Swakane GMU 250 closures

[gasman]

Not to derail the thread but if anybody does draw a permit in Swakane or something deep in Entiat and needs help getting something out that is way back in there, feel free to let me know. Heck, even if it is a general season deer, I am 30-60 minutes away depending on road conditions and will happily throw on my pack frame and come help pack out.

I got you on speed dial just for that occasion...... lol

[vandeman17]

Not to derail the thread but if anybody does draw a permit in Swakane or something deep in Entiat and needs help getting something out that is way back in there, feel free to let me know. Heck, even if it is a general season deer, I am 30-60 minutes away depending on road conditions and will happily throw on my pack frame and come help pack out.

I got you on speed dial just for that occasion...... lol

I am always ready!

[GoPlayOutside]

Am I wrong?...I think if I draw the Swakane Sheep Tag,  I will shoot it, and watch it roll off the hill onto the highway?

[huntnphool]

Am I wrong?...I think if I draw the Swakane Sheep Tag,  I will shoot it, and watch it roll off the hill onto the highway?

 Um yeah, I can assure you this was no where near the highway.

[bigmacc]

Not sure I agree with all you "pro gate hunters".....  What about the kid, guy, or gal that cannot hike like they use to.  What about the disabled hunter or overweight hunter??  Since when did hunting turn into a young fit persons sport?   If they want gates so they can lock up winter grounds following hunting season...I am all for it.  I am not for shutting down and restricting public grounds any more than they already have.   

I'm fat, with six stents and unstable angina that really limits my ability to hit the back country.
I am in favor of more areas in Chelan County with less open roads.  When all the roads are open, the pressure pushes the game from more accessible areas, into terrain which I cannot access.  I would far rather hunt on foot in "roadable" areas with closed and gated or tank-trapped roads, than to have to tackle steep, mountainous remote conditions. 
A closed road is the best possible access for hunters with young children, and older or disabled hunters who are still capable of limited walking.
Open roads only benefit the truly disabled (nonambulatory) hunter, and unfortunately those are also crowded with road hunters - people who can walk, but prefer to drive roads.  I don't dislike roadhunters - if not for them, my reasonably accessible, 1-2 mile walk-in areas would be far more crowded.  If I had my way, except for the main traveled connectors, all the spur roads would be closed to increase opportunity for more hunters with limited mobility.

I couldn't agree more with DOUBLELUNGs post. Yes some roads need to be and stay open but lots can be gated allowing foot traffic only.It helps protect the herds a little and can offer some quality hunting in the future.They did it in the Methow years ago and it has helped the slaughters of old during migrations. Able bodied folks shooting big migrators from there lawn chairs while camped smack dab in the middle of migration routes in big trailors and motorhomes .Alot of those gates were put up with the input of my dad who is 80 now,a retired iron worker with multiple health issues and a body that is broke down due to 45 years of walking iron,he still hops those gates,doesnt go as far as he used to ,but 100 yards past the gate or 10miles, doesn't matter to him. In his mind it helped the quality of hunting.

[UBA]

WOW HOLLY crap it looks like I have a 6 mile hike in to get my salt blocks out!!!  Ouch I guess there will be a lot of bucks in there with the lack of pressure. That is unreal to close the roads, ecpecially al the way to Dinkleman.

don't get caught, its also closed to foot traffic. threatening everyone if a huge fine. 

[grundy53]

Not sure I agree with all you "pro gate hunters".....  What about the kid, guy, or gal that cannot hike like they use to.  What about the disabled hunter or overweight hunter??  Since when did hunting turn into a young fit persons sport?   If they want gates so they can lock up winter grounds following hunting season...I am all for it.  I am not for shutting down and restricting public grounds any more than they already have.   

I'm fat, with six stents and unstable angina that really limits my ability to hit the back country.
I am in favor of more areas in Chelan County with less open roads.  When all the roads are open, the pressure pushes the game from more accessible areas, into terrain which I cannot access.  I would far rather hunt on foot in "roadable" areas with closed and gated or tank-trapped roads, than to have to tackle steep, mountainous remote conditions. 
A closed road is the best possible access for hunters with young children, and older or disabled hunters who are still capable of limited walking.
Open roads only benefit the truly disabled (nonambulatory) hunter, and unfortunately those are also crowded with road hunters - people who can walk, but prefer to drive roads.  I don't dislike roadhunters - if not for them, my reasonably accessible, 1-2 mile walk-in areas would be far more crowded.  If I had my way, except for the main traveled connectors, all the spur roads would be closed to increase opportunity for more hunters with limited mobility.

I couldn't agree more with DOUBLELUNGs post. Yes some roads need to be and stay open but lots can be gated allowing foot traffic only.It helps protect the herds a little and can offer some quality hunting in the future.They did it in the Methow years ago and it has helped the slaughters of old during migrations. Able bodied folks shooting big migrators from there lawn chairs while camped smack dab in the middle of migration routes in big trailors and motorhomes .Alot of those gates were put up with the input of my dad who is 80 now,a retired iron worker with multiple health issues and a body that is broke down due to 45 years of walking iron,he still hops those gates,doesnt go as far as he used to ,but 100 yards past the gate or 10miles, doesn't matter to him. In his mind it helped the quality of hunting.

Pretty sure closing the season prior to the rut and migration had a lot more to do with ending the slaughter.

[bigmacc]

Not sure I agree with all you "pro gate hunters".....  What about the kid, guy, or gal that cannot hike like they use to.  What about the disabled hunter or overweight hunter??  Since when did hunting turn into a young fit persons sport?   If they want gates so they can lock up winter grounds following hunting season...I am all for it.  I am not for shutting down and restricting public grounds any more than they already have.   

