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

[fireweed]

Time to also start commenting on proposed legislation.  One bill already has a public hearing scheduled for Tue Jan 14. 
HB2150
This link has a comment form.
This bill allows property owners to charge $25 per person, and still get liability protection.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2150

My Issues:  As written I think this bill will make access WORSE.  How?  It tweeks the signage requirements and allows "written notification" instead of posted signs for hazards.  Every single landowner will now be pushed to prove they provided written notice, which means every single person who steps on timberland will have to have this written piece of paper for the timber company to get liability immunity.  Meanwhile, They also can charge up to $25 per person.  All the landlowners now will be compelled to charge and then provide the written proof of "warnings" (aka permit).  The law also lets landowners set up their own safety rules that have to be followed. So we will see more of things like no person under 18 allowed, firearm restrictions, etc. that can then be considered trespassing.  Good try to Blake, but BAD IDEA.

[Opportunist]

It was 6-7 years ago that timber company's lobbied to have the public access clause taken out of the tax code and was able to get it through and none of the hunting/conservation groups knew about it until it was a done deal. Weyco and other large timber companies kept it quiet. They do not have to allow public access to receive their favorable taxation.

If Weyco charges an access permit for the St. Helens tree there will a waiting list of hunters to buy them. Just like down in the willipa hills the first couple of years the permit was around a hundred bucks, this season it was $375, WITH A WAITING LIST.

I will be buying an elk tag in Washington this season and I will not purchase an access permit from weyco, that is my personal boycott.

[Bob33]

It was 6-7 years ago that timber company's lobbied to have the public access clause taken out of the tax code and was able to get it through and none of the hunting/conservation groups knew about it until it was a done deal. Weyco and other large timber companies kept it quiet. They do not have to allow public access to receive their favorable taxation.

That's my suspicion. The timber companies aren't stupid. They thought this out long before making the change to charge for access.

[scout/sniper]

I will be buying an elk tag in Washington this season and I will not purchase an access permit from weyco, that is my personal boycott.

I will be doing the same.
Hopefully we will have some success and this won't need to happen.

[sakoshooter]

 

if the national forest in managed correctly then why do we feel the need to hunt weyco lands? if you really want to boycott elk hunting to make it work you would need to get everyone to boycott permit sales to. hit them both in the wallet and they will listen. I have been saying this for years that we all need to band together and stick with it and boycott all hunting to get license fees down. but to do it we have to get the whole state together.

[pianoman9701]

if the national forest in managed correctly then why do we feel the need to hunt weyco lands? if you really want to boycott elk hunting to make it work you would need to get everyone to boycott permit sales to. hit them both in the wallet and they will listen. I have been saying this for years that we all need to band together and stick with it and boycott all hunting to get license fees down. but to do it we have to get the whole state together.

The entire rest of the thread answers the first question you asked. Boycotting elk sales will have zero effect on WEYCO. The cost of elk tags is not in question. Our license fees in WA are not out of line with those of other states. This is all about tax laws that were passed under the assumption big timber companies would continue to allow public use of their lands. Since the public use has changed to permit only, so should the tax structure.

[jay.sharkbait]

if the national forest in managed correctly then why do we feel the need to hunt weyco lands? if you really want to boycott elk hunting to make it work you would need to get everyone to boycott permit sales to. hit them both in the wallet and they will listen. I have been saying this for years that we all need to band together and stick with it and boycott all hunting to get license fees down. but to do it we have to get the whole state together.

The entire rest of the thread answers the first question you asked. Boycotting elk sales will have zero effect on WEYCO. The cost of elk tags is not in question. Our license fees in WA are not out of line with those of other states. This is all about tax laws that were passed under the assumption big timber companies would continue to allow public use of their lands. Since the public use has changed to permit only, so should the tax structure.

It has not changed to permit only...... you can go use most WEYCO land right now.

[huntinguy]

Private land owners can control what is done on their property  no problem

The damage done by hunters .. ya,, some  big messes .. doubt it. I have never seen a hunter with a junk freezer or spare car body in the back of the truck.

