2015 WA House Bill 1033 Giving Tools to WDFW For Access to Private Land

[bigtex]

If it helps keep lands open I am for it.  Hunters don't realize that a lot of garbage shows up on timber lands during hunting season.  Gates closed all year, open for hunting season.  Take a drive through Campbell and Green diamond land in North river.  Pretty much spotless before they opened the gates this year.  Why, because WDFW & Master Hunters went through and cleaned it last year after hunting season.  They will be cleaning it up again this year.   Most of it beer cans and coffee cups chucked out the window of ethical hunters along with dump sites from locals who save up their garbage for hunting season and hunters who decided it was a good time to clean out the back of the truck.   If not cleaned up it will not be open next year.  That's the hand shake deal for public access.  Oh and can't forget the target trash.  Very said and discouraging.  My estimate is there will be a few tons picked up this year just because they opened the gates for hunters.

The plus on this tax is it is not focused no hunters. 

Kind of wish the wording included fishing as there is a lot access denied because of the slobs.

Couldn't agree more.

I too wish fishing was involved. I think that fishermen simply haven't been as vocal about the issue as hunters have been.

[JimmyHoffa]

Maybe the rep that wrote the bill isn't into fishing, but mostly just elk hunting.

[bearpaw]

I voted yes, I am totally in favor of a funding source to help clean up garbage. People are not going to do it on their own, that's why the garbage is there now. The loss of recreation and revenue from all the closed private lands is hurting this state in many ways.

I know many people feel taxed to the max and are fed up with more and more taxes, I agree with that thought. I have not read the bill but this sounds like a great way to clean up some of the garbage that is influencing private land managers to close off access. Best of all there is no new tax.

It would seem like this already existing fund (if unused) will grow until the legislature taps into it for one use or another. I would rather see garbage cleaned up than see the money spent on something that has no possible benefit to hunters, fishers, and other outdoor recreationists.

I know some people will resist this thought, but outdoor recreation including hunting is big business. It's all the business from hunting and other outdoor recreation that fuels economies and continues to keep hunting and outdoor recreation strong. There is an old saying in business, "You have to spend money to make money!" Granted, simply spending money on foolish things does not make a business successful. But, this money will be used to influence large landowners to keep lands open for access. When access is probably the #1 issue affecting hunters in Washington it seems that this is a great investment to me.

I know two of the legislators who are sponsoring this bill, one of them I do not know. But I can attest that two of these legislators are two of the best friends that hunters and gun owners have in this state's legislature. It seems these legislators are trying to mitigate one of the big problems (garbage) of why we are losing access to large private lands.

If anyone can offer some well thought out reasons why this bill is bad maybe those legislators can use the advise to modify the language for the better. But if cleaning up some garbage will open up more lands for hunting and recreation it sounds like this bill might be a wise use of the money and there could be a positive return to the state and the citizens with the recreation and the taxes from all the extra business created by the additional recreation.

I think that the governor might sign a bill like this.

Seems like a win/win to me!

[Man Tracker]

Any chance a small portion could be used to entice DNR into opening public (our) land?  At least open the gates during hunting season...

[blackdog]

Which gates do you want to see open? Are they mainlines or spur roads. I believe DNR mainlines should be open to allow hunters to disperse but I also don't mind side spurs being gated to encourage folks to go for a walk.

[csaaphill]

man yes votes climb but no votes did too