dnr land access

[mack2255]

I have just returned from the North end of the state. Can timber co. block access to DNR land. Do I need to buy a permit to get to DNR land on Timer land.....so confused....please help

[CAMPMEAT]

Explain a little more.

[mack2255]

So Rayonier timber is now requiring atleast a genral rec permit at the cost of 65 bucks. Inside the Dickey gmu is there land with pockets of dnr inside. Can they stop me from access to dnr land without there rec permit?

[billythekidrock]

Yep. Unless there is a mainline access corridor like with Weyco near St Helens.

[JimmyHoffa]

yes.  And I think the permit for a lot of that area is the dickey permit not the general rec--though some of the outer stuff can be accessed through general rec permit.  Dickey permits are $200 and already sold out.  Additionally for Rayonier permits, for certain tracts they require you have a special liability insurance for damage to their property/employees and I heard it is $250.  That area is a mess with all the boundaries and different owners.

[lokidog]

What a bunch of crap, can't access state (your's and my land)!  It's bad enough to have to have the DP for unimproved state land access but then to not even be allowed to access DNR land is stupid.

[bobcat]

Tons of state land that is landlocked behind private timber company land. The only way for the public to get access is for the DNR to get easements across the private land, and that's not going to happen because the state doesn't have enough money to pay what the timber companies would want. And, it's not really a priority for the DNR. They have easements across all that private ground for their own use, the easements just aren't for the general  public to use. And that's the way the timber companies like it.

[bigtex]

Tons of state land that is landlocked behind private timber company land. The only way for the public to get access is for the DNR to get easements across the private land, and that's not going to happen because the state doesn't have enough money to pay what the timber companies would want. And, it's not really a priority for the DNR. They have easements across all that private ground for their own use, the easements just aren't for the general  public to use. And that's the way the timber companies like it.

And it's not just state land. Lots of federal land, especially BLM is landlocked (no legal public access).

[mack2255]

Thanks for all the info. As for hunting this year is going to be all pubic land for me. Screw the timber co and the office can't do *censored*s!!!!There are alot of dnr land in sul duc,but alot of logging going on there to.So boots on the ground and ggod luck and skill.good luck to all 

[boneaddict]

Hancock screwed me this year.  I was taking my daughter rock hunting out of North Bend.   Where I wanted to go was just on the other side of a stretch of Hancock.   I stopped to talk to the guard.  Have to buy a yearly permit just to get where I wanted to go.   All new to this eastsider.   I wonder why these big companies get so many tax breaks when they are charging this much for access.   Then Hauser bans rock hunting completely this year on their land.   

[Humptulips]

It seems like DNR is an easy mark or they don't care about the public.
A lot of timber company land is accessed through DNR land. Many logging roads are in and out of different ownerships and might start out as going through private land but cross State and back onto private behind the state land. You would think DNR could bargain for a public easement in return for an easement across DNR to the private land owners behind them.
Don't seem like they do though. Probably would have had public access to most DNR land if they would have thought ahead years ago.

[JimmyHoffa]

Thanks for all the info. As for hunting this year is going to be all pubic land for me. Screw the timber co and the office can't do *censored*s!!!!There are alot of dnr land in sul duc,but alot of logging going on there to.So boots on the ground and ggod luck and skill.good luck to all 

I think all the extra logging might be due to the bridge and culvert replacements in the Clearwater.  They did a ton of logging in CW last winter and this spring, then started tearing up lots of road and moving in equipment and supplies to do road work.  Then all the logging out there just quieted down...and picked up a lot in sol Duc.
Have you hunted in Sol Duc before?

[mack2255]

Yes I have hunted sol duc before. I like all the DNR and forest area there. I have been successful there. Hope to be successful this yr also. I will be camping at the DNR camp ground net to bear cafe stop in and say HI

[huntrights]

Information regarding access to landlocked public lands (also see the attached letter):

Hunter Access to Federal Public Lands
http://www.ducks.org/media/Conservation/Conservation_Documents/_documents/USACSFWMIHunterAccesstoPublicLands.pdf

Public land, locked up
http://www.hcn.org/issues/45.21/public-land-locked-up

New Bill Promoting Public Lands Access for Hunting, Angling Draws Praise from Outdoors Community
http://sfred.org/media-center/news/new-bill-promoting-public-lands-access-for-hunting-angling-draws-praise-fro

Federal lands across West lack access, study finds
http://www.aspentimes.com/news/obituaries/9132628-113/public-access-lands-acres

Montana House votes down "cutting corners" public land access bill
http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/outdoors/2013/feb/19/montana-house-vote-down-cutting-corners-public-land-access-bill/

Excerpt from the “Montana House …” article:
“In Washington, a hunter would be legal in crossing a corner if he didn't stray onto private lands, state Fish and Wildlife police say.
“As far as I'm aware, where four sections come together at a single point, no Washington officer would cite a person who went right over the corner. It seems like Montana is cutting hairs pretty close to cite somebody for trespassing in that instance.”
— Capt. Dan Rahn, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Region 1 enforcement coordinator.”


Many issues that affect hunters and anglers, like access to landlocked public lands, must be addressed in the political arena.  Our inherent sense of right and wrong makes no difference when it comes to what the applicable laws allow or disallow; the law is the law.  Access to public lands that are landlocked is a national issue that needs to be addressed by Congress and our state legislatures.  Attempts have been made to correct the issue of access to public land, but the efforts seem to have been thwarted by partisan politics.

The message here is that these issues can be fixed if people will VOTE, and VOTE the “right” way.  VOTE only for people that will support and defend the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.  VOTE only for people that will support and defend our hunting and fishing heritage.  VOTE only for people that will support and defend our rights to access our public lands and waters.

[fireweed]

Yep. Unless there is a mainline access corridor like with Weyco near St Helens.

They key question is "is there a public use easement" on that road.  A company might have a road open just to be "nice", but they still can close it if there is no easement.

FYI--The mainline access corridor to St. Helens has NO public use easement.  Weyco keeps it open to keep down bad press.  They can and do close that road regularly and there is no legal requirement for them to open it.  They could charge for access to that 35,000 acres of DNR land..and there's nothing to stop them.

Another item that most don't realize, if the land has no easement, it is  ineligible for any recreation funds (like NOVA).