I'm fat, with six stents and unstable angina that really limits my ability to hit the back country.
I am in favor of more areas in Chelan County with less open roads.  When all the roads are open, the pressure pushes the game from more accessible areas, into terrain which I cannot access.  I would far rather hunt on foot in "roadable" areas with closed and gated or tank-trapped roads, than to have to tackle steep, mountainous remote conditions. 
A closed road is the best possible access for hunters with young children, and older or disabled hunters who are still capable of limited walking.
Open roads only benefit the truly disabled (nonambulatory) hunter, and unfortunately those are also crowded with road hunters - people who can walk, but prefer to drive roads.  I don't dislike roadhunters - if not for them, my reasonably accessible, 1-2 mile walk-in areas would be far more crowded.  If I had my way, except for the main traveled connectors, all the spur roads would be closed to increase opportunity for more hunters with limited mobility.

I couldn't agree more with DOUBLELUNGs post. Yes some roads need to be and stay open but lots can be gated allowing foot traffic only.It helps protect the herds a little and can offer some quality hunting in the future.They did it in the Methow years ago and it has helped the slaughters of old during migrations. Able bodied folks shooting big migrators from there lawn chairs while camped smack dab in the middle of migration routes in big trailors and motorhomes .Alot of those gates were put up with the input of my dad who is 80 now,a retired iron worker with multiple health issues and a body that is broke down due to 45 years of walking iron,he still hops those gates,doesnt go as far as he used to ,but 100 yards past the gate or 10miles, doesn't matter to him. In his mind it helped the quality of hunting.

Pretty sure closing the season prior to the rut and migration had a lot more to do with ending the slaughter.

That's true,the season structure has made a difference but there have been a few early migrations or partial migrations that were triggered early that could of resulted in "slaughters" if those gates wernt in place and going up those roads resembled K.O.A campgrounds rather than logging roads.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Well the incident with the jeep in the Entiat doesn't help our cause.  These gates are gonna help the herd and habitat.

 

[ALLTERRAIN]

 If the area is being closed by the local ranger without due process and without the "blessing" of the regional ranger than it is illegal to do so. This has been done in other area's and the court's have sided w/the user's. The NEPA process was created for a reason to be used to open AND close area's for ALL user's. There should be a "rcw" type of number attached to all sign's indicating the road(s) is closed to be consider'd legal. For some of the people that can no longer hike in and hunt 5+ miles a day, Don't worry, these other's that can will someday be in the same position. http://hunting-washington.com/smf/Smileys/default/chuckle.gif

[muleracks]

AllTerrain,  Your NEPA and RCW type reference is perfect.  The Entiat Ranger has not been up on following regular procedures.  I believe the ATV and ORV groups have convinced Ranger Flanagan to reopen the 6 gates and remove 2 berms blocking access to the lower Entiat Valley (Mills Fire).

The upper Entiat is still blocked 7 miles below the trailhead.  No ATV, bicycles or foot traffic past the gate.

Big issue is the Ranger's published newsrelease:  "There's no way to get people out of there safely if more fires occur." referring to the fact that the Entiat River Road has no alternate road out.  If that is the new Forest Service criteria, we are in big trouble.  Most trailheads have no other way out.  Very bad precedent to set and worth fighting (we don't want them closing trailhead because there is no alternate "egress".

[bigtex]

If the area is being closed by the local ranger without due process and without the "blessing" of the regional ranger than it is illegal to do so. This has been done in other area's and the court's have sided w/the user's. The NEPA process was created for a reason to be used to open AND close area's for ALL user's. There should be a "rcw" type of number attached to all sign's indicating the road(s) is closed to be consider'd legal. For some of the people that can no longer hike in and hunt 5+ miles a day, Don't worry, these other's that can will someday be in the same position. http://hunting-washington.com/smf/Smileys/default/chuckle.gif

It's federal, it doesn't need an RCW. If anything it'll show a CFR reference, but even a simple "road closed" is good enough legally.

[Limhangerslayer]

Not sure I agree with all you "pro gate hunters".....  What about the kid, guy, or gal that cannot hike like they use to.  What about the disabled hunter or overweight hunter??  Since when did hunting turn into a young fit persons sport?   If they want gates so they can lock up winter grounds following hunting season...I am all for it.  I am not for shutting down and restricting public grounds any more than they already have.   

Being fat and out of shape shouldn't be an excuse to want the roads open. There are people who are overweight due to medical conditions, but it isn't an excuse for the other fat people. you shouldn't need roads to hunt

If fat people want to hunt that area, they should get in shape.

you've never been fat

[winshooter88]

Sorry for being late to the party, but here is some info some of you may like. The Entiat ranger is having a meeting to talk about the Duncan Fire road clousure June 1st at the Entiat Grange hall 14105 Kinzel Rd. Entiat, WA. From 4:30 till 6:30 pm. Maybe some of you can attend.

[Jingles]

  Since when did hunting turn into a young fit persons sport?   If they want gates so they can lock up winter grounds following hunting season...I am all for it.  I am not for shutting down and restricting public grounds any more than they already have.   

Don't think any one is say it is a fit man's sport but being unfit and out of shape in not an excuse to get special privileges either anymore than being of a particular ethnic, or racial background deserves any special hunting or fishing privileges. It is about time that ALL people took the words of the pledge of Allegiance to heart ONE NATION , black white yello, brown and red