scouting Okanogan 204

[Earshot]

Went out this weekend scouting for the late whitetail hunt in unit 204. We saw a good number of muleys, not so many whiteys, no big bucks and mostly on private ground.
Does anyone know what is up with the DNR holding prime land just outside of Havilla with NO HUNTING signs all over it? It seem to me that public ground should be open to all.
Is there a way to get permission to get on there? There was something to do the cattlemans association on one of the signs but didn't get a chance to get back by the property. 

[bobcat]

Went out this weekend scouting for the late whitetail hunt in unit 204. We saw a good number of muleys, not so many whiteys, no big bucks and mostly on private ground.
Does anyone know what is up with the DNR holding prime land just outside of Havilla with NO HUNTING signs all over it? It seem to me that public ground should be open to all.
Is there a way to get permission to get on there? There was something to do the cattlemans association on one of the signs but didn't get a chance to get back by the property. 

I would call the DNR office in Colville, and ask about it. It could be leased for grazing but that doesn't mean they can post it "no hunting." It should still be open to the public for hunting unless the leasee has a good reason to not allow hunting on the property. You need to check with DNR to find out for sure. It could be illegally posted.

[Buckmark]

Are you talking about property up the 33rd from Havilla? If so check your maps, the DNR has very very little land near Havilla, all private pretty much around the town (within a few miles either way except just south of town), lots of Nat forest around though.
Make sure you have a good map that shows the ownership colors (white is private, light purple is DNR, and all that green is Nat forest), the 33rd from havilla towards Lost lk goes through private/DNR for the first 4 miles from town..There is a research property just up the road from town along that straight stech that is No Hunting/trespasing, right by the private grouns that always has whiteys in it crossing the road to feed..

[Curly]

Also, realize that DNR does land exchanges all the time and their maps may not be up-to-date.  Could be that they (DNR) sold the land or exchanged it and it is now private.

[Earshot]

Buckmark, it was off lost lake road and is the big field just before you get to the National Forest land on the south side of the road. It shows on the map as DNR and also has signs that indicate that it is. But also has No Hunting/ Trespassing signs everywhere. The field is overgrown so nothing has been grazing in it. I don't think that anyone can lease property from the DNR as a private hunting property. It looks like it is just sitting unused.

[MtnMuley]

If I'm thinking of the area you're talking about, then it is private.  The original owner passed several years ago, and I don't believe the land has sold, but I could be wrong.  I was calling coyotes in there many years ago, and briefly saw a cougar hot after a dandy whitetail. 

[Buckmark]

Check your map closely, remember everything is checkerboard ownership and the road does not constitute a land boundry, the first approx 2 miles of that road are all private on the north side and mostly private on the south side till the first cattle guard, then it gets broken up for a bit till the next cattle guard, most of the land along there on the north is private, do you remember the cabin right at the hard right just before meyers creek, the private crosses there. I think if you go and check the map closer you will see that the property your thinking of is lower then what you thought, but that being said, go to the top of the fence at that posted property and walk in along it, that is open land, just dont shoot into the fenced area or make sure that your animal dies on the correct side. In years when it has been really dry over there, the whiteys congrgate in that big aspen patch just below it and feed in the field just across from it..

[Earshot]

Check your map closely, remember everything is checkerboard ownership and the road does not constitute a land boundry, the first approx 2 miles of that road are all private on the north side and mostly private on the south side till the first cattle guard, then it gets broken up for a bit till the next cattle guard, most of the land along there on the north is private, do you remember the cabin right at the hard right just before meyers creek, the private crosses there. I think if you go and check the map closer you will see that the property your thinking of is lower then what you thought, but that being said, go to the top of the fence at that posted property and walk in along it, that is open land, just dont shoot into the fenced area or make sure that your animal dies on the correct side. In years when it has been really dry over there, the whiteys congrgate in that big aspen patch just below it and feed in the field just across from it..

I know that the first cattleguard was the first NF boundary and the land I was talking about was about a Quarter or maybe a half mile before that. I have the newest public land map and I believe it shows that property backing up to the NF. I'm at work however and going by memory. thanks for the insite.

[Malottguy]

I also think it is private where you are talking about, but we have had a problem the last couple of years in the south county with people putting up private property and no trespassing signs on public land in an attempt to "close" it off for themselves.  

Just be careful where you go especially around Lost Lake and Bonaparte as both have A LOT of private ground surrounding them.

[yelp]

Here is a map which piece?

[Buckmark]

Not on there yelp.
make Bimetalic mnt the center of your map...

[yelp]

how about now?  What section..Blue is DNR Green is USFS

[Buckmark]

The area should be in section 04, the road also goes up through 03 which just touches nat forest for a few hundred feet then a small corner of private cuts across it, then the road crosses over the bottom of 34 (private both sides) then across 35 were it touches blm,private,nat forest..05,04 are all private, 03 is 2/3+ private and 35 is 1/2 nat forest, just under a 1/4 blm and the rest private..

[yelp]

CHeck out this link..   http://okanoganwa.taxsifter.com/taxsifter/t-parcelsearch.asp

you will need legal descriptions to find out who owns what..I pulled section 4 for you..it says its all private..here are the landowners



MH98002316   RES       NELSON, BERTA & ROCKY      Assessor Information       Treasurer Information       Map 
3829044005   FARM   95 LOST LAKE RD W    NELSON, BERTA & ROCKY      Assessor Information       Treasurer Information       Map 
3829043005   FARM       CARROLL, BRICE ETAL      Assessor Information       Treasurer Information       Map 
3829042005   FARM       OC VERN & DONNA HARKNESS LLC      Assessor Information       Treasurer Information       Map 
3829043004   FARM   106 LOST LAKE RD W    KLIEGMAN, DAVID & HANNA      Assessor Information       Treasurer Information       Map 
3829044006   FARM       KLIEGMAN, DAVID & HANNA      Assessor Information       Treasurer Information       Map 

[Earshot]

I was looking at the backward L shaped piece in 35 when I looked at the map, but after studying this a little more I think you are right I was confused thinking that the private property just west of the cattle guard was the blue on the map. I think I was confused by the sign that referenced the DNR, I'm going back up in three weeks I will have to find out what that sign said. thanks for the help

[MtnMuley]

Damn, Yelp.  You should run a business and charge for detailed info gathering like this.....   Very nice

[KimberRich]

Yeah nice work Yelp!  Your all over it.

I was in Havillah and surrounding areas last weekend and saw some deer but not near as many in years past.  Drove up from Havillah all the way through the National Forrest and tied in on Swanson Mill Rd. and saw a few down low but only a couple spike WT's up high.