Organized Boycott of Elk tag purchase due to private timber access permits

[pianoman9701]

Sorry I have to vote no, I hunt National Forrest for both deer and elk so timberlands do not affect me.

Yet.

You ever seen how busy DNR, NF, or any other state land gets when the timber lands get closed down for fire dangers?

Kinda like that, but worst.

 

Every hunter in the state will be affected by timberlands being shut down to public access.

And yet you want to boycott getting an elk tag when I harvested an elk this year and saw 0 other hunters in the woods (on managed trails doesn't count) while hunting.  As long as you get off of the main road extra people doesn't seem to be an issue.  I understand the frustration, as I used to hunt timberlands but as it stands now I will not be boycotting anytime soon.

I agree that boycotting will do nothing. However, I can't remember the last time I saw zero hunters in the woods. I hunt NF and it seems the numbers there are increasing, and I would bet some of that has to do with paid access on timber property.

[scout/sniper]

Scout/Sniper I am a member of WFW.

I cordially invite you to join the discussion in CH-5 and put your frustration to work. 

[AKBowman]

Scout/Sniper I am a member of WFW.

I cordially invite you to join the discussion in CH-5 and put your frustration to work. 

When/where is the next Ch-5 meeting? I am in Ch-4 area but would gladly like to join in on a Ch-5 meeting.

[bobcat]

I've been pondering this for a while now, and really, what good is it if we only have walk in access to Weyerhaeuser's tree farms? This talk about doing something so we can regain the access that has been lost, to me we need open gates and drive in access, and not just 2 or 3 weekends per year.

Honestly I think I'd rather have the access permits for a couple hundred dollars, and the ability to drive in and hunt from. August 1 to December 31. Vail has never appealed to me since scouting before the season was not possible. I don't like going into areas totally blind, especially when there's two thousand other hunters all crowded into the same area on the same day.

I don't know what the solution is but I don't really want 100% of the Weyerhaeuser roads gated off and closed to all motor vehicles, even if they did allow non motorized access. All that will do is concentrate most hunters within one or two miles of the gates, myself included. I think I would rather have a $50 pass and all mainline gates open. Otherwise, I will just quit hunting the west side of the state.

[Jonathan_S]

I voted no. 

Weyco is a privately owned company for crying out loud.  That would be no different than lobbying for increased taxes on Dayton or Prescott unit farmers for not opening up their land to hunting.

I would support a boycott on the pass and Spring Bear tags for those areas.

[Bunny Thumper]

If you think not buying an elk tag is going to convince  Weyerhaeuser to not try and maximize their profits Your living a fantasy. Weyerhaeuser is a large for profit corporation that is more concerned with making a profit and keeping it stockholders happy, not giving you easy access to it's property. It sucks but that is reality.

[pianoman9701]

Scout/Sniper I am a member of WFW.

I cordially invite you to join the discussion in CH-5 and put your frustration to work. 

When/where is the next Ch-5 meeting? I am in Ch-4 area but would gladly like to join in on a Ch-5 meeting.

Tomorrow Night, 7 PM at Guliano's Pizza in Woodland. Hope to see you there. 

[AKBowman]

I voted no. 

Weyco is a privately owned company for crying out loud.  That would be no different than lobbying for increased taxes on Dayton or Prescott unit farmers for not opening up their land to hunting.

I would support a boycott on the pass and Spring Bear tags for those areas.

I think the point many are stating on here is that it is not the same as what you have described above. From what I am now understanding Originally the timber lands were purchased under an agreement for public access in exchange for diversified tax breaks. Meaning the public pays a share of the timber co's taxes for the exchange of access to the land.

Yes, Weyco is a private company but the land in which they generate their profit from is taxed differently than the land of the private farmer you described above. It's no different than many of the other states that give farmers tax breaks for segmenting all or a portion of their land for Walk-in only public access. In exchange for the access they get a break in taxes or some sort of subsidization for allowing the public to access their lands. They are not forced to do this it is by choice and it seems to work out great in those areas. From what I understand this same type of agreement was made with Weyco and they have been reaping the benefits of the tax break but are now also charging access fees and still reaping the benefits of here tax break? Timber co's should absolutely be allowed to do what they want with their giant mega chunks of land but if we are paying a portion of their taxes to utilize it than how does it make any sense that we have to stroke them another check for an access pass? It's either one or the other it's BS that they are getting both and I for one won't support it.

