2025 Snoqualmie Tree Farm - Anybody Going to Quit?

[bigtex]

The tree farm has been reduced by 25% over the past three years due to two similarly sized sales of land to the Snoqualmie and Tulalip Tribes. The land sold was arguably some of the most popular and best land for hunting.

So, are the regular pass buyers going to stop buying the pass next year after the latest sale? I have some family members who say 2025 may be their last year on the property.

You would think a 25% reduction in land would result in a 25% reduction in price and permit numbers but we know that ain't gonna happen...

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

[jamesfromseattle]

I'm likely out next year. Although more to do with me never being successful there. Losing that land certainly won't help, but it seems to have gone downhill in general in my anecdotal experience.

[pd]

I don't have an iron in this fire, so cannot comment.  On the west side of Puget Sound I am not going to purchase the access pass for 2025 that I got this year.  I really appreciate having access to a private tree farm, with somewhat limited pressure, but the juice is just not worth the squeeze.

Note to private timberland owners: Speaking for myself, I am happy to play "pay to hunt."  The money is not the issue.  But the lands must be managed for wildlife, or I won't participate.

(The area that I hunted this year looked like Fallujah after a visit from the USMC.)

[Katmai Guy]

I will probably buy next year to see the amount the pressure increases.  If it's significant, it will probably be my last year.
 I'm curious to see if the tribe members stay on their tracts or if they will be allowed to use the whole property.

[Angry Perch]

Is there a map that shows the old vs. new boundaries?

[bigtex]

Note to private timberland owners: Speaking for myself, I am happy to play "pay to hunt."  The money is not the issue.  But the lands must be managed for wildlife, or I won't participate.

(The area that I hunted this year looked like Fallujah after a visit from the USMC.)

Boy ain't that right. That's one of the biggest complaints I have with Snoqualmie right now. They're spraying and killing of all vegetation in the clearcuts.

On top of that you have King County coming in with their Loop (aka human  waste) dispersal. I have yet to see an animal in an area that's had Loop dispersed. And it seems like the county puts out more and more every year.

But let's face it, they're timber companies. At the end of the day all they care about is money from timber and getting the most they can the faster they can.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

[Skyvalhunter]

Chances are the spraying will stop since the tribes are against it from what I am hearing. This opens the gate for invasive plants like evergreen blackberries which take over.  Seen this happen on some of the tribes other properties.

[bigtex]

Chances are the spraying will stop since the tribes are against it from what I am hearing. This opens the gate for invasive plants like evergreen blackberries which take over.  Seen this happen on some of the tribes other properties.

The tribes may not spray on their tribal properties. But I don't see Campbell Global stopping spraying on lands they still own, if anything they've increased it over the past few years.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

[jamesfromseattle]

I don't have an iron in this fire, so cannot comment.  On the west side of Puget Sound I am not going to purchase the access pass for 2025 that I got this year.  I really appreciate having access to a private tree farm, with somewhat limited pressure, but the juice is just not worth the squeeze.

Note to private timberland owners: Speaking for myself, I am happy to play "pay to hunt."  The money is not the issue.  But the lands must be managed for wildlife, or I won't participate.

(The area that I hunted this year looked like Fallujah after a visit from the USMC.)

Agreed. Money isn’t the issue. From a theoretical standpoint I don’t like how these big timber companies (with their massive tax breaks and free land they got many years ago) charge the public access, but from a practical perspective I’d be happy to pay twice as much and sleep in my own bed during hunting season if it was a better place to hunt. I almost wish they’d manage for wildlife and make up the expense with higher prices.

[JakeLand]

I hunted it once for a few days with the 460 late “quality “ tag and I never saw a quality buck in there went to another area in 460 and got what I was looking for

[mbj]

I'm sure I will continue to buy it. But honestly I've stopped relying on it as a productive hunting location and use it for the fishing and firewood.

Pretty bummed about losing truck hill though. Seen and harvested some decent bucks around there over the years.

[bigtex]

Well look at that. Campbell has sold 25% of the property in the past 3 years and in 2025 the prices are going up $25 to $325. Paying more for less access. 900 motorized permits for 2025.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

[colersu22]

Less permits too, I thought it was 1200 last year.  I will still buy one because it is nice to have a spot to drive around with the young kids so they feel like they are hunting.

[bigtex]

Less permits too, I thought it was 1200 last year.  I will still buy one because it is nice to have a spot to drive around with the young kids so they feel like they are hunting.

Honestly that part makes sense. Less permits for less acreage. But more $ for less acreage...?

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

[bigtex]

Well the 900 permits sold out in less than 6 hours. There were some pre-sales for those who've held the permit for many years. When I looked at about 45 minutes into the sale there were only around 200 permits letft.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

[kodiak06]

Note to private timberland owners: Speaking for myself, I am happy to play "pay to hunt."  The money is not the issue.  But the lands must be managed for wildlife, or I won't participate.

(The area that I hunted this year looked like Fallujah after a visit from the USMC.)

You're already participating lol. Timber companys do nothing from a biology or game management standpoint

[mbj]

Well the 900 permits sold out in less than 6 hours. There were some pre-sales for those who've held the permit for many years. When I looked at about 45 minutes into the sale there were only around 200 permits letft.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

it was nice to see they dropped the permit numbers down after the big sell offs the last few years. I begrudgingly bought it again this year in the presale but gave up on it as a good hunting spot years ago. fishing and firewood.

[jamesjett]

Hunted those hills since the late 80’s when they were not gated….I have bought the permit just about every year.  This year I passed on it.  Who knows how much more they will sell off.

[TriggerMike]

99,000 acres down to 69,000 acres per the website. Crazy what has happened. And then there was the guy in another thread on here spreading rumors the Muckleshoot were buying land in there and then he never updated where he heard the rumor. Fun times. Enjoy what's left while you can because once it goes to the Tribes it will never change hands again and I doubt they will ever allow access to non-tribal members.

[bigtex]

99,000 acres down to 69,000 acres per the website. Crazy what has happened. And then there was the guy in another thread on here spreading rumors the Muckleshoot were buying land in there and then he never updated where he heard the rumor. Fun times. Enjoy what's left while you can because once it goes to the Tribes it will never change hands again and I doubt they will ever allow access to non-tribal members.

The generational hunting (and other activites) is quickly ending there, just like it did on the White River farm.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk