Grant will help open land to hunters

[bobcat]

This article is almost 4 months old, but I just came across it and hadn't seen it before. Maybe it's already been posted but if so, I'm probably not the only one that missed seeing it. I'm curious to see if all that they talk about will actually happen.

Grant will help open land to hunters

Private Property: 12 counties involved

JEFFREY P. MAYOR; Staff writer | • Published October 24, 2010
 
A federal grant will help the state open to hunting at least 200,000 more acres of private land in 12 Washington counties.

Under the new federal grant program announced earlier this month, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife will receive $837,000 to develop land-use agreements with landowners who voluntarily make their land available to hunting and other forms of outdoor recreation.


The agency plans to use the Department of Agriculture grant to support projects that provide incentives to:


 • Private landowners who allow waterfowl hunting, big game hunting and wildlife viewing in Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish counties.


 • Private forest landowners who allow hunting in Lewis, Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties.


 • Private landowners who allow hunting for pheasant and other wildlife found in fields in Whitman, Garfield, Columbia, and Walla Walla counties.


 • Farmers who leave corn stubble untilled through the winter for waterfowl food and allow hunting in Grant and Franklin counties.


In addition, the department plans to update its GoHunt online mapping program, as well as develop an automated system that will allow hunters to reserve hunting days on private lands enrolled in some of the department’s access programs.


The federal funding is a major boost for current state efforts to open the gates to private lands previously closed to hunting, said Dave Ware, the department’s game manager.


“Hunters consistently rank access to suitable hunting areas as one of their top concerns,” Ware said in a prepared statement. “This new funding will allow us to build on current state efforts to expand hunting opportunities for years to come.”


Washington was one of 17 states to receive competitive grants under the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program, created by the 2008 federal Farm Bill to expand public access to private agricultural and forest lands.


The department currently has access agreements with more than 630 landowners, providing access to more than 1.23 million acres of private land around the state.


Ware said the state agency expects to open an additional 200,000 acres of private land to hunting by the start of next year’s hunting season.


To support that effort, the department has raised $400,000 to expand hunter access through additional fees paid by hunters who apply for new permit-only hunts.


Ware said the department has bolstered its Private Lands Access program to reverse the steady decline of land open to hunting due to population growth, suburban sprawl and crowding on public lands.


“Overall, I think folks are going to be pretty happy, especially on the west side where we’re going to be working with these timber companies that have been closing their gates more and more,” Ware said.


From the landowner perspective, Ware said the department is trying to address some of the big issues, such as littering, garbage dumping and behavioral issues including vandalism and keeping people out of active logging areas.


Besides opening their land to hunters, landowners can qualify for compensation by planting crops and vegetation that attract game or agreeing to allow duck blinds on their property.



Read more: http://www.theolympian.com/2010/10/24/1414440/grant-will-help-open-land-to-hunters.html#storylink=mirelated#ixzz1E6U1zDHn

[ICEMAN]

I draw a distinction between a wheat farmer opening his lands versus a mega-forestland corporation. To open lands to hunt requires a bit of logical vehicular access IMHO. A timber company posting a sign allowing foot access only with no camping should not receive any grant funds IMHO. Don't these timber companies complain of losses from overbrowse and  tree damage, and then complicate hunting access already? I say open up the main roads into areas, close all the side spurs, allow hunters the ability to get camps set up a bit closer to the action....then receive any grant funding.... Grant funds for a gate and a sign? No!

[fireweed]

I know where the Forest Service had to pay for side gates on a private road to a public trailhead before the timber co. would open the gates.  And this is on a road with an easement!  I also see where Rayonier is "leasing" out chunks of timberland to hunters for a few thousand $ per year, but then it is closed to everyone else.  (Don't be tempted;Just say NO)  That back-east lease program could shut down hunting in Washington.  Here's the real trick to keeping timberland open: PROPERTY TAXES.  Every chunk of timberland gets a huge property tax break compared to YOUR personal home and land. This tax rate is so low that timberland is valued and taxed as a few hundred dollars a year vs. tens of thousands of dollars per acre for non-timber next door.  I have timberland, I know.  On 20 acres of timber I pay about $60.  Big timber pays even less.  The  state has put this tax break in because timberland provides "public benefits". These benefits are listed in Wa. law and include wildlife habitat and .  Big Timber has chopped recreation since the laws were written.  Now camping and motorized are almost never allowed, and some even prohibit entry.  If the public benefit of recreation is removed, shouldn't their taxbreak be reduced proportionally?  If Boeing got a tax break for making a plane here, then they decided to make the plane in China, shouldn't their tax break go away? Same thing.  If big timber closes their land, their tax rates should go up!  This is the real leverage we have to keep lands open.

