Is WDFW working for Weyerhaeuser?

[fireweed]

So last night after elk hunting leaving Big W permit area, Weyerhaeuser security and WDFW game warden, together, were posted to check permits.  That was what BOTH were doing.  In our hunting party were two adult men and a teenager.  Both adults provided Weyerhaeuser permit information, but the teenager was the ONLY one in our vehicle hassled by WDFW.  The teenager was the only one asked to provide his hunting license!  Why?  Because he might be TOO OLD to not have is own $350 permit. (He wasn't). The Gamie, with Weyerhaeuser security directing, asked for his license, not to check to see if he had one, but to check his age for Weyerhaeuser!  My question is, does anyone know if Weyerhaeuser or other timber companies are hiring WDFW employees to enforce their corporate policies?

 I know that sheriff departments used to do this: get paid overtime by private companies to patrol private lands.  The practice was controversial in Cowlitz County, with some pushback from the public.  The sherriff vowed he would not enforce corporate policy and only respond to requests from the landowner.  This year the whole contracting practice was nixed by the county risk manager.  I'm wondering if Big W didn't just switch which agency it was writing checks to.  Are they now paying the WDFW to patrol for them, and with them?  Convenient to have the an LEO in your back pocket.  Anyone know?

[Tbar]

Several timber companies do overtime contracts with wdfw/ sheriff for patrols. @bigtex
  https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,153483.0.html

[Spuddieselwwu]

They did it during modern deer, also... 500 line entrance off 1900 line exit from spirit lake hwy.  The GW was checking licenses while Weyco security was checking for permit holders on his iPad.

[Alan K]

Several timber companies do overtime contracts with wdfw/ sheriff for patrols. @bigtex
  https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,153483.0.html

 

[bigtex]

Several timber companies do overtime contracts with wdfw/ sheriff for patrols. @bigtex
  https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,153483.0.html

I cannot confirm that WDFW has been contracted by Weyerhaeuser but WDFW has contracts with several timber companies and other landowners. It's done by all sorts of organizations, big and small. In fact if you had enough money you too could contract with WDFW or any other agency for dedicated patrols on your lands. It's essentially no different than the school district paying for LEOs to be at the football games, dances, etc. Klickitat County has a "timber/woods deputy" fully funded by the private timber companies in that county. Contracts with law enforcement agencies for dedicated coverage is not new.

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[WoolyRunner]

Several timber companies do overtime contracts with wdfw/ sheriff for patrols. @bigtex
  https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,153483.0.html

I cannot confirm that WDFW has been contracted by Weyerhaeuser but WDFW has contracts with several timber companies and other landowners. It's done by all sorts of organizations, big and small. In fact if you had enough money you too could contract with WDFW or any other agency for dedicated patrols on your lands. It's essentially no different than the school district paying for LEOs to be at the football games, dances, etc. Klickitat County has a "timber/woods deputy" fully funded by the private timber companies in that county. Contracts with law enforcement agencies for dedicated coverage is not new.

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Right, but football games, dances, etc are part of the public school system that taxpayers pay for. I know individuals who personally have asked a WDFW Ofc if they work for weyco or the state since said WDFW ofc kept hasseling them about cutting firewood from an old landing.

[bobcat]

I'm just glad to hear the laws/rules are being enforced. 

[Bullkllr]

I'm just glad to hear the laws/rules are being enforced. 

[fireweed]

Like I mentioned, I knew Cowlitz County did this.  This year however, they were ordered to stop these contracts by the county risk manager.  I need to find out why.  If it's risky for a county it must be also for the state.

Also, I know FOR A FACT that the 1901 road(big gate) has a DNR easement on it that goes to DNR land up the 500 line.  Look at the lock box: it has three spots "Weyco" "Rec" and "DNR"
 This easement is very broad and was written that way on purpose in response to pro-recreation legislation that passed in 1967.  If I was a Washington state WDFW officer I would be very uneasy enforcing Weyerhaeuser rules on many of these roads that go to state land especially for walk-in.  The WDFW is actually helping Weyerhaeuser prevent legal access to public land!  The easement is online in Lewis County and the purpose is to provide access to and from the lands of the parties.  The governor's office is looking into this, as is the WDFW and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.  These easements are real folks and Big W (and others) are bluffing bigtime on many roads that lead to state land.

