Hancock land closed.

[Thehowler]

I know over the past several years, Hancock has been selling off large parcels of land
Off the Kapowson tree farm to new owners.
I drew a Kapowson spring bear tag this year after several years without one and noticed large blocks of land, that use to be open, now posted closed to spring bear hunters. Wondering if these large parcels will be closed to deer hunting also?
Anybody have any information on this?

[trophyhunt]

They close that side of the river for spring bear, I heard that even the south side has some closed areas this year, can't for the life of me understand why they do this.  But those lands closed for spring bear will be open during the deer seasons, not that you'll see any, but they will be open.

[Tracker0721]

They close them to allow APHIS to come in and snare bears. Gotta protect their timber and hunters don’t take enough.

[Alan K]

They close them to allow APHIS to come in and snare bears. Gotta protect their timber and hunters don’t take enough.

Depredation permits are on hold this year because of a lawsuit against WDFW by CBD, so that wouldnt be the case. Even if it were, I've never heard of anyone shutting down a boot hunt because of snare or hound permits. I'd bet there are feeders put out instead until the lawsuit is resolved. I'm suprised any of these companies have boot hunts while this lawsuit is happening to be honest.  While feeding isn't a long term solution it definitely cuts down on the damage in susceptible stands. Normally spring boot hunts and depredation go on simultaneously.

[Thehowler]

To be more clear, the area that IS OPEN for the bear hunt, has several areas closed to the spring bear hunters this year.

[ASienkiewich]

What areas? I drew the spring bear permit for kapowsin also, but decided not to buy a permit because I’m tired of Hancock


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[jackelope]

What areas? I drew the spring bear permit for kapowsin also, but decided not to buy a permit because I’m tired of Hancock


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So you drew a permit you won't use? Or is there land to hunt without an access permit?
 

[trophyhunt]

What areas? I drew the spring bear permit for kapowsin also, but decided not to buy a permit because I’m tired of Hancock


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So you drew a permit you won't use? Or is there land to hunt without an access permit?

I believe that permit is only good for Hancock (kapowsin) land, so it won’t be used.

[jackelope]

What areas? I drew the spring bear permit for kapowsin also, but decided not to buy a permit because I’m tired of Hancock


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So you drew a permit you won't use? Or is there land to hunt without an access permit?

I believe that permit is only good for Hancock (kapowsin) land, so it won’t be used.

Bummer. Someone would have appreciated that permit I bet.

[grundy53]

What areas? I drew the spring bear permit for kapowsin also, but decided not to buy a permit because I’m tired of Hancock


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So you drew a permit you won't use? Or is there land to hunt without an access permit?

I believe that permit is only good for Hancock (kapowsin) land, so it won’t be used.

Bummer. Someone would have appreciated that permit I bet.

I think Hancock changed their spring bear rules after the deadline. They used to offer a discounted, limited access permit for spring bear tags. They took it away.  Plus you can't take your wife anymore unless she has her own permit.

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[Jellymon]

I’ve traveled through 3/4 of the kapowsin spring bear area over the last couple weeks and have only seen one area within a few miles of the main gate that was closed. But I also spend a ton of time out of my vehicle hunting, so maybe I missed some. Tons of area still to hunt in there.

[ASienkiewich]

What areas? I drew the spring bear permit for kapowsin also, but decided not to buy a permit because I’m tired of Hancock


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So you drew a permit you won't use? Or is there land to hunt without an access permit?

I believe that permit is only good for Hancock (kapowsin) land, so it won’t be used.

Bummer. Someone would have appreciated that permit I bet.

I was planning on buying the discounted spring bear permit as someone else mentioned, but they did away with those this year (after the spring bear deadline). Trust me If I could give it to someone else I would


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[Shaqdiesel]

There’s a few roads with signs saying no bear hunting and it’s really annoying honestly. I feel like they pulled a fast one on people now only selling year round permits, after you had to submit for the hunt, they limit it to half the tree farm, and this year they have pretty good sized areas closed in the south side which limits you even further and they only have one of the escapement gates open instead of all of them, I mean do you really want people killing bears or not. Seems like they don’t do anything that would indicate that. They definitely don’t do anything to encourage it.       Anyways, I’ve been up scouting and hunting and have seen very little sign, with the exception of one area with scat and a fresh peel,  so I think the warm weather this weekend should get things moving along hopefully. Going to start predator calling in a week or two

[ASienkiewich]

There’s a few roads with signs saying no bear hunting and it’s really annoying honestly. I feel like they pulled a fast one on people now only selling year round permits, after you had to submit for the hunt, they limit it to half the tree farm, and this year they have pretty good sized areas closed in the south side which limits you even further and they only have one of the escapement gates open instead of all of them, I mean do you really want people killing bears or not. Seems like they don’t do anything that would indicate that. They definitely don’t do anything to encourage it.       Anyways, I’ve been up scouting and hunting and have seen very little sign, with the exception of one area with scat and a fresh peel,  so I think the warm weather this weekend should get things moving along hopefully. Going to start predator calling in a week or two

Which of the escapement gates is open?


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[jackelope]

What areas? I drew the spring bear permit for kapowsin also, but decided not to buy a permit because I’m tired of Hancock


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So you drew a permit you won't use? Or is there land to hunt without an access permit?

I believe that permit is only good for Hancock (kapowsin) land, so it won’t be used.

Bummer. Someone would have appreciated that permit I bet.

I was planning on buying the discounted spring bear permit as someone else mentioned, but they did away with those this year (after the spring bear deadline). Trust me If I could give it to someone else I would


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Gotcha.

[Shaqdiesel]

It’s one of the first ones on the left off the mainline. Also, I heard 2 shots last night so I wonder if someone connected..

