Whatcom County State Lands

[Uncle Rico]

WC residents: In a couple of short years, DNR land in our county will be open to all kinds of organized recreation. Until now, hunting and fishing persuits have been confined to lands with no permanent gate. My hope is that this will change. But, many WC residents - some with lobbying power, would like to see less of our sport on public land.
As a member of the committee that will define what recreation will happen where, I would like to solicit input from all WC hunters/fishermen who have ideas on what role our sport will play in Whatcom County's recreation future. thoughts?

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[NWWA Hunter]

WC residents: In a couple of short years, DNR land in our county will be open to all kinds of organized recreation. Until now, hunting and fishing persuits have been confined to lands with no permanent gate. My hope is that this will change. But, many WC residents - some with lobbying power, would like to see less of our sport on public land.
As a member of the committee that will define what recreation will happen where, I would like to solicit input from all WC hunters/fishermen who have ideas on what role our sport will play in Whatcom County's recreation future. thoughts?

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I am a little confused to what you are writing.  Could you please explain more? I am very interested and interested in getting involved in the future of hunting and fishing in Whatcom County.

[Tbar]

WC residents: In a couple of short years, DNR land in our county will be open to all kinds of organized recreation. Until now, hunting and fishing persuits have been confined to lands with no permanent gate. My hope is that this will change. But, many WC residents - some with lobbying power, would like to see less of our sport on public land.
As a member of the committee that will define what recreation will happen where, I would like to solicit input from all WC hunters/fishermen who have ideas on what role our sport will play in Whatcom County's recreation future. thoughts?

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I am a little confused to what you are writing.  Could you please explain more? I am very interested and interested in getting involved in the future of hunting and fishing in Whatcom County.

It's a progressive agenda that should concern all, not just Whatcom County residents.  Once these plans take hold there will be no hunting (through various avenues) on the DNR land.  These Recreation plans need hunter involvement or our only option will be pay to play.

[Uncle Rico]

WC residents: In a couple of short years, DNR land in our county will be open to all kinds of organized recreation. Until now, hunting and fishing persuits have been confined to lands with no permanent gate. My hope is that this will change. But, many WC residents - some with lobbying power, would like to see less of our sport on public land.
As a member of the committee that will define what recreation will happen where, I would like to solicit input from all WC hunters/fishermen who have ideas on what role our sport will play in Whatcom County's recreation future. thoughts?

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I am a little confused to what you are writing.  Could you please explain more? I am very interested and interested in getting involved in the future of hunting and fishing in Whatcom County.

Sorry about the cloudy message. More details are at:

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/BakertoBellingham

In a nutshell, the state legislature passed a law in 2014 that directs DNR to open up its forest land to organized recreation.  In the past, use was allowed on a passive basis - "a privelage, not a right".
So, the committee in the link above will oversee how the different recreational lobbies build "recreational infrastructure ".  My concern as an advocate for hunting and fishing is that we don't get marginalized and lose more acres than we already have (i.e., 8,400 acre Lake Whatcom reconveyance).

I'm  looking for a few more WC residents who would be willing to be on my advisory group. All you have to do is render advice, and evaluate ideas.

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[Uncle Rico]

WC residents: In a couple of short years, DNR land in our county will be open to all kinds of organized recreation. Until now, hunting and fishing persuits have been confined to lands with no permanent gate. My hope is that this will change. But, many WC residents - some with lobbying power, would like to see less of our sport on public land.
As a member of the committee that will define what recreation will happen where, I would like to solicit input from all WC hunters/fishermen who have ideas on what role our sport will play in Whatcom County's recreation future. thoughts?

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

I am a little confused to what you are writing.  Could you please explain more? I am very interested and interested in getting involved in the future of hunting and fishing in Whatcom County.

It's a progressive agenda that should concern all, not just Whatcom County residents.  Once these plans take hold there will be no hunting (through various avenues) on the DNR land.  These Recreation plans need hunter involvement or our only option will be pay to play.

I agree 100% on the hunter participation, 50% on the WC residency, and 0% on it being progressive.

I certainly believe that neighboring county residents should get input, but the last thing this land needs is to rise promotion. Also, it's extremely important that the WC government becomes aware that there are activist hunters/fishermen  - who are watching them and voting.


