Weyerhaeuser access permits for 2014

[Bow tech hunter]

Ok I been having some thoughts I was wondering if any hunter draws a special elk permit for Margaret, toutle ,mudflow ect... Would u have to buy the Winston access permit to go on those units or will the Winston access permit just be the Winston unit like vail unit was?

[bobcat]

None of that is known yet. It may not even go to that. We won't know for 3 or 4 months.

[steelnducks]

Like bow tech said nothing is for sure but I believe it would be a permit for the whole St. Helens tree farm.

[fireweed]

Here's the most prevalent rumor: the St. Helens Tree Farm will be divided into two pay-to-enter units (North and South). 

We need to contact our state reps. NOW right before the legislative session, and urge them to look at making sure the public gets public benefits (like access) from our tax breaks.  There are legislators willing to look at this.  We could have a system like Wisconsin or Michigan where there are separate property tax rates for timberland that allows free public access, and those that charge or don't allow access. 

 These public lands and resources could require a Weyerhaeuser permit next year...

7,000 acre WDFW  Wildlife Area (aka Mudflow unit)
35,000 acre Toutle State Forest plus 1000's acres more landlocked DNR land
Green River, Coweeman, North and South Toutle, E. Lewis, Kalama Rivers
three St. Helens Monument trailheads
Shores of Silver Lake
Parts of the Gifford Pinchot Nat Forest
the bulk of the west side of the Mt. St. Helens Monument

We shouldn't have private companies holding all these public lands and waters for ransom!

[Moose Master]

I will be in Olympia the 16th and 17th discussing other issues prior to the session starting.  If you will PM me I will also raise these issue's.  This is a short session this year so we have to be quick about it and just because I say something to my representative's we need our voices heard to the other representatives also.  Emails are fine but you can't hit delete to a person in front of you having a conversation.

[Bow tech hunter]

Ya I see what everybody's thoughts are on these access permits I just think it's crap that we gota pay to go in the woods and plus the hunting here in western washington is getting worse year by year it's just better to not spend ur money here and just go hunt out of state somewhere where it's better and u will see critters at and better critters then what's here in washington cuz u figure up all ur expense for tags here in washington access permits and fuel it's just not worth it to hunt here anymore I'm sure there's hunters out there that just do it for the meat to feed there family's like my self I got 3 lil munchkins so I just hunt for meat and now may not be able to hunt cuz cost too much and most likely will never make out of state when my lil ones are so young . That's where I'm getting here with this states game management there's just nothing in woods to see anymore i guess we will have to see what happens this coming year

[Mudman]

Its all crap!  Any who buy these permits are supporting the cause...period.  Boycott Weyco. Wa. Leg. need to do something soon.  I didnt even buy an elk tag this year, or discover pass.  I like the tax idea

[haus]

Its all crap!  Any who buy these permits are supporting the cause...period.  Boycott Weyco. Wa. Leg. need to do something soon.  I didnt even buy an elk tag this year, or discover pass.  I like the tax idea

Because myself, several of my family and friends buy passes to timber company land you've concluded that our sole position on the matter is being supporters of the cause? Thats an impressive assumption on your part, I'd suggest thinking it through further.

It was only a matter of time until the large corporate landowners made this move enmass, we've mostly expected to see this occur at some point have we not? What we didn't proactively address as a usergroup, is how we should respond when it did occur, we certainly had ample opportunity.

This matter like any other that our usergroup faces, needs to be addressed through a unified voice. We don't have one yet thats strong enough, by and large we've relied on our conservation organizations to do the political leg work, which they were never designed to do. This is why I originally believed and still hope to see WFW as that organization for us all to unify under so that we can address important matters such as this one, least that is the perspective I gathered after many long discussions with Bearpaw when WFW started. If you haven't done so already, I recommend joining WFW, its purpose is supporting the cause. 

[nw_bowhunter]

Question regarding the permits as I never even thought of buying one nor have really hunted the Westside.

Are these permits available to purchased based on a set quota? I guess why I'm asking is assuming many hunters may be displaced if the private companies only allow so many permits or hunters elect not to spend the money.

By limiting the permits does this improve opportunity with less hunters? Also, if you buy a permit but there are fire concerns will the access permit holder be locked out?

[bobcat]

Yes, in all the areas requiring access permits, the number sold was limited. The Vail tree farm had 750 permits and Pe Ell had 650.

Someone posted on here recently that the Aberdeen tree farm, for 2014, would require a permit, but they would be unlimited, and only $50 to $60.

The way things are going, with Hancock, Weyerhaeuser, Rayonier, and now Green Diamond charging for access, I feel if this continues, the land still open to the public will be over-hunted, and no longer worth hunting.

[wrongway]

I just sent my letters to my County Commissioner and State Representative. WE ALL NEED TO DO THIS NOW. If we have any chance of stopping this from getting worse.

[Bluesdude]

Here's the most prevalent rumor: the St. Helens Tree Farm will be divided into two pay-to-enter units (North and South). 