[LHaub]

My wife and I also drew kapowsin spring bear permits, on my permit it says gmus 654 and or 653, does anyone know if that means we can hunt the Buckley block of the kapowsin permit?

[Shaqdiesel]

Spring bear is only in the Kapowsin area south of the river. If you email them they will send you the bear map.

[LHaub]

653 is the Buckley portion of the kapowsin pass and there aren't any no spring bear hunting signs at the gate, the map they sent me says bear hot spots.

[Jellymon]

653 is the Buckley portion of the kapowsin pass and there aren't any no spring bear hunting signs at the gate, the map they sent me says bear hot spots.

Read your permit letter from WDFW. It says your hunting area is the southern portion (south of Puyallup river) excluding the Eatonville portion of kapowsin timberlands within GMU 654. They do mention GMU 653 and tell you to be aware that some areas there may be closed, so I can see where there can be a little confusion. IMO they should be more specific.

The bear hunting hotspot map they sent me only shows the area south of the Puyallup river.

[LHaub]

Had a nice bear cross the road in front of me at about 30 yds yesterday. Got out and saw it a couple times running up the tree line. No shot though. He had a cool brown patch on its shoulder.

[oldschooltrucks]

the 600 road series is completely closed for some reason and Hancock is not answering emails.  The back of the 100 road is also closed for some reason too.  Not only that but the 22 road is closed due to active logging.  When you try to go high, many of the roads are still snow covered.  Haven't seen much bear sign at all but did find a cougar track in the mud.  Also found someone's bait site, heard hound dogs in areas marked for spring bear hunters only, lots of roadkill animals tossed onto grass roads and have yet to see any security patrols or fish and game wardens in there but I guess it doesn't matter much if your friends with Clyde, you can get away with anything in there since he turns a blind eye to illegal activity for his friends .  My buddy also drew a tag with me this year because of the cheaper spring bear permit access.  after the drawing, Hancock decided to do away with this permit and made everyone buy a full access permit, which was more than my buddy was able to afford

[bearbaito6]

Your full of it!  Clyde has no friends!

[oldschooltrucks]

Your full of it!  Clyde has no friends!

🤣🤣

[oldschooltrucks]

From Hancock...due to extreme bear damage the land owners have decided to set up feed stations in the 600/6000 series and because of wdwf regulations of no hunting around feed stations they have closed those areas to spring bear hunting. 

[bearpaw]

A good hound Hunter could resolve the problem so that Hancock could quit losing trees and area could be opened back up for hunters!

[Stein]

I never understood why the timber companies don't put out a map showing exactly where they are seeing the damage.  They know and WDFW knows but it's always like a 20 questions game getting info.  I get the part where we need to get after it, but with big properties, limited days to get off work it seems like it would be in everyone's best interest to at least get everyone pointed in the right direction.  I drew last year and had never stepped foot on their property before due to locked gates and spent probably half my time wandering around in areas that had almost zero chance of being productive.

[Harleysboss]

It would be easy. POST A LARGE SIGN AT THE ACCESS GATE DIRECTING LUCKY PERMIT HOLDERS OF HIGH BEAR ACTIVITY IN AREA 600 200 400 what ever the case. Isn't the reason why they have a spring permit season...bear damage?  I'm heading in today for the first hunt of the season for me and my Adult son...$600 in access permits to "Help" control bear damage
Did not get drawn for Montana this season so I bent over and bought the access so we could drive around in the Kapowsin tree farm.

[Jellymon]

I never understood why the timber companies don't put out a map showing exactly where they are seeing the damage.  They know and WDFW knows but it's always like a 20 questions game getting info.  I get the part where we need to get after it, but with big properties, limited days to get off work it seems like it would be in everyone's best interest to at least get everyone pointed in the right direction.  I drew last year and had never stepped foot on their property before due to locked gates and spent probably half my time wandering around in areas that had almost zero chance of being productive.

Hancock does have a map showing where they are seeing bear damage. A quick email to them requesting it and they send one.

[oldschooltrucks]

I never understood why the timber companies don't put out a map showing exactly where they are seeing the damage.  They know and WDFW knows but it's always like a 20 questions game getting info.  I get the part where we need to get after it, but with big properties, limited days to get off work it seems like it would be in everyone's best interest to at least get everyone pointed in the right direction.  I drew last year and had never stepped foot on their property before due to locked gates and spent probably half my time wandering around in areas that had almost zero chance of being productive.

Hancock does have a map showing where they are seeing bear damage. A quick email to them requesting it and they send one.

I don't know how quick they are at responding and the only phone number I could find is an automated message.  I also got an automated email reply earlier in the week that said they're swamped with emails right now and would get back to me when they could.  Maybe stop by the office and they'll give it to you?

wish they would have told us about the feeding stations and not allowing for the discounted spring bear permit beforehand.  Wonder how long before they decide to go back to all feeders and screw us hunters out of spring bear season altogether...not sure they get the results they thought they'd get from spring hunters.  Kapowsin is definitely not an easy spring hunt area imo

[dreamunelk]

Drive roads and look for fresh peels.  Find good spot overlooking a good stretch of road.  Set up and wait! 

[Alan K]

A good hound Hunter could resolve the problem so that Hancock could quit losing trees and area could be opened back up for hunters!

Depredation permits are not available this year because of a pending lawsuit against WDFW by CBD.  In recent years the new landowners in there have been doing depredation hunts. I don't believe Hancock has been.

As far as finding damage... The 'red flags' are really starting to show. Look for a stand of 12-18 year old reprod with red/yellow trees showing. That was last years damage, and new damage will be showing up shortly in the same stand if not already there. The problem is finding them in there. When fawns drop, try calling, otherwise pretty slim odds.