East Lake Whatcom (Stewart Mt. area)

[doeman]

Maybe someone on here will have some knowledge on this topic…

Nearly 9000 acres of land around east Lake Whatcom was recently reconveyed and turned into park land.
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article22281435.html

Previously hunting up there has been allowed, both on Sierra Pacific Industry’s land, and on DNR land.  Now though, I’m wondering if this is still the case?  This is one of the biggest chunks of wilderness close to Bellingham and it’d be a shame if a big piece of it was now off limits for hunting.

Anyone know if we’re still welcome? 

[jm317]

You just can't seem to go anywhere in whatcom county that doesn't have a bunch of hikers and hippies throwing rocks at ya

[kodiak 907]

That's too bad. There are some really nice deer in that area.

[doeman]

It's a big area with enough room to get away from hiker traffic, just need to confirm that the area can be hunted, or if not, at least identify the park boundaries in order to make some Garmin GPS maps and hunt outside them!

[doeman]

Well, I emailed the Whatcom County Parks department to see if I could get an official answer on land access and here is what I got.  The message seems a bit boiler plate, but it confirms the worst:

"Thank you for your inquiry regarding hunting in the Lake Whatcom Watershed.
 
Whatcom County Code, 9.32.085 Unlawful firearms and/or weapons in Parks, prohibits discharge of firearms in, or into any county-owned park.  Hunters may use park properties to move from one hunting area to another which lay adjacent to park property.
 
Park maps are posted at each of the Department Trailheads and on-line at http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/1787/Parks-Recreation.    Additionally, the Department intends to post and maintain boundary markers at every point where a road or designated trail intersects Department property lines."

Fortunately there is still DNR land in the area, it'll just take some additional hiking to get to -- with the added 'bonus' of trying to avoid scaring/being interrogated by non-hunters.  Oh well. 

I think I'll have to make some custom maps for my Garmin that will outline the borders of Park and DNR land to ensure legal hunting.