2009 Road Hunting Buck

[bobcat]

From now on I would suggest that those hunters using mountain bikes behind locked gates not post that fact in there story.  It may offend those poor hunters that have to hike in on foot.

It was legal. If you guy's don't like it then don't do it. But you shouldn't judge him. If anything judge the timber company for allowing it.

Yes we should judge him.  And he is responsible for his own actions... not the timber company or anyone else.  He should seriously consider changing his handle on this site to something more befitting.

Such as what? 

"Road Hunter"?             

[MtnMuley]

From now on I would suggest that those hunters using mountain bikes behind locked gates not post that fact in there story.  It may offend those poor hunters that have to hike in on foot. 

A mtn bike compared to a truck?  Really?  Anyone with permission could throw his mtn bike over the gate and ride in.  They couldn't throw their truck over the gate. 

In my country, I've been passed several times while hiking early in the morning by guys with mtn bikes behind closed gates.  More power to them.  However, it's funny that when the road gets steep, I always seem to pass them.............

[Alan K]

Everywhere I ride into I always push my bike up any hills. . . No use burning yourself out on the way in!  Downhill coasting on the way out when you're beat from the hunt is what makes a bike useful.

[Dmanmastertracker]

 As someone said, this is a very old topic. It really has to do with landowner's having inconsistent regulations for hunting their land. One landowner says it's their "policy" no one drives in their gates to hunt, yet their own employee's and their employee's friends not even employed by the timber co. can drive in and hunt, it's all about consistency. I don't blame anyone for taking advantage of an opportunity, but I do blame the management companies for not having a consistent access policy, for example like Weyerheauser has. If people know what to expect, they don't get upset.

[huntnfmly]

seriously who cares what they do with thier own property.If they want to allow employees to drive behind closed gates they can.

[bobcat]

From what I read on this board, it sounds like Weyerhaeuser began doing the same thing this year- allowing employees to drive in behind locked gates. I don't know if this was for all of Weyerhaeuser's tree farms but at least one in SW Wa. I'm not sure I agree with it but it is private land and the owner of the land should be able to do what they want and make their own rules. The sticky part though is that the wildlife on those private lands are owned by the public. Also timber companies pay very little in property tax on those lands. So it does seem like the public should have equal access for hunting. If not maybe the timber companies should be paying higher taxes.  

[BIGINNER]

From what I read on this board, it sounds like Weyerhaeuser began doing the same thing this year- allowing employees to drive in behind locked gates. I don't know if this was for all of Weyerhaeuser's tree farms but at least one in SW Wa. I'm not sure I agree with it but it is private land and the owner of the land should be able to do what they want and make their own rules. The sticky part though is that the wildlife on those private lands are owned by the public. Also timber companies pay very little in property tax on those lands. So it does seem like the public should have equal access for hunting. If not maybe the timber companies should be paying higher taxes.  

i would agree, but if everyone was allowed in,.. the place would be turned into a dump, 

[Dmanmastertracker]

From what I read on this board, it sounds like Weyerhaeuser began doing the same thing this year- allowing employees to drive in behind locked gates. I don't know if this was for all of Weyerhaeuser's tree farms but at least one in SW Wa. I'm not sure I agree with it but it is private land and the owner of the land should be able to do what they want and make their own rules. The sticky part though is that the wildlife on those private lands are owned by the public. Also timber companies pay very little in property tax on those lands. So it does seem like the public should have equal access for hunting. If not maybe the timber companies should be paying higher taxes.  

 All true, the State really should be a little more active in making sure access programs are operating at the same level, it is either open to the public or it isn't, under the same guidelines. This is much the same as Goldmark considering letting the tribes drive in behind DNR gates.

[Alan K]

Timber companies get a tax break for allowing the public to walk in, and drive in in some cases on weekends etc.  Their taxes would be much greater if they barred the public from access at all.

And the policy on driving in varies from tree farm to tree farm, it's not an overarching company policy, it's set by the office.  PeEll just started allowing their employees to buy access permits which allow them and three or four others to go in with them.  Vail has always let their employees, and even contractors in a lot of cases drive in during the week off the clock.

[Dmanmastertracker]

Timber companies get a tax break for allowing the public to walk in, and drive in in some cases on weekends etc.  Their taxes would be much greater if they barred the public from access at all.

And the policy on driving in varies from tree farm to tree farm, it's not an overarching company policy, it's set by the office.  PeEll just started allowing their employees to buy access permits which allow them and three or four others to go in with them.  Vail has always let their employees, and even contractors in a lot of cases drive in during the week off the clock.

 Maybe why they harvest 1/3 the deer out of Vail they did 15 years ago...

[Alan K]

And believe it or not, limited access is a good thing in a number of cases.  It helps with animal escapement and the overall quality of the herds.

[bobcat]

Timber companies get a tax break for allowing the public to walk in, and drive in in some cases on weekends etc.  Their taxes would be much greater if they barred the public from access at all.

Do you know that for a fact or is it just a rumor you heard? If that is true, do companies like Hancock pay more taxes on their property since they are charging the public for access? I really don't think access policies have any affect on how they are taxed. I think it's one rate for forested lands and that's it. But I could be wrong.

[Dmanmastertracker]

And believe it or not, limited access is a good thing in a number of cases.  It helps with animal escapement and the overall quality of the herds.

 You just made my point.

[Alan K]

Do you know that for a fact or is it just a rumor you heard? If that is true, do companies like Hancock pay more taxes on their property since they are charging the public for access? I really don't think access policies have any affect on how they are taxed. I think it's one rate for forested lands and that's it. But I could be wrong.

I know for a fact they get a tax break, how much though, I don't know.  That's the only reason they allow scumbags on their property to dump garbage and vandalize their equipment.  I'd assume Hancock would be paying more because it's limited access not unlimited like a Weyco, but like I said I don't know.

Maybe why they harvest 1/3 the deer out of Vail they did 15 years ago...

You're kidding right? Have you ever been to Vail on a weekend?

There are maybe ~100 employees that work that tree farm, and not all of them hunt.  Even if they were all successful every year, and a friend of theirs they take in too, it wouldn't match what the harvest is from the public be it on the weekends or walking in.

In my opinion it has a lot to do with the loss of hound hunting . . . The cats in there are EVERYWHERE! That in combination with the hair loss on the outskirts of the farm, and the invention of the internet and everyone talking about all the deer there despite passing a fellow hunter every 4 minutes while hunting.

[bobcat]

I think limiting motorized access is great as long as they leave some of the main roads open so people can get a reasonable distance into an area before they have to start walking. Otherwise, there are going to be too many areas with excessive hunting pressure, and other areas with virtually none.

The problem is in limiting motorized access for some but not all.