What are our odds???

[finnman]

So I have been enjoying a pretty sweet deal for some 16 years, my wife and have had permission to hunt 5,000 acres of prime deer habitat every other year since 1998! We contact the land owner and she writes up our permit slips, we show up Thursday or Friday and pick them up and rifle hunt deer for 3-5 days in central WA, we always get one buck, sometimes two! Both Mulies and whitetails!
So I emailed her this week and she replies that the hunting is now controlled by her son and that I should email him Sunday. I met him once as we were hunting does behind their house one year. He was not a deer hunter but hunted coyotes with his dad who also did not hunt unless they had a real monster buck hanging out. So the question is will we get back in it or will the son give all of the permission to locals or friends?
I have quietly been planning a hunt near Republic while waiting to send my email.
What's your opinion? Do we still have a chance? Will his moms continued permission to us make a difference or are we pretty much screwed?
Crying inside.....red eyes...and really depressed.
😭

[jackelope]

We pretty much got pushed out of the land we've been hunting over in the SE corner for the last 10 or so years. New landowner there and he wants a hunting preserve for his family and buddies. Hey, what's a guy to do. Guess we'll be finding new places to hunt. Good luck in your quest.

[Mark251]

Oh man.... I'd say your odds are on the long side.  I would think that if she said something like "Sure,  just let my son know" I'd be feeling pretty good about it. What she said doesn't sound so promising.  Kind of like she didn't want to be the one to tell you the bad news. Access to private land seems to be getting tougher and tougher to obtain.  Good luck, finnman...hope it works out!

[ghosthunter]

Go for it.
You won't know till you ask. If he says yes.
Take a gift. Send a thank you. And a Christmas Card.
Harder to say no to nice guys.

[Birdguy]

My experience in this situation has never been good, but I would not give up until you ask and know for sure. As mentioned you will not know until you know, so I wish you the best luck. If anyone is lucky enough to have access to private "hunting" land I would do everything in my power to keep it and maintain a GREAT relationship with the  family. I would be the guy over mending fences, painting the barn, building fire lines and whatever else I could think of. Most of us could not afford the taxes and maintenance on 5000 acres let alone the purchase price. Most do not realize what they have until they lose it. Good luck to you and I am hoping for the best for you and you wife.

[MtnMuley]

You'll never know until you go talk to him. With season approaching, I'd do that asap.

[JBar]

I would say your odds are still good but with the younger generation taking over they realize there is an income potential so be prepared for an access fee.

[finnman]

Jbar, that is one concern, but until I hear back I won't worry about it.
We have been sending them gifts baskets after each hunt, given them canned tuna and salmon, posted signs, killed coyotes, turned in trespassers, cleaned up garbage and done other things.
I sent off the email.....I introduced ourselves and sent pics of our last hunt over there, we got two whitetail bucks. I also asked him if he and his wife were going to hunt and if so we would love to tag along with them, by the way, he has been in college for awhile and not around the ranch so I guarantee you I know more about the deer habits than him or his dad, I told him we would view it as a great privilege to hunt the ranch again!
I am not holding my breath, I have seen some of the family politics that can arise from things like this trading hands.
I will post the results when I get the email.😮

[splitshot]

  same thing happened to us.  we did what you did in terms of posting ,helping out, giving heart and liver and sausage.  we even supplied a bottle of liquor but adios.  good luck.  mike w

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

I'd be getting a very nice gift of seafood and booze of his choice together as a piece offering.

[gilroym]

Jbar, that is one concern, but until I hear back I won't worry about it.
We have been sending them gifts baskets after each hunt, given them canned tuna and salmon, posted signs, killed coyotes, turned in trespassers, cleaned up garbage and done other things.
I sent off the email.....I introduced ourselves and sent pics of our last hunt over there, we got two whitetail bucks. I also asked him if he and his wife were going to hunt and if so we would love to tag along with them, by the way, he has been in college for awhile and not around the ranch so I guarantee you I know more about the deer habits than him or his dad, I told him we would view it as a great privilege to hunt the ranch again!
I am not holding my breath, I have seen some of the family politics that can arise from things like this trading hands.
I will post the results when I get the email.😮

I agree its up in the air. I would at least think he is going to want some kind of access fee the older generations understood that not everything needs to be compensated in cash and that good deeds get paid forward. Today everyone is looking to make the easy buck and its his right to do so. Look at it this way you have had 16 years of easy hunting while others have been struggling on public land.

[finnman]

Well no email back yet.....is that good or bad? Who knows.
I would not be opposed to them going with a fee hunt. Heaven knows the place is worth it. I just want that chance to say yes or no! I can't see locals paying to hunt or friends but I could see him letting friends hunt for free and us Out of a hunting spot.

[finnman]

Well I'll be a monkey's uncle!!! I got the email back from the son of the land owner and he invited my wife and I back to hunt!!! So apparently after all the discussion we beat the odds and and are back hunting the basin!!! He was traveling and apologized for the delayed response....no worries...it was just a stressful week of my life gone by!
My wife is just beside herself!!😀

[CAMPMEAT]

C'mon up to Republic. We need the economy.

[baker5150]

Great news Finn. 

We give landowners smoked salmon and crab every year.  When we are asking for permission on other plots we take some along as well.  We give it to them regardless of what they say, more just for taking the time to speak with us. 

We have 1 guy who always refuses us.  Nice enough guy and very polite about it.  Always takes the offerings and never gives us permission.  We still ask every year, and he always shoots the s#$% with us for an hour or so.  One of these days he will crack, maybe.