Vehicle Access to Weyerhaeuser Tree Farms

[Little Fish]

Does anyone have any reservations about the impact that opening the gates for drive-in access will have during archery season? I've been laying awake at night worrying about it.

Historically I've ridden my bike in to the St Helens Tree Farm and used calls to locate elk. The last 3 years have been terrible with the season change, but now that cars are allowed behind the gates I think its only going to get worse.

Does anyone have any thoughts or can you relay what your experience has been with say the Pe Ell area where the permit system has been in place for awhile.

[grundy53]

Not much impact at all.

sent from my typewriter

[Little Fish]

I hope that is the case. I hunted Toutle with my partner a few years ago and someone accidently left the gate open the week before the season. There were probably 5 bulls sounding off in many locations before the gates were unlocked (when scouting), but by the time the season opened all those bulls had gone silent.

[Tacbeav]

Interesting question. We have also been biking into the St Helens Tree Farm.  My thoughts;

It remains to be seen if we will be driving in depending on the fire danger level.

Elk on a working tree farm are used to vehicle traffic, so no big deal there.

Driving in should spread out the hunters some.  Based on the St Helens permit sales so far, doesn't seem like there will be much increase if any in hunter numbers, so I'm hopeful it will be a good thing.

[grousetracker]

there is no chance any vehicle access will be allowed during early archery, it could flood and it wouldnt be open early, keep biking in.

[TheHunt]

We will all find out August 1st. 

[grundy53]

there is no chance any vehicle access will be allowed during early archery, it could flood and it wouldnt be open early, keep biking in.

Pe Ell was open during archery last year.

[jay.sharkbait]

Vail was open

[Slimdog350]

there is no chance any vehicle access will be allowed during early archery, it could flood and it wouldnt be open early, keep biking in.

We shall see. It says in the paperwork that if access is allowed during fire danger that you must carry fire extinguisher, shovel and an ax and be prepared to call the proper authorities and fight the fire. Like others have said, Pe ell and vail were both open. It's anyone's guess.  :dunno:I'm also curious about how the hunting will be with vehicle traffic. I've been biking into areas of the tree farm for years to spots where I don't see anyone. I just don't want to be working a bull and have someone else come down on top of me and ruin it, but that could happen any where. This will be my trial year. It could be closed to early season access and be like it has been or it could be open and be a zoo. It doesn't appear that there have been too many permits sold so........

[grousetracker]

the question was the st. helens tree farm being open not vail or Pe Ell. i cannot remember the last time the early season was open early season.

[grundy53]

the question was the st. helens tree farm being open not vail or Pe Ell. i cannot remember the last time the early season was open early season.

You missed the point. The other two tree farms that were mentioned also used to be shutdown for fire danger all of the time. But since they went to access permits they haven't shutdown.

[septemberhunt]

I sure hope they don't open the gates. They let people drive in the st helens tree farm about 5 years ago and people were driving all the roads all day. You would get a bull going and someone would hear you and drive over and try to work the bull. There is not that many areas to hike in and get away from a road. I never had a problem with riding my bike in from the gates. There is NO need to open the gates other than to retrieve a dead elk.

[grundy53]

I sure hope they don't open the gates. They let people drive in the st helens tree farm about 5 years ago and people were driving all the roads all day. You would get a bull going and someone would hear you and drive over and try to work the bull. There is not that many areas to hike in and get away from a road. I never had a problem with riding my bike in from the gates. There is NO need to open the gates other than to retrieve a dead elk.

Except for the fact that people PAID good money for motorized access. Remember, it's not all about you.

sent from my typewriter

[bobcat]

That tree farm is too big to keep the gates closed. With everyone having to walk or bicycle in, hunting pressure will be concentrated near the gates. It seems much better to allow drive in access and spread people out.

[Little Fish]

I'm with September on this. I prefer locked gates and non-motorized access. I am hoping since we did pay for the permits they won't close the farm to all access....just motor vehicles.

In the past I've noticed more people hunting close to the gates, but its nothing like muzzy or modern firearm seasons in terms of people. On my bike I can easily push in 5-10 miles every day.