[rackattack]

i was thinking the same question this weekend as well but regarding hoof rot.  The WDFW and Weyco should be ashamed of what has happened to the St Helens elk herd.

[HntnFsh]

It seems like last year, but maybe it was the year before. That gate was left open fairly often on weekends.  I thought it was odd. But didn't know about the easement. Maybe that was the reason. Is there any chance there is an easement from the Winston creek road side?

[buckfvr]

Like I mentioned, I knew Cowlitz County did this.  This year however, they were ordered to stop these contracts by the county risk manager.  I need to find out why.  If it's risky for a county it must be also for the state.

Also, I know FOR A FACT that the 1900 road(big gate) has a DNR easement on it that goes to DNR land up the 500 line.  Look at the lock box: it has three spots "Weyco" "Rec" and "DNR"
 This easement is very broad and was written that way on purpose in response to pro-recreation legislation that passed in 1967.  If I was a Washington state WDFW officer I would be very uneasy enforcing Weyerhaeuser rules on many of these roads that go to state land especially for walk-in.  The WDFW is actually helping Weyerhaeuser prevent legal access to public land!  The easement is online in Lewis County and the purpose is to provide access to and from the lands of the parties.  The governor's office is looking into this, as is the WDFW and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.  These easements are real folks and Big W (and others) are bluffing bigtime on many roads that lead to state land.

You 100% lost me with "the governors office".

[bigtex]

Several timber companies do overtime contracts with wdfw/ sheriff for patrols. @bigtex
  https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,153483.0.html

I cannot confirm that WDFW has been contracted by Weyerhaeuser but WDFW has contracts with several timber companies and other landowners. It's done by all sorts of organizations, big and small. In fact if you had enough money you too could contract with WDFW or any other agency for dedicated patrols on your lands. It's essentially no different than the school district paying for LEOs to be at the football games, dances, etc. Klickitat County has a "timber/woods deputy" fully funded by the private timber companies in that county. Contracts with law enforcement agencies for dedicated coverage is not new.

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I know individuals who personally have asked a WDFW Ofc if they work for weyco or the state since said WDFW ofc kept hasseling them about cutting firewood from an old landing.

While I understand what you're saying however removing firewood without authorization is not just a Weyco rule, it's state law. So they weren't just being hassled over a company rule. It's actually law.

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[bigtex]

Like I mentioned, I knew Cowlitz County did this.  This year however, they were ordered to stop these contracts by the county risk manager.  I need to find out why.  If it's risky for a county it must be also for the state.

Law enforcement contracts with private entities is done probably by just about every law enforcement agency in the state. And it's done nationwide. Heck I was in Fred Meyer yesterday and there was a city cop in full city uniform working overtime on behalf of Fred Meyer.

The agreement between Cowlitz SO and Weyco has been a touchy subject the last few years. Could it be that they just caved to the political pressure...

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[fireweed]

If the WDFW is taking money from Big Timber they better do some research ahead of time, and make sure they aren't breaking the law themselves, don't you think?  Many logging roads are cost-shared and jointly used, jointly owned and co-managed, but the companies charging for access want us to forget that.  There needs to be a MAPact for Washington state, with roads like the 1901/500 line identified.  It passes through Weyco and goes to the DNR and has a legal state of Washington easement on it with of broad and simple purpose of providing access to and from lands of the parties.  Weyco has it gated and posted like they have exclusive control of that road.  Behind the sediment dam, the gated/posted road to public land has TWO public easements (one federal, one state) neither of which limit the use of the road in any way.
 
Weyco paying the WDFW could be a good thing in this situation.  Money creates leverage.  If the WDFW is really serious about improving public access to public land, here's their chance!  The WDFW just needs to identify these roads, and not enforce permit requirements on roads with broad state easements to public land. They can still be gated, IF the DNR agrees, but walk-in should always be allowed. Trespassing ON LAND is still enforceable, but staying on an easement enroute to public land is not a crime. WDFW taking a stand here would demonstrate that.

Its hard to understand but here is the easement on the 1900, 1901, 500 line road system to state land:

https://quickdocs.lewiscountywa.gov/recorder/eagleweb/viewAttachment.jsp?docName=00051D37.TIF&id=DOCCLF-173903.A0&parent=DOCCLF-173903