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[Uncle Rico]

WC residents: In a couple of short years, DNR land in our county will be open to all kinds of organized recreation. Until now, hunting and fishing persuits have been confined to lands with no permanent gate. My hope is that this will change. But, many WC residents - some with lobbying power, would like to see less of our sport on public land.
As a member of the committee that will define what recreation will happen where, I would like to solicit input from all WC hunters/fishermen who have ideas on what role our sport will play in Whatcom County's recreation future. thoughts?

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

I am a little confused to what you are writing.  Could you please explain more? I am very interested and interested in getting involved in the future of hunting and fishing in Whatcom County.

It's a progressive agenda that should concern all, not just Whatcom County residents.  Once these plans take hold there will be no hunting (through various avenues) on the DNR land.  These Recreation plans need hunter involvement or our only option will be pay to play.

I agree 100% on the hunter participation, 50% on the WC residency, and 0% on it being progressive.

I certainly believe that neighboring county residents should get input, but the last thing this land needs is to rise promotion. Also, it's extremely important that the WC government becomes aware that there are activist hunters/fishermen  - who are watching them and voting.


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"The last thing this land needs is promotion of tourism"

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[Uncle Rico]

WC residents: In a couple of short years, DNR land in our county will be open to all kinds of organized recreation. Until now, hunting and fishing persuits have been confined to lands with no permanent gate. My hope is that this will change. But, many WC residents - some with lobbying power, would like to see less of our sport on public land.
As a member of the committee that will define what recreation will happen where, I would like to solicit input from all WC hunters/fishermen who have ideas on what role our sport will play in Whatcom County's recreation future. thoughts?

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

I am a little confused to what you are writing.  Could you please explain more? I am very interested and interested in getting involved in the future of hunting and fishing in Whatcom County.

It's a progressive agenda that should concern all, not just Whatcom County residents.  Once these plans take hold there will be no hunting (through various avenues) on the DNR land.  These Recreation plans need hunter involvement or our only option will be pay to play.

I agree 100% on the hunter participation, 50% on the WC residency, and 0% on it being progressive.

I certainly believe that neighboring county residents should get input, but the last thing this land needs is to rise promotion. Also, it's extremely important that the WC government becomes aware that there are activist hunters/fishermen  - who are watching them and voting.


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"The last thing this land needs is promotion of tourism"

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My new email for this subject:

dnrhunt94@yahoo.com


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[Uncle Rico]

Hunt/Fish/Gather survey for whatcom county DNR land - get your opinion on record!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/G2LC3PV

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[Knocker of rocks]

Until now, hunting and fishing persuits have been confined to lands with no permanent gate.

I don't think that is true.  DNR land, unless being actively logged has always been open to legal users, wether gated or not.  Why are you claiming otherwise?

[dreamunelk]

WC residents: In a couple of short years, DNR land in our county will be open to all kinds of organized recreation. Until now, hunting and fishing persuits have been confined to lands with no permanent gate. My hope is that this will change. But, many WC residents - some with lobbying power, would like to see less of our sport on public land.
As a member of the committee that will define what recreation will happen where, I would like to solicit input from all WC hunters/fishermen who have ideas on what role our sport will play in Whatcom County's recreation future. thoughts?

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Huh?  Gates do not restrict hunting.   

[Uncle Rico]

WC residents: In a couple of short years, DNR land in our county will be open to all kinds of organized recreation. Until now, hunting and fishing persuits have been confined to lands with no permanent gate. My hope is that this will change. But, many WC residents - some with lobbying power, would like to see less of our sport on public land.
As a member of the committee that will define what recreation will happen where, I would like to solicit input from all WC hunters/fishermen who have ideas on what role our sport will play in Whatcom County's recreation future. thoughts?

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Huh?  Gates do not restrict hunting.

True. But, most people would prefer to drive and get further than you can hike, or bike. And after all these properties get opened up for all the other recreation interests - just having a key, or ATV-ing in will be less of an advantage.

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[Knocker of rocks]

And after all these properties get opened up for all the other recreation interests - just having a key, or ATV-ing in will be less of an advantage.

Huh? 

