Is the Weyco pass worth it with possible fire closures?

[Pete112288]

Just curious on what everyone thinks here. So due to a bunch of reasons this year I had bit the bullet and decided to buy the Weyco Pass for St Helens. I have not bought it yet, was about to then had a realization. If the summer continues like this there is a high likelihood of it being closed for fire danger during the early muzzy elk season. The early muzzy season is a huge reason I was going to get the permit. I just don't know. If it ends up being closed then it will be a huge waste of money. But if I don't buy it and it doesn't close I will be hating myself for a while.
So what do you think? Take the gamble and spend the money? Or save the money and bet that it will be closed?
Oh and I should add that a big contributing factor here is that the area I want to hunt in the permit area is an area I have known for 10 years and have taken the time for scouting and patterning the area. That combined with the new early season I feel is as close to a guarantee of getting my first branched bull as I can get.

[bobcat]

Why not just wait? There are over 3,000 permits still available. They are cutting off sales July 31st at 7:00 PM, so at least you can wait three weeks and decide at that time. Maybe the weather will change by then, or maybe it will only get hotter.

I do sympathize, I've got the Pe Ell permit and plan to hunt the early muzzleloader season. I do think Weyerhaeuser will leave their lands open for us permit holders, if at all possible. They just shut down the North Cascades area because it is at a level 4 IFPL. PeEll is still at a 2 and I think St Helens is at a level 3.

[Pete112288]

I will wait another week or so, after that I will be on orders for the rest of the month and not have computer access.

[PBR]

Hows it work? They just mail you a key then you send it back?

[HntnFsh]

I'm going to hold off for awhile to see if I even buy it. I think I will call weyco in the near future and ask them what their plans are as far as access permits and fire danger. If they shut the permit holders out are hey going to refund or pro rate the cost of the permit?

[Pete112288]

I'm going to hold off for awhile to see if I even buy it. I think I will call weyco in the near future and ask them what their plans are as far as access permits and fire danger. If they shut the permit holders out are hey going to refund or pro rate the cost of the permit?

That is something I have been wondering as well. I just figured they would say "tough luck." Cause they don't know who is using it for early season and who is using it for late season. If they refunded it to early season hunters then what would keep someone that only hunts late season from claiming they didn't hunt it at all even though they did in November or December.

[bobcat]

I'm pretty sure there will be no refunds. I'm not too worried- I figure if I miss out on early season I'll just spend a lot of time in the area later on just scouting for next year.

This is from the access agreement: 

13. Closure of Permit Area. Weyerhaeuser reserves the right to close the Permit Area in case of extreme fire danger or other extreme conditions, including without limitation any conditions that may cause excessive damage to roads. Areas where active logging, road construction, or other commercial operations or forest management are underway are strictly off-limits and must be avoided by Permittee at all times, whether such areas are signed or not. Permittee must obey all signs on the Permit Area.

[grundy53]

[yorketransport]

Last year they kept it open throughout fire season. They're hoping that the folks willing to pay to play will also be willing to be extra careful while they're out there. This year is quite a bit dryer than last though, so we'll see.

Andrew

[Bigshooter]

Last year they kept it open throughout fire season. They're hoping that the folks willing to pay to play will also be willing to be extra careful while they're out there. This year is quite a bit dryer than last though, so we'll see.

Andrew

They wanted people in Vail last year so they could keep an eye out for fires.  Not sure if all area's were the same last year.

[RallyDawg]

I was told from WeyCo that if it goes to a 4 then permit holders will not have access and if it's not a 4 permit holders would have access.  I was also told that if that happened they would offer a refund.  That was from an email from their general recreational contact from the site. 

[furbearer365]

It will be worth it if there are still 3,000 left unsold and they end up opening the woods.   Especially becuz all the other permit holders are gonna be stacked like cord wood in the Margaret, leaving all the other units untouched!!!