White River Hancock Permit Worth It?

[hntr]

Hello all,

I am new to the forum, and have enjoyed lurking for some time.

I am considering a purchase of a White River Hancock Permit, but wonder if it is worth the money