We need to contact our state reps. NOW right before the legislative session, and urge them to look at making sure the public gets public benefits (like access) from our tax breaks.  There are legislators willing to look at this.  We could have a system like Wisconsin or Michigan where there are separate property tax rates for timberland that allows free public access, and those that charge or don't allow access. 

 These public lands and resources could require a Weyerhaeuser permit next year...

7,000 acre WDFW  Wildlife Area (aka Mudflow unit)
35,000 acre Toutle State Forest plus 1000's acres more landlocked DNR land
Green River, Coweeman, North and South Toutle, E. Lewis, Kalama Rivers
three St. Helens Monument trailheads
Shores of Silver Lake
Parts of the Gifford Pinchot Nat Forest

We shouldn't have private companies holding all these public lands and waters for ransom!
the bulk of the west side of the Mt. St. Helens Monument

WHICH 3 Trailheads in the monument?

[Big6bull]

Here's the most prevalent rumor: the St. Helens Tree Farm will be divided into two pay-to-enter units (North and South). 

We need to contact our state reps. NOW right before the legislative session, and urge them to look at making sure the public gets public benefits (like access) from our tax breaks.  There are legislators willing to look at this.  We could have a system like Wisconsin or Michigan where there are separate property tax rates for timberland that allows free public access, and those that charge or don't allow access. 

 These public lands and resources could require a Weyerhaeuser permit next year...

7,000 acre WDFW  Wildlife Area (aka Mudflow unit)
35,000 acre Toutle State Forest plus 1000's acres more landlocked DNR land
Green River, Coweeman, North and South Toutle, E. Lewis, Kalama Rivers
three St. Helens Monument trailheads
Shores of Silver Lake
Parts of the Gifford Pinchot Nat Forest

We shouldn't have private companies holding all these public lands and waters for ransom!
the bulk of the west side of the Mt. St. Helens Monument

How could Weyhauser require a permit for parts of Gifford Pinchot national forest?

[blackveltbowhunter]

Here's the most prevalent rumor: the St. Helens Tree Farm will be divided into two pay-to-enter units (North and South). 

We need to contact our state reps. NOW right before the legislative session, and urge them to look at making sure the public gets public benefits (like access) from our tax breaks.  There are legislators willing to look at this.  We could have a system like Wisconsin or Michigan where there are separate property tax rates for timberland that allows free public access, and those that charge or don't allow access. 

 These public lands and resources could require a Weyerhaeuser permit next year...

7,000 acre WDFW  Wildlife Area (aka Mudflow unit)
35,000 acre Toutle State Forest plus 1000's acres more landlocked DNR land
Green River, Coweeman, North and South Toutle, E. Lewis, Kalama Rivers
three St. Helens Monument trailheads
Shores of Silver Lake
Parts of the Gifford Pinchot Nat Forest

We shouldn't have private companies holding all these public lands and waters for ransom!
the bulk of the west side of the Mt. St. Helens Monument

How could Weyhauser require a permit for parts of Gifford Pinchot national forest?

Access to the trail heads trailheads and land is through weyco. Some of it could still be accessed, but would be very difficult and not motorized.

[AKBowman]

Its all crap!  Any who buy these permits are supporting the cause...period.  Boycott Weyco. Wa. Leg. need to do something soon.  I didnt even buy an elk tag this year, or discover pass.  I like the tax idea

Because myself, several of my family and friends buy passes to timber company land you've concluded that our sole position on the matter is being supporters of the cause? Thats an impressive assumption on your part, I'd suggest thinking it through further.

It was only a matter of time until the large corporate landowners made this move enmass, we've mostly expected to see this occur at some point have we not? What we didn't proactively address as a usergroup, is how we should respond when it did occur, we certainly had ample opportunity.

This matter like any other that our usergroup faces, needs to be addressed through a unified voice. We don't have one yet thats strong enough, by and large we've relied on our conservation organizations to do the political leg work, which they were never designed to do. This is why I originally believed and still hope to see WFW as that organization for us all to unify under so that we can address important matters such as this one, least that is the perspective I gathered after many long discussions with Bearpaw when WFW started. If you haven't done so already, I recommend joining WFW, its purpose is supporting the cause. 

"It was only a matter of time until the large corporate landowners made this move enmass, we've mostly expected to see this occur at some point have we not? What we didn't proactively address as a usergroup, is how we should respond when it did occur, we certainly had ample opportunity."

I'm sorry but this statement just flat SUCKS! The fact that we have an opportunity to change the way things are and make things right once again is what being an American is all about. "Large Corporate Landowner's" have NO RIGHT to lock down public areas that lie within their private holdings. If they want to charge for access than fine but let's hit them in their pocket books where it hurts the most by lobbying legislature to pass the tax breaks for public access. No matter how you try to justify your thinking, no matter how, by purchasing these passes you,your friends, your family and everyone else who purchases them ARE indeed supporters of the cause.

It's never too late.

Hunt-WA Forum may be one of the most powerful tools we have today. I would love to see an organized boycott against WDFW until they address this issue. We need to boycott by NOT PURCHASING A WA ELK TAG IN 2014. I wouldn't be happy to do it but I will if we can get it organized on the forum.