I don't get the hullaboo over Weyco Fees ?
1) Finally bow & Muzzy hunters are going to be able to count on Weyco access without fire closures
2) Weyco IS going to allow access to their land. They don't have to and the easy path would be not to.
3) The main travel corridors are those to State Land and will remain open.
4) The Quality of the hunt will go up with more controlled access & less non-hunting access, less trash & traffic.
5) Cost - Just $150 per family per year. I paid $350 in licenses and application fees already just to hunt State land and compared to out of state hunts, hunting equipment and the like the $150 split among family members isnt that much for many of us who live to hunt. ( can't hardly get a pair of Sitka pants for that )
6) 98% of Private Land under Open Space / Timber / Agricultural rates has never been open to public access. Weyco has been in the 2% that allowed access and about the last of the Timber companies to switch to controlled - fee access. The days of free anonymous access to private land are over - is that a surprise?
7) Is there anyone out there enjoying timber tax benefits on their property that welcomes strangers to hunt their land? Would you let a family hunt it all season for $150?
If you go back to some of the previous threads on the topic and you should get the gist of it.
For a quick and dirty summary: It represents a wholesale change regarding the way a huge % of the land in W. Wash. is accessed. It is a particularly noteworthy impact on those that live in communities surrounded by Weyco land and for those whose families have hunted the land for generations. While timber company access in general has changed from decades ago (gates, etc.), and some companies were charging (Hancock in Puget Sound area, for ex.), with Weyco going to permit access nearly everywhere this represents the policy change that suddenly impacts huge numbers of hunters and others.
Regarding some of your other points:
1) Unless I'm mistaken, Weyco uses DNR fire levels. When DNR raises to high fire danger, Weyco will continue to close to access.
2) True, but there is debate as to whether public access is expected under their tax deal. Many consider losing some access as a slap in the face to the communities that basically built Weyco's empire in the first place.
3) I think they legally have to (or just don't want to fight the huge backlash if they don't)
4) Maybe- 15,000 permits in the St. Helens' tree farm does not sound like less pressure to me, though.
5) I haven't heard that for most cost is the big issue. The way St. Helens is going if you want a permit you should be able to get one. But some of the other farms have much more limited numbers, and MANY who would gladly pay the fee simply will not be able to get a permit. Fees seem like a good deal for families to me (spouse, kids at least). On the other hand, my 18 & 20 yo sons will need to be on their own permits this year, for example....doable... but I hope they can get permits for the area we hunt (
).
6) 98% of the
owners perhaps- nowhere close to 98% of the
area. 2%?- I think Weyco at one time owned somewhere approaching 50% of all the private land in SWWash (and it all was open for access at some point). It certainly affects a lot more than 2% of the hunters. Other companies charging for access were a concern for some... but it didn't represent the huge chunks of land that Weycos farms encompass.
I can't say any of this is surprising- but as I suggested, it represents a huge change from what has been status-quo in Western Washington since ...well, since there has been a Western Washington.
Natural to me that many would feel like the rug was pulled from under them just a bit. It may take time to adjust to the "new normal", but I don't think it bodes well at all for what we might see in the future. My
