More gates

[coachcw]

I've walked many, many miles, but can't do it now. It just irritates me, to hear the the few elitist, that think I shouldn't be able to ride my quad behind a gate. Buy a pass and hunt on private timber lands, the pass is only a couple hundred bucks compared to $10,000 plus, to be able to enjoy one of the things I like to do....

disabled hunters do get some special privileges as well. I would like to see them get a few throphy opportunities  to go along with it . No reason a old boy that can't hike shouldn't get a chance at a rut hunt.

[HntnFsh]

any idea on list of roads? Im fine with gates honestly, creates a better hunting experience

For who? Just those that are capable of hiking past them.! Unfortunately many are not. And deserve a good hunting experience  also!

[wsmnut]

I would guess more gated roads has something to do with all the fires last summer. It could be a good thing or a bad thing for hunter's depending on exactly how much area is being closed to motorized vehicles.

I would put money on this being the reason.  There is bound to be a lot of mud slides that are related to burn scars that are going to ruin a bunch of roads.  The road maintenance budget will likely not fix all of them.
     If I remember right there were some gates closing access to some of the area related to the Tripod complex fire that were in the "closed" position for a couple years after the fire.

[ipkus]

I've walked many, many miles, but can't do it now. It just irritates me, to hear the the few elitist, that think I shouldn't be able to ride my quad behind a gate. Buy a pass and hunt on private timber lands, the pass is only a couple hundred bucks compared to $10,000 plus, to be able to enjoy one of the things I like to do....

disabled hunters do get some special privileges as well. I would like to see them get a few throphy opportunities  to go along with it . No reason a old boy that can't hike shouldn't get a chance at a rut hunt.

Closed roads need to be closed to all. Open roads are needed and should be open to all.  Road density in many areas is too great and it is scientifically proven to have negative impacts on wildlife.  At the same time, closing off all road access to large chunks of ground is also uncalled for because it unfairly limits reasonable access to the able bodied.  Handicapped people, the tribes, the elderly, youth, etc...deserve to have some options, but not necessarily every option.

Political corrrectness is one of the many things that are slowly destroying this country.  I'm tired of watching able bodied people hop out of full size trucks rolling 35's that just whipped into the handicapped spot at the grocery store. 

[Seabass]

I wish I hadn't lost so much trust in our agencies that I automatically jump to a negative conclusion every time I hear about one of these closures. I can think of at least 3-4 very legitimate reasons for closing a road. Unfortunately I am so cynical (rightfully so in my mind) that all I can think about is being locked out for some ulterior motive by the department.

At this point in my life I can go anywhere I have the ambition to go. I have no idea how long that will last. I assume that ability will eventually go away. I'm in my 40's now and I still consider myself bullet proof but I'm not stupid. Father time or something else catches us all.

Those that have been deemed disabled by the state have some opportunities, maybe they should have more, I don't know. Our society seems to take care of those people.

The guy that I truly have sympathy for is the guy who has not been officially declared "disabled". He's not looking for special treatment from anybody. I'm talking about the guy who is simply worn out physically and not capable of hunting behind those locked gates. He's not asking for special parking access or disability income....he just wants to hop on his 4-wheeler and hunt. I have some buddies right now that are in that camp at age 40. They aren't "disabled" to the point that they want or need something special but they can't hunt with me behind those locked gates. That guy seems to be the one who gets the shaft when roads are closed.

I'm not sure what can be done about it but it does stink for that guy.

[DOUBLELUNG]

I wish I hadn't lost so much trust in our agencies that I automatically jump to a negative conclusion every time I hear about one of these closures. I can think of at least 3-4 very legitimate reasons for closing a road. Unfortunately I am so cynical (rightfully so in my mind) that all I can think about is being locked out for some ulterior motive by the department.

The guy that I truly have sympathy for is the guy who has not been officially declared "disabled". He's not looking for special treatment from anybody. I'm talking about the guy who is simply worn out physically and not capable of hunting behind those locked gates. He's not asking for special parking access or disability income....he just wants to hop on his 4-wheeler and hunt. I have some buddies right now that are in that camp at age 40. They aren't "disabled" to the point that they want or need something special but they can't hunt with me behind those locked gates. That guy seems to be the one who gets the shaft when roads are closed.

