Farming state land

[cumminsbassguy]

Hey guys, are farmers allowed to farm state land and are we allowed to hunt the farmed state land ? I would assume yes to each. But you know what they say about assuming things.   It makes an ass out of you and me

[Jonathan_S]

What "state land"?

[elkboy]

The Washington DNR owns thousands of acres of state trust farm land, most of it in eastern Washington (SE region, to be specific).  The actual farming is generally leased to local farmers.  I would contact the DNR regional office in a specific region for maps and for inquiring about access issues: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/about/dnr-regions-and-districts

Good luck!

[buckcanyonlodge]

I know of two parcels of state land that the adjacent farmers have "extended" their cultivated fields onto. One is no longer farmed and the other is right by D---y. The owner of that property has planted wheat on his field and extended to the state land. I once put a ground blind on the state land at the end of the field and had it stolen. Just happens that the wheat field had been worked up right after I put the blind up. My guess is the guy in the tractor was confused and thought the blind was on his land..The owners of the property are not approachable. I won't get into that. Even if the state leases grazing rights they must leave it open to the public. There are a few exceptions to leaving it open to the public. I'd call the DNR about any specific parcels in question.

Attached is an aerial of the state land --8000367-- and you can see how the farmer has extended his field onto state land.

[baker5150]

I hunt DNR land on the east side that is farmed by the neighboring landowner.
We asked for permission from him and he was more than happy to grant it.  He said it's open for anyone as long as the cows aren't in there, and to please shut the gates EVERY time we go thru them. 

Stand up guy.

[cumminsbassguy]

I've looked at multiple maps and it shows that it is state land. But it is farmed,  I'll still ask the guy who's house is right there  just so I don't walk all over his business without him knowing

[skeeter 20i]

P.M. sent   

[LDennis24]

My house has several pieces of state and DNR ground around it but it is landlocked by private ground. That said, there are access roads through the private ground for whoever holds the lease to the public ground but these roads ARE NOT public access roads. They are still private roads so you must get permission from the owner before driving through to the public ground. If the public land borders a public roadway there isn't anything they can do to stop you unless they can somehow show they have exclusive rights to it which I can't see ever being possible. They can prevent you from driving on it though. Even in an open field.

[solomtnhunter]

I can tell you that some online surveys & gps maps are NOT always correct.  I remember seeing somewhere a landowner post signs specifically saying "Private Property - Keep Out - No Hunting.  I don't care what your gps or map says.  You are trespassing and you will be shot!"  That being said, maybe that person was just an overzealous landowner... But I'd rather be safe then sorry.  Besides it's best to just introduce yourself to the neighboring property owners.  It also saves you the hassle of having them calling the warden/sheriff on you when they see your "suspicious" vehicle.  And who knows??? Maybe they'll even let you hunt the rest of their property.... They'll also know the best areas for successful hunting.

[cumminsbassguy]

Yea, that's why I'm always keen on asking.    Even though you are most likely in the right.  No sense in causing un needed arguments

[bigtex]

As others have said WA DNR does have an agricultural leasing program, as well as a grazing lease program. In both instances access to the public is guaranteed unless there is a public safety risk (the example DNR gives is fire) AND these closures must be approved by DNR. This is written into all DNR agricultural leases.

Now, do 100% of the DNR leaseholders know this, nope. There is a lot of posted DNR leased lands in the state and I am sure if you asked the leasee if you could hunt the land he'd say no. Don't be confrontational, just notify DNR.

Unfortunately the offense of posting land as closed to access for hunting/fishing without having authority to do so was decriminalized a few years ago and is now equivalent to a barbed hook offense and not the criminal offense like it used to be. So you may not get the response from WDFW like you used to, however DNR would definitely be interested in it since they are violating their lease terms.

[LDennis24]

  And remember what I said about access roads. They may not be owned by DNR and could be private property.