Man, does this weather suck!

[metlhead]

Going back to that story bouts the tater field being off limits. Seems odd. Was is because the field was tilled?

[KP-Skagit]

Going back to that story bouts the tater field being off limits. Seems odd. Was is because the field was tilled?

I agree, kind of seem arbitrary to me. And what is frustrating is at least one of the fields was a feel free to hunt so there goes another opportunity. This one had been tilled. Can't speak to others.

Bottom line is, farmers did what they did not hunters. Just about all ag land hunting comes down to what the farmers left in the field. This is a little slippery slope.

All the while there are guys with leases who plant corn and barley specifically for hunting and never harvest it. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with that. But the comparison of the two doesn't work out in my mind.

[metlhead]

Exactly what I was thinking without going down the corn pond hole. Ducks eat the spuds or old plants?

[KP-Skagit]

Exactly what I was thinking without going down the corn pond hole. Ducks eat the spuds or old plants?

They go wild for spuds after a freeze and they get mushy. Historically some great hunting has been spud fields after a wet fall when a lot of crop gets left in the field. That was the case two years ago.

[Stein]

Pretty arbitrary, agreed. Someone with money could challenge that one, pretty decent argument that is normal agricultural operations I would think.

How many unharvested potatoes equates to baiting?  It isn't one or a hundred or even a thousand or every potato field would be off limits.  They are hunted all the time, even WDFW managed properties.

The fact that it actually attracted birds to the property could have been what triggered it as off limits.   

[salt n sage90]

I had a conversation on this exact subject with the game warden recently regarding a WDFW program field that had recently been deemed "baited" due to the dumping of spoils by the farmer leasing the property. He was understanding of my disappointment so no ill will toward him. But I do think its pretty steamy BS. I dont really see the issue here. Like KPSkagit said, hunters didn't do this. Why should they lose opportunity and access because the farmer leasing the land from the landowner operated in a certain way. If I'm not mistaken aren't tax dollars also subsidizing the farmer for the publics' access? Do tax dollars get reimbursed for our loss of access? The farmer is being paid by two entities here and one is screwing the other over... not that it matters but the ducks are feeding just as heavily on the green grass in this spot than they are spuds.

- The field is supposed to be open to the public, if people are following the law and not shooting more than their bag limit what is the harm. A lucky few have a couple really good shoots for a couple days and weekends and then the birds figure it out?

- The hunters disperse some of these birds that are funneling into this one field that now nobody has access to and is taking away the opportunity of all the surrounding areas.

- If I were a warden I would use this spot as a sting operation. Lots of temptation to overshoot when things are hot in a spot like this.

Also I talked to the landowner before the warden and he was pretty upset it was shut down. Wanted me to get after it ha.

[Sandberm]

I don't think farmers get paid to make their land available to hunters.

They might have been motivated to sign up for another program for different reasons, and that might a stipulation of that plan however.

[ducks4days]

I don't think farmers get paid to make their land available to hunters.

They might have been motivated to sign up for another program for different reasons, and that might a stipulation of that plan however.

Farmers get paid to enroll in the WDFW public access program. Its basically a pittance, but money does change hands.
Farmers leasing fields for hunting absolutely get paid.

[Sandberm]

I don't think farmers get paid to make their land available to hunters.

They might have been motivated to sign up for another program for different reasons, and that might a stipulation of that plan however.

Farmers get paid to enroll in the WDFW public access program. Its basically a pittance, but money does change hands.
Farmers leasing fields for hunting absolutely get paid.

Oh for sure i am aware of farmers signing hunting leases.

There was a farmer in the late 90's that had a prime goose spot along the river. Rumor was he got $5000 from a guide for the season. I dont know what they pay now but at the time that sounded pretty good to me.

[vandeman17]

I work with farmers up in the Skagit Valley and WDFW pays them to either grant access to some hunting grounds or to allow hunters to actually hunt their fields. Never asked how much they get

[lovetogrouse]

I work with farmers up in the Skagit Valley and WDFW pays them to either grant access to some hunting grounds or to allow hunters to actually hunt their fields. Never asked how much they get

I've been thinking about public-private access lately. What are the major obstacles to getting more farmers to sign up?

[Sandberm]

I work with farmers up in the Skagit Valley and WDFW pays them to either grant access to some hunting grounds or to allow hunters to actually hunt their fields. Never asked how much they get

I've been thinking about public-private access lately. What are the major obstacles to getting more farmers to sign up?

Probably the farmer trying to get along with his neighbors and how densely populated the farming area is. Nothing worse the a neighbor who does things for his/her own gain and disregards those who he farms/lives around.

[vandeman17]

I work with farmers up in the Skagit Valley and WDFW pays them to either grant access to some hunting grounds or to allow hunters to actually hunt their fields. Never asked how much they get

I've been thinking about public-private access lately. What are the major obstacles to getting more farmers to sign up?

Main thing I have told is people abusing their land. Leaving garbage, shell casings, driving where the farmer specifically said not to.

[lovetogrouse]

I work with farmers up in the Skagit Valley and WDFW pays them to either grant access to some hunting grounds or to allow hunters to actually hunt their fields. Never asked how much they get

I've been thinking about public-private access lately. What are the major obstacles to getting more farmers to sign up?

Probably the farmer trying to get along with his neighbors and how densely populated the farming area is. Nothing worse the a neighbor who does things for his/her own gain and disregards those who he farms/lives around.

Makes sense in a lot of areas, but there's a lot of open space in the Skagit region.

[lovetogrouse]

I work with farmers up in the Skagit Valley and WDFW pays them to either grant access to some hunting grounds or to allow hunters to actually hunt their fields. Never asked how much they get

I've been thinking about public-private access lately. What are the major obstacles to getting more farmers to sign up?

Main thing I have told is people abusing their land. Leaving garbage, shell casings, driving where the farmer specifically said not to.

Makes sense. I've seen a lot of spent shells in the private area I've been hunting and it's pretty disappointing.