Selkirk 113 - Big Game winter range signs

[whacker1]

I have been hunting up in 113 for the last 5 years or so from time to time.  I have noticed a few Big Game Winter Range Signs which are marked Dec 1st - March 31st on a few specific roads.  I got checked by a game warden yesterday, so I took the time to ask him what the ruling was, because Late Muzzleloader whitetail goes from 11/25 - 12/8, yet the sign says winter range starts dec 1st.  His initial reaction was  a look of concern or question, but then he went on to say that it is in fact closed as the date says on the sign of Dec 1st.   It seemed if he didn't know, but went along with what I told him regarding the posted signs.  I couldn't find any reference to it in the game regs as other winter ranges are referenced.

I will be calling the WDFW office today, but I was curious if anyone had any local knowledge on the issue.

[mdbuck5x5]

Hey whacker I read your post and I thought I would give you my  ! I've been hunting the selkirks for almost 20 years. Now I don't know if its the same area or not but the signs I've seen are up CCA creek rd. There is 1 just about 2 miles up on the right and then another 1 on the left in a big clearing around the 3 1/2 mile mark. If you were to take a left on that road at the 3 1/2 marker and follow it all the way down it would take you right back to LeClerc rd. Anyways I believe it was around 2002-2003 when they put those signs up and then about a year later they gated both ends of the road. Now I believe the reason for this is because 1st they obviously realized the deer and elk congregated to that area in the winter and 2nd they gated it off to keep vehicles out of there so people wouldnt disturb the game. I personally havent had someone tell me I cant walk in there and still hunt during that time from Dec.1 - Mar. 31, but I also don't hunt with a smokepole and not up there that late. So thats just my opinion. Surprisingly though the weekend of the the 14th-15th we drove in on that road from the bottom and they had already locked up the gate. Not sure why so early. If you do end up calling wdfw let me know if you would please, what they say about the whole thing. I'm very curious myself.

Thanks,
Jeremy

[bobcat]

Is it a WDFW sign or USFS?  If not WDFW, then they may not know anything about it and it may not have anything to do with whether you can hunt there or not. It seems to me that it could just mean that you can't drive in there during that time. But you would think the sign would be more specific as to what is and what isn't allowed.

[whacker1]

They weren't marked USFS or WDFW that I saw. 

Jeremy, they are on the CCA creek rd and about two or three other places on the CCA creek other than those you mentioned including those headed over to Browns Lake, which don't have gates or signs coming from the other direction.  The signs are located in a very concise area on main roads with no real indicator of boundary for the winter range.

Yes, they lock the gate you mentioned year round now, I believe.   It just confused the hell out of me as I have been around winter range in other areas, and it seems much better defined, better posted, and access more limited. 

[mdbuck5x5]

 Yeah I agree I dont think they are marked. I have seen some of those other ones as well. And your right they are located in some goofy areas. Do you know if that gate was locked earlier in the year? Because it wasnt last year until december. And to be honest with you I don't think wdfw has anything to do with them.

[WAcoyotehunter]

You can still walk into those areas, they close the roads to keep traffic from disturbing wintering game. 

[boneaddict]

   Open, jsut can't drive or snowmobile on them.  Its basically the same as the states No Unauthorized vehicles behind this sign......... 

[mdbuck5x5]

That was pretty much what I thought as well, thanks guys! What I dont understand is why they have gates there and lock them up. Its not an area thats being logged.

[whacker1]

There is only a gate at the one road at the top and the bottom.  Yes, it was locked earlier in the year.  Thanks to the rest of you for the heads up on that it becomes walk in only. 

[runningboard]

On 1921 rd off of CCA rd.

on road mentioned in post earlier that runs from CCA back down to LeClerc rd.

on Kings lake rd shows open to a cross country skier & a snow-shoer/hiker(sp?)

if you look at them closely you can see both USFS & WDFW logos at the bottom. If you met officer Erickson, he is new to the area but a good guy, his look may be that your question caught him off guard.

[mdbuck5x5]

Alright I see what you're saying. Hadn't really paid much attention to the logos on the bottom. Did you notice though not all of them say walking or snowshoe only. Yeah me and my hunting partner ran into that greenie Erickson like 3 weeks back coming down CCA. That day I foolishly left my wallet down at our camper and didnt realize it until halfway through the day. Well as we were heading back down we were stopped by him as he was checking licenses and of course the day I forget my wallet we get checked. Things checked out fine cause I have a clean record but I swear he must have asked 3 or 4 times are you sure you didnt shoot anything? Are you sure you don't have a deer hanging back at camp? I know he was just doing his job but it was kinda excessive. But we were the 4th vehicle he stopped on the way up and the 3 previous vehicles he checked all had hunters that had loaded guns in the their vehicles.   Thats a no no!

[whacker1]

So, runningboard
Mill creek rd & leclerc creek rd are still fair game, is that correct?  I didn't see any signs up that way.

I just don't want to hike in by road as far as I need to go from the where the signs are located.  That would add 5 miles to my 3 mile hike.   There just isn't enough snow yet to push the animals down to where that is convenient.  Saw way to much activity 7-8 miles up to justify hunting down low, where i saw half as much activity