Manulife (Hancock) Land Closures

[bearpaw]

Two things that's going to impact moose hunters in numerous moose areas, Hancock (now Manulife) is closing all lands and posting them, and there are fires in several moose units. All the Hancock lands I've been by while scouting recently have been closed, so take that into consideration in advance.

[Caseknife]

Is Hancock closing permanently or is this just their fire season closure that they do every year?

[hunter399]

Two things that's going to impact moose hunters in numerous moose areas, Hancock (now Manulife) is closing all lands and posting them, and there are fires in several moose units. All the Hancock lands I've been by while scouting recently have been closed, so take that into consideration in advance.

Is Hancock closing permanently or is this just their fire season closure that they do every year?

Not sure ,but a lot of no trespassing signs going up from Manulife/Hancock.
Probably going towards access permits and land lease deals.

[Limhangerslayer]

https://manulifeimlanduse.com/browse-licenses

And at a little over $3 an acre you can lease it.  It’s going to make that NE area harder to hunt in the future

[bearpaw]

Is Hancock closing permanently or is this just their fire season closure that they do every year?

It's a permanent closure

[bearpaw]

I assume this must be some of their larger tracks of land? Lot of it is so patch worked I don’t know how you would create a lease out of it when you need to go through it to get to other timber companies or state land. We haven’t seen any new Closures in all of our scouting trips over to the Huckleberry unit yet. Hopefully we don’t start seeing them this weekend

I don't know when you last scouted but your next trip may be a surprise, depending where you go, I know they have closed a lot of lands in Huckleberry. They won't be able to close roads with right of ways to other properties unless those other owners agree with a closure. I don't think any roads could be closed that have right of ways to state or federal lands, but I've seen signage along right of way roads and at many entry roads into Hancock lands.

[Elkpiss]

Is Hancock closing permanently or is this just their fire season closure that they do every year?

It's a permanent closure

Would that be for Hancock land in Ferry County as well?

[bearpaw]

Is Hancock closing permanently or is this just their fire season closure that they do every year?

It's a permanent closure

Would that be for Hancock land in Ferry County as well?

I'm sure it will when they get to it.

Keep in mind Hancock lands are now under control of a new company, Manulife, leasing farming and recreation is part of their business model, after speaking to them I learned they are actively working on expanding this in Washington and they have already done this on their lands in other states.

We all want to hunt for free, even though it will cost hunters to hunt their lands, at least they are not refusing to allow hunting like some timber companies, I'm just trying to find a bright side to a sobering situation because I imagine other companies will be watching this and potentially doing something similar.

My apologies to the OP, i'll quit distracting your topic!

[Kingofthemountain83]

All Hancock (Manulife) land on the west side has been pay to play for years... Amazed this took so long... Good luck on the tag...

[Bonehuntn]

Great info for sure. Just spent couple days cruising around the unit to get a feel. No signs on any timber lands that we saw and also didn’t see a moose so 🤞 it works out for him. Thanks to all who shared info appreciate it.

[bearpaw]

There are quite a few road closures but it appears most Manulife lands are still open for public hunting in Douglas, Manulife signs detail what is allowed. The north end of the county has a lot more Manulife lands open than the south end of the county. Early season opens today, good luck to all.

[johnsc6]

its the same in idaho....

[MMCCAULEY]

That really stinks.