Weyco closures, not looking good!

[Martinhunter]

I bit the bullet this year and purchased the weyco permit in order to have more options finding elk. Been scouting hard since August 1st  trying to find the elk, finally found a decent area, found a camping spot, put in for vacation at work for the opener next weekend and sure enough I get a email this morning saying permit areas will be shut down if we move into a stage 4 fire precaution 😡😡.. my plan A has already been ruined in a different timberland, it's been closed for 6 weeks now a possibility of plan b,c and d shutting down. This sucks, sure wish it'd rain or at least cool down. The only option left if that happens is going in blind into national forest land along with Everyone else and their brother.
 Has any previous weyco permit holders ever had the permit area shut down on them like that?

[MerriamMagician]

Happens almost every year.

[heronblu]

IMO those permits are almost never worth the money. They raise the rates all the time, and for what? Its not like the habitat is any better than anywhere else (and they certainly aren't working to improve that), and the hunting pressure is almost equal if not worse than some public spots because they allow vehicles behind the gates. Sorry you aren't seeing more game out there, that can't feel good.

[Martinhunter]

No im not complaining about the permit at all, I'm seeing way more game then I would on state land or a non permitted area and so far while I'm up there scouting I rarely see another person. I wasn't worried about fire closures because a friend of mine who's been buying this same permit for the last 4-5 years said they've never closed it down on him. What I'm upset about is they make us carry pick axes, shovels and fire extinguisher, why not call that good and let us do what we paid 350$ to do. It's ridiculous if you ask me... I know it's their land and they can do what they want but we paid premium money to access it and they turn around and tell us to keep out during the prime of the elk rut?? Why else did I buy the permit then??

[WSU]

It's an industrial tree farm. You buy the permit knowing they care a lot more about billions of dollars in trees than your (and mine) elk season. 

[Martinhunter]

It's an industrial tree farm. You buy the permit knowing they care a lot more about billions of dollars in trees than your (and mine) elk season. 

I know I'm selfish like that when it comes to hunten!!

[cougforester]

No im not complaining about the permit at all, I'm seeing way more game then I would on state land or a non permitted area and so far while I'm up there scouting I rarely see another person. I wasn't worried about fire closures because a friend of mine who's been buying this same permit for the last 4-5 years said they've never closed it down on him. What I'm upset about is they make us carry pick axes, shovels and fire extinguisher, why not call that good and let us do what we paid 350$ to do. It's ridiculous if you ask me... I know it's their land and they can do what they want but we paid premium money to access it and they turn around and tell us to keep out during the prime of the elk rut?? Why else did I buy the permit then??

  With the rash of fires popping up in the last 24-48 hours, I hope you can understand how timber companies would want to be very careful with extra trucks and people running around on their land.

[PolarBear]

It's an industrial tree farm. You buy the permit knowing they care a lot more about billions of dollars in trees than your (and mine) elk season. 

If Vail wasn't in my back yard I wouldn't buy a permit.  It is worth it if you have quick, easy access but for for most folks who live an hour + away it doesn't pencil out considering closures, crowding on weekends, lack of real scouting time and so on. It is a huge unit that is changing every day and Google Earth is very little help considering that they only update every few years.  A couple of timber patches that I hunted hard last year are all at the mill now.   

[PolarBear]

No im not complaining about the permit at all, I'm seeing way more game then I would on state land or a non permitted area and so far while I'm up there scouting I rarely see another person. I wasn't worried about fire closures because a friend of mine who's been buying this same permit for the last 4-5 years said they've never closed it down on him. What I'm upset about is they make us carry pick axes, shovels and fire extinguisher, why not call that good and let us do what we paid 350$ to do. It's ridiculous if you ask me... I know it's their land and they can do what they want but we paid premium money to access it and they turn around and tell us to keep out during the prime of the elk rut?? Why else did I buy the permit then??

  With the rash of fires popping up in the last 24-48 hours, I hope you can understand how timber companies would want to be very careful with extra trucks and people running around on their land.

I don't get pissed about the closures because I see plenty of idiot permit holders that are the exact reason that Weyco has to enforce restrictions.

[SeatoSummit88]

I figured out how we can solve this.  We toss the fire extinguisher and keep the shovel. However, we add this equation:

[Nice Racks]

It's an industrial tree farm. You buy the permit knowing they care a lot more about billions of dollars in trees than your (and mine) elk season. 

If Vail wasn't in my back yard I wouldn't buy a permit.  It is worth it if you have quick, easy access but for for most folks who live an hour + away it doesn't pencil out considering closures, crowding on weekends, lack of real scouting time and so on. It is a huge unit that is changing every day and Google Earth is very little help considering that they only update every few years.  A couple of timber patches that I hunted hard last year are all at the mill now.   

I got an email this morning saying Vail may shut down also.

[WSU]

I've got a permit and my wife and dad are going to hunt archery elk.  I sure hope it doesn't close down but would understand if they did close it.

[Ingwe]

I have bought a permit every year they have sold them and never been shut out by fire danger. But there is always a first time

[Torrent50]

What area?  I got the same email and checked and my area is only at a level 2 right now.  I have not been shut out in the last 4 years.  They just like to remind people and hopefully convince them to be careful. 

[HntnFsh]

I got the same email last year. I called and talked to them and they said they have only reached level 4 once in the past. I bet it stays open with cooler nights and a smidgeon of moisture in the air in the mornings.

[PolarBear]

My guess is that it will stay open this weekend but if it gets into the high 90's they will close it.

[grundy53]

They send these notifications out every year. They haven't shut down since going to paid permits. Heck, they didn't even close their Pe Ell south tree farm when they had an active fire burning on the property. 

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[PolarBear]

I hope they don't close it and are just trying to keep numbers down on this weekend.  I have next week off and need to get up there and locate a couple of bulls.

[nwhunter]

any news of weyco closing down ? A buddy of mine has a toutle archery permit ..

[medic6]

Still open and looking good.

[grundy53]

Looks like it's still only level 1 or 2 in most of western Washington. They probably won't be shutting down.



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[nwhunter]

thanks