[Elkaholic daWg]

  x2

[Jerbear]

Let us not kid ourselves.  The ONLY reason we get to walk in is the tax break for the timber companies.  For a tax break, the land should be open for vehicular traffic, period.  I know some of you like it, but the handicapped, seniors, and for the most part young hunters are eliminated.  I doubt that the original intent of the tax break was for walk in only.

[Special T]

I agree with the tax statement. I believe there is a different prop tax catagory for Recreational Property.. If rights are leased for that purpose then i guess it isn't just timber land is it...

[jackmaster]

Let us not kid ourselves.  The ONLY reason we get to walk in is the tax break for the timber companies.  For a tax break, the land should be open for vehicular traffic, period.  I know some of you like it, but the handicapped, seniors, and for the most part young hunters are eliminated.  I doubt that the original intent of the tax break was for walk in only.

they make it walk in only because of the people that got to drive in at one time used there lands as a private dumping grounds, and thrashed logging sites, evreything should be walk-in only except designated disabled areas, and yes i am a disabled hunter and a disabled vet, so i believe i have the right to say exactly that.

[bobcat]

One thing i didnt see is pierce county, i have 5 acres of private land on a private lake that i would be willing to let young waterfowl hunters use, at times it is some good ass shootn but i havent shot ducks or geese for a number of years on my property

There are people on here all the time looking for a place to hunt ducks in that area. 

[jackmaster]

One thing i didnt see is pierce county, i have 5 acres of private land on a private lake that i would be willing to let young waterfowl hunters use, at times it is some good ass shootn but i havent shot ducks or geese for a number of years on my property

There are people on here all the time looking for a place to hunt ducks in that area. 

what i was saying is that at the begining of this thread it layed out the proposed bill and i dint see where they listed pierce county

[bobcat]

Well, most of the private land access they are working on for the west side of the state is private timber companies, for deer and elk hunting. The waterfowl and upland bird hunting I would guess would be primarily in eastern Washington.

[jackmaster]

well like i was saying i would be open to let young duck hunters come over and shoot ducks but they would have to have there dad or guardian with them, but the deer and elk are off limits, i had 2 bulls in back that would have scored 390 to 400 right before bow season and numerous other bulls they showed up every day for a month and took off when musket season started they dont get big by being dumb and i couldnt shoot myself in the foot with a bow

[bobcat]

well like i was saying i would be open to let young duck hunters come over and shoot ducks but they would have to have there dad or guardian with them

What do you consider young? I'd be happy to shoot some ducks off your pond if I fit the criteria. I could bring my dad too but at 68 he's not quite the shot he used to be.

[jackmaster]

well like i was saying i would be open to let young duck hunters come over and shoot ducks but they would have to have there dad or guardian with them

What do you consider young? I'd be happy to shoot some ducks off your pond if I fit the criteria. I could bring my dad too but at 68 he's not quite the shot he used to be.

i wouldnt mind i live in graham. i dont know how close it is to you, there is still duck blind set up down there that i built years ago, it isnt a real plush blind but your welcome to build one to fit your standards, you would probably want to build it in the summer though, gets pretty wet down at the pond

[bobcat]

well like i was saying i would be open to let young duck hunters come over and shoot ducks but they would have to have there dad or guardian with them

What do you consider young? I'd be happy to shoot some ducks off your pond if I fit the criteria. I could bring my dad too but at 68 he's not quite the shot he used to be.

i wouldnt mind i live in graham. i dont know how close it is to you, there is still duck blind set up down there that i built years ago, it isnt a real plush blind but your welcome to build one to fit your standards, you would probably want to build it in the summer though, gets pretty wet down at the pond

    I was kinda kidding because I don't consider myself young. I'd love to take you up on the offer though, but I'd probably never find the time. Maybe when my daughters are old enough to hunt...     

[jackmaster]

no problem and if the daughters get into duck huntn they have that youth hunt the weekend before anyone else gets to shoot, and there is always a crap load of ducks down there, alot of widgeon, mallards, and there is getn to be alot more wood ducks and of course the buffle heads and teal