands or you just want a hunt close to home then apply. I was very disappointed. I consider myself to be a good hunter. Not a master, but able to adapt and overcome in order to increase my chances of success. It is flat, thick and the bear numbers are down in my opinion. I hunted almost every weekend from April 15th to June 15th and saw one bear that crossed the road within the first 5 minutes on the first day. I called, I hiked, I sat in tree stands, I sat in reprod patches where there were peels. I did everything I could think of and wasnt able to get it done. Im not saying its impossible but id be willing to bet that out of the 100 passes they give out, 3 people might fill a tag.

Another thing, bring a good gps with hunting maps chip because their property is not all one piece. Its a bunch of tiny little parcels that are scattered all over. If you dont pay attention, you will end up on property that is not legal to hunt.

As far as the access pass is concerned, once you draw the permit you can buy a discounted pass that allows you access to the area only during the spring bear season.

[pd]

Great advice, KG. Thanks.