But  if they charge access fees .. are they still a tree farm or just a pay for access private park  those don't get tax breaks do they ?

[scout/sniper]

if the national forest in managed correctly then why do we feel the need to hunt weyco lands? if you really want to boycott elk hunting to make it work you would need to get everyone to boycott permit sales to. hit them both in the wallet and they will listen. I have been saying this for years that we all need to band together and stick with it and boycott all hunting to get license fees down. but to do it we have to get the whole state together.

The entire rest of the thread answers the first question you asked. Boycotting elk sales will have zero effect on WEYCO. The cost of elk tags is not in question. Our license fees in WA are not out of line with those of other states. This is all about tax laws that were passed under the assumption big timber companies would continue to allow public use of their lands. Since the public use has changed to permit only, so should the tax structure.

It has not changed to permit only...... you can go use most WEYCO land right now.

Right now, yes.
Last deer season every access road in my area was either gated to vehicle traffic or had a sign that said no entry at all. This included main access roads.
It appeared that weyco was conditioning us to what is coming.

[jay.sharkbait]

if the national forest in managed correctly then why do we feel the need to hunt weyco lands? if you really want to boycott elk hunting to make it work you would need to get everyone to boycott permit sales to. hit them both in the wallet and they will listen. I have been saying this for years that we all need to band together and stick with it and boycott all hunting to get license fees down. but to do it we have to get the whole state together.

The entire rest of the thread answers the first question you asked. Boycotting elk sales will have zero effect on WEYCO. The cost of elk tags is not in question. Our license fees in WA are not out of line with those of other states. This is all about tax laws that were passed under the assumption big timber companies would continue to allow public use of their lands. Since the public use has changed to permit only, so should the tax structure.

It has not changed to permit only...... you can go use most WEYCO land right now.

Right now, yes.
Last deer season every access road in my area was either gated to vehicle traffic or had a sign that said no entry at all. This included main access roads.
It appeared that weyco was conditioning us to what is coming.

Same thing in my area.

Does WEYCO have to provide year round access? It seems odd to me that folks are so upset over a 150.00 fee. I doubt WEYCO makes any money off this as the additional insurance the fee provides each permit holder can't be cheap. Add that to the cost of additional security and wear and tear on the roads and I'm really sure the Evil Empire isn't getting rich on this.

If people are so pinched up about permits and fees maybe focus on DFW and the license fees they charge.

[pianoman9701]

The license fees are reasonable. 

[xxlx7]

You guys realize if you try to push the timberland companies, they WILL push back. Here's how I see any of this going.

Lets say you guys get your way, and timber companies will have to pay a higher tax instead of the "lower" tax they pay.

Solution A: Money wins.. The Guide with the most money gets the most land. They won't give it back to the common folk, they will give it to the person who offers to pay the difference in taxes for restricted access on the company land, walk in and drive in only for them.

Solution B: They open the land back up, and have to deal with all the trash and garbage and crud that people dump, and I'm sorry, but I would put a million dollars that there are people on this forum that think "its only one beer can, its only one candy wrapper." OR the money excuse, obviously the timberland company can afford road crews, so dumping my bag of trash, my broken dishwasher, ect.

Solution C: More likely than solution B, they shut it down completely to everyone and pay the higher tax, and in return, when you go to home depot to buy your $40 sheet of plywood, its now $65.

Timber companies have the right to charge for access to their land, if it were your land, you would to, they charge to control the access, to be able to control the sloppy pigs that go onto their property and cut wood, dump garbage, drive quads down the roads, people flying around corners rutting them up. I don't blame timber companies at all, and I don't blame the meth heads for it all either, its everyone.

[jay.sharkbait]

Solution D- You pay the 25.00 access but must provide liability insurance for motorized access.

[xxlx7]

If solution D goes through I hope to see more legal enforcement due to trash, driving crazy, dumping yard waste ect.

[scout/sniper]

Solution D- You pay the 25.00 access but must provide liability insurance for motorized access.

   I would say yes to this.