I'm not sure what can be done about it but it does stink for that guy.

We have a lot in common in our views.  I want to see less road access in some areas that are pounded due to motorized access, yet I also have lost trust in the land management agencies - especially when they close areas to all entry for "our own safety".  Spare me the nanny state, let me accept the risks for my own well-being on public wildlands. 

However, I am also "that guy".  Got a couple of stents in 2004, but the heart issues didn't really start to limit me until 2007.  I DON'T want management to the lowest common denominator - there are some things we should do when we are young and healthy, and that includes backcountry hunting.  I sure as heck don't want motorized trails into all the backcountry areas, just so us worn out/sick/fat and lazy guys can ride our Rascal scooters (sorry, quads).  At some point, we have to accept that our time to hunt the backcountry is passed, hunt close to the roads, and leave the remote havens to the game as partial sanctuaries.  The conservation spirit of our hunting forefathers sure has been traded away in many cases for a sense of entitlement, I bought a license and I'm owed an experience.  That's my 2 cents.     

[MADMAX]

I love gates
I just hate leaving my vehicle at one.
methheads sock

[X-Force]

I would guess more gated roads has something to do with all the fires last summer. It could be a good thing or a bad thing for hunter's depending on exactly how much area is being closed to motorized vehicles.

Have you given any thought about becoming a "Fortune Teller"?

No.

It could be that the gates are just replacements for damaged gates and could have almost nothing to do with new access. WDFW just awarded a bid to put in 15 miles of fence in the Methow valley because the previous fence was destroyed.

[Seabass]

DOUBLELUNG-

                    I couldn't agree more. Unfortunately it feels (may not be true but certainly feels) like everything is managed to the lowest common denominator these days. I too would like to make my own decisions in regards to my personal safety. It seems like "public safety" is a catchall for a lot of new rules. Common sense can't be legislated so in turn a rule has to be made.

[Katmai Guy]

Let's make all the able bodied youngsters take a physical, get a permit based on how a good of shape  they are in and make it mandatory they hike at least 4 miles off the road and leave the close stuff for the old guys.  They shouldn't be able to hunt the close stuff AND have gates for isolated hunting.

[X-Force]

Where is a link to the bid page? I havent found one yet.

[Naches Sportsman]

With this thread popping up, I thought it would be a good time to comment. With travel management finally happening, lots of roads will be decomissioned, tank trapped, or gated.  Read more here.


http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/okawen/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=fseprd486110

You should also be able to find the project online somewhere under news and events or possibly projects.

[dscubame]

I've walked many, many miles, but can't do it now. It just irritates me, to hear the the few elitist, that think I shouldn't be able to ride my quad behind a gate. Buy a pass and hunt on private timber lands, the pass is only a couple hundred bucks compared to $10,000 plus, to be able to enjoy one of the things I like to do....

disabled hunters do get some special privileges as well. I would like to see them get a few throphy opportunities  to go along with it . No reason a old boy that can't hike shouldn't get a chance at a rut hunt.

Closed roads need to be closed to all. Open roads are needed and should be open to all.  Road density in many areas is too great and it is scientifically proven to have negative impacts on wildlife.  At the same time, closing off all road access to large chunks of ground is also uncalled for because it unfairly limits reasonable access to the able bodied.  Handicapped people, the tribes, the elderly, youth, etc...deserve to have some options, but not necessarily every option.

Political corrrectness is one of the many things that are slowly destroying this country.  I'm tired of watching able bodied people hop out of full size trucks rolling 35's that just whipped into the handicapped spot at the grocery store.

Agree.  I am not seeing where anyone is saying to close all roads just close some more with plenty still open.

[LDennis24]

It looks like 90% of these roads aren't even a mile long. I saw maybe a dozen in the 15 pages I scrolled through that are even over 5 miles long. Sound's like there are too many road's and not enough gate's to me. Looking at the map it doesn't appear to me that we need that many roads in one area anyways. People who can't walk a long way's will still have hundred's of miles of road's to drive and look for game.

[CAMPMEAT]

They've already got gates up here blocking roads because of the fires.