Grays Harbor vs. Weyco update

[fireweed]

http://thevidette.com/sections/news/local/county-tries-get-timber-access-lawsuit-thrown-out.html

[Firedogg]

Yep, they'll just lock the gates and say go ahead, walk in instead of giving up the tax break. I hate the fees, but the way things are written in state law and the updated county one all they have to do is stop charging and keep the gates closed.  It effectively still closes access to the properties.  Which blows!

[Crunchy]

I'd much rather walk in access for free then pay to drive in.

[SCRUBS]

I'd much rather walk in access for free then pay to drive in.

 

[Firedogg]

Me too, but there are guys like my dad at 72 with double knee replacements and a bad back who cannot walk in far enough to get to game animals. Paying an access fee is a great option for him to get to continue hunting close to home.

[t6]

Cant wait to see how much whining the timber companies will be doing if this passes.  They will probably look for public support...... I think they have screwed themselves. 

[bowbuild]

They say that the reason they must do this is because of vandalism, and garbage dumping?
 How many of you have seen garbage dunping going on DURING hunting season hunter related?? How about they get smart and only open their gates during hunting seasons, and shut them the rest of the year when anyone could take a semi-truck full of garbage out in the woods because there are no eyes in the woods?? Why do HUNTERS (which are the targeted group) get to pay for ALL of the public dumping?? They are full of crap! I see dumping right at closed gates, hunters paying a fee, is NOT punishing the right group. Weyerhauser and the like, just said screw you to every group that has taken part in clean up efforts! I would rather walk in as well!

Bowbuild

[ELKBURGER]

I'd much rather walk in access for free then pay to drive in.

 

[longwalker]

I think access fees and programs are one of the greatest things out there. Keeps trash ( both literally and figuratively ) out of the woods. Makes for better hunting all around. I'd love to see all privately held timber land go to locked gates and fee only access. I think it's hilarious that guys bitch about a couple hundred bucks for year round access to someone else's land. With what people are willing to spend crap all year long and then get all up in arms about buying a key it just blows me away. I say the more locked gates the better

[longstevo]

So do locked gates and free access.  Like Crunchy said, "I'd rather walk in for free than pay and drive in."


The bottom line is this:  the timber companies are breaking the law.  Their land is designated as Open Space Forestland, which gives them a HUGE tax break as long as the land is being used for timber purposes and allows the public access. 

They cannot simply cease free access and expect their tax breaks to continue. 

If they want to lock all gates and charge, then fine.  It's their property and right to do so.  But they'd better open up their check book. 

[kramman]

Whether you personally like the locked gates or not, these companies who charge for access are nollonger eligible for the tax break

[longwalker]

The. I guess everybody will be celebrating a huge loss for hunters than? Lose the tax break and those gates close. Yeah you can walk in and that's great, I likly walk more than most but the fact remains, enormous tracks of land access will be lost for the vast majority of hunters. I guess that's a win???

[longstevo]

The. I guess everybody will be celebrating a huge loss for hunters than? Lose the tax break and those gates close. Yeah you can walk in and that's great, I likly walk more than most but the fact remains, enormous tracks of land access will be lost for the vast majority of hunters. I guess that's a win???

As long as the land is accessible to the public for free, then nothing is lost.  Hunters are more than free to strap on your boots, get on your mountain bike, and explore every single corner of that gated land.  How is that lost?   

[bobcat]

The problem is Weyerhaeuser isn't going to allow camping. If I could hike in 5 to 10 miles and set up camp for a week, I could do that and have a good hunt. But to hike in and out each day? No way. If I were younger, maybe. But even then that's a long ways to pack an elk out on a warm day.

[257 Wby Mag]

There is lotsa country in vail and Pe ell that won't even get scratched by walk in hunters, no mater how young or in shape you are...  God I can't wait for Montana again next year....