[Uncle Rico]

And after all these properties get opened up for all the other recreation interests - just having a key, or ATV-ing in will be less of an advantage.

Huh?

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/BakertoBellingham

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[Knocker of rocks]

And after all these properties get opened up for all the other recreation interests - just having a key, or ATV-ing in will be less of an advantage.

Huh?

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/BakertoBellingham

That was no help, I followed your links and still can't figure out what you meant.  Are you concerned about gates?  Or are you concerned about sharing the resource with other user groups?

[Uncle Rico]

And after all these properties get opened up for all the other recreation interests - just having a key, or ATV-ing in will be less of an advantage.

Huh?

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/BakertoBellingham

That was no help, I followed your links and still can't figure out what you meant.  Are you concerned about gates?  Or are you concerned about sharing the resource with other user groups?

My concern is this - The recent promotion of non-hunting recreation in the Puget Sound area in general, and Whatcom County in specific, will further push hunting to the margins until it's no longer practical for the average enthusiast.
Hunters lost about 9,000 acres around Lake Whatcom a few years ago because they weren't paying attention. In short, I'm concerned about sharing because the people deciding who gets what - are committed anti hunting.

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[Knocker of rocks]

In short, I'm concerned about sharing because .......

Your doomed right there

[Uncle Rico]

In short, I'm concerned about sharing because .......

Your doomed right there

You're probably right. But, sitting on our hands didn't work either.

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[heronblu]

And after all these properties get opened up for all the other recreation interests - just having a key, or ATV-ing in will be less of an advantage.

Huh?

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/BakertoBellingham

That was no help, I followed your links and still can't figure out what you meant.  Are you concerned about gates?  Or are you concerned about sharing the resource with other user groups?

My concern is this - The recent promotion of non-hunting recreation in the Puget Sound area in general, and Whatcom County in specific, will further push hunting to the margins until it's no longer practical for the average enthusiast.
Hunters lost about 9,000 acres around Lake Whatcom a few years ago because they weren't paying attention. In short, I'm concerned about sharing because the people deciding who gets what - are committed anti hunting.

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Are you referring to the lake Whatcom reconveyance? with the 9000 acres comment?

[Uncle Rico]

Yes

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[heronblu]

Could you point me in the direction of where specifically it says no hunting in the reconveyance plan or in a WAC? I recently spoke directly with enforcement at the WDFW regarding hunting on some of that property and was told (in writing and in person) that as long as it isn't posted and you are far enough from roads and houses that hunting is allowed.

[Uncle Rico]

It's a county park. I queried the promoters and they said it (hunting) was not conducive to planned park activities.

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[heronblu]

If you look at the actual property boundaries though you can see that the parks and rec dept actually only owns a small portion of the land, and the rest is owned by Whatcom county proper. I also spoke with the Whatcom county assessor who couldn't actually give me a conclusive answer on the subject and referred me to WDFW. Bottom line in my opinion is that this is still an area where hunting could/should be allowed if we play our cards right. I have read the entire reconveyance plan as well and nowhere does it specifically prohibit, or even address hunting. I would love to get a group of hunters together to discuss this further to figure out some action to ensure we are allowed to hunt this land.

[Uncle Rico]

I'm all for that. I'm sure it will gain some attention to the cause.

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[EmeraldBullet]

PM sent to the OP.

There is a huge anti-hunting sentiment within this advocacy group in Whatcom County. Especially against modern rifle. Any hunters in WC need to get more involved in the decision making process, myself included. If we don't, soon we will lose our privileges.

[heronblu]

PM sent to the OP.

There is a huge anti-hunting sentiment within this advocacy group in Whatcom County. Especially against modern rifle. Any hunters in WC need to get more involved in the decision making process, myself included. If we don't, soon we will lose our privileges.

agreed 100%! I don't think its too late. I think if we present ourselves as a responsible conservation minded group we can get ourselves heard and have a real discussion. I have been in talks with people at the Whatcom Land Trust (an organization that typically doesn't allow hunting on their many properties in the county) and I have made some headway recently regarding potentially allowing hunting on some of their properties in the future. We could learn a lot from the mountain biking community actually. They have really inserted themselves as a force in the decision making process regarding land use locally and they have gotten much of what they want.