Like others have said its hard to understand how allowing non motorized access is going to cost them money in property damage. I don't see a tweaker biking or hiking in their washer and dryer to shoot it full of holes and dump it on timber land.

[fireweed]

I've been pondering this for a while now, and really, what good is it if we only have walk in access to Weyerhaeuser's tree farms? This talk about doing something so we can regain the access that has been lost, to me we need open gates and drive in access, and not just 2 or 3 weekends per year.

Honestly I think I'd rather have the access permits for a couple hundred dollars, and the ability to drive in and hunt from. August 1 to December 31. Vail has never appealed to me since scouting before the season was not possible. I don't like going into areas totally blind, especially when there's two thousand other hunters all crowded into the same area on the same day.

I don't know what the solution is but I don't really want 100% of the Weyerhaeuser roads gated off and closed to all motor vehicles, even if they did allow non motorized access. All that will do is concentrate most hunters within one or two miles of the gates, myself included. I think I would rather have a $50 pass and all mainline gates open. Otherwise, I will just quit hunting the west side of the state.

That's reasonable, but I think to get the full tax break (that we already pay for) they also need to allow unlimited non-motorized access year round.  They can charge for motorized without a change in tax breaks, IF coupled with free non-motorized. 

[Peregrine]

Well put AKBowman..

[bobcat]

That's reasonable, but I think to get the full tax break (that we already pay for) they also need to allow unlimited non-motorized access year round.  They can charge for motorized without a change in tax breaks, IF coupled with free non-motorized.

Agreed!

[b0bbyg]

As many have said I don't think this approach would accomplish what many really want, which is free access to Timber lands.

I might be thinking too simple but it seems that the timber companies want less animals, If you could organize a boycott of hunting their lands and buying there access permits you might have a better shot.  If nobody is getting Elk/deer/bear off Timber lands they might have incentive to open up more access.

If you want to influence the legislature then either lots of people need to contact their reps or you get a lobbyist ( like the big timber companies have )

Again I might be thinking too simple but it just my  and cost you very little to read   

[scout/sniper]

As many have said I don't think this approach would accomplish what many really want, which is free access to Timber lands.

I might be thinking too simple but it seems that the timber companies want less animals, If you could organize a boycott of hunting their lands and buying there access permits you might have a better shot.  If nobody is getting Elk/deer/bear off Timber lands they might have incentive to open up more access.

If you want to influence the legislature then either lots of people need to contact their reps or you get a lobbyist ( like the big timber companies have )

Again I might be thinking too simple but it just my  and cost you very little to read   

I don't think it's too simple.
I have quietly contemplated something along the lines of working with WDFW and closing weyco lands to all hunting if they restrict access.
I don't know, it seems pretty extreme to me.
Voluntarily boycotting hunting won't work because even those people that say they will support you will stab you in the back and buy passes and hunt anyway.
I don't understand why everyone isn't helping WFW on this issue.

[AKBowman]

As many have said I don't think this approach would accomplish what many really want, which is free access to Timber lands.

I might be thinking too simple but it seems that the timber companies want less animals, If you could organize a boycott of hunting their lands and buying there access permits you might have a better shot.  If nobody is getting Elk/deer/bear off Timber lands they might have incentive to open up more access.

If you want to influence the legislature then either lots of people need to contact their reps or you get a lobbyist ( like the big timber companies have )

Again I might be thinking too simple but it just my  and cost you very little to read   

I don't think it's too simple.
I have quietly contemplated something along the lines of working with WDFW and closing weyco lands to all hunting if they restrict access.
I don't know, it seems pretty extreme to me.
Voluntarily boycotting hunting won't work because even those people that say they will support you will stab you in the back and buy passes and hunt anyway.
I don't understand why everyone isn't helping WFW on this issue.

I can see now that boycotting purchasing an elk tag probably isn't the most effective measure to take. I sure as hell won't be purchasing an access pass to a private timber lands. Instead, I donated $100 to WFW. Even though I don't think we should have to depend on WFW it has become apparent it will be the most effective avenue to take. A unified voice for all hunters of WA State.

[scout/sniper]

I can see now that boycotting purchasing an elk tag probably isn't the most effective measure to take. I sure as hell won't be purchasing an access pass to a private timber lands. Instead, I donated $100 to WFW. Even though I don't think we should have to depend on WFW it has become apparent it will be the most effective avenue to take. A unified voice for all hunters of WA State.

That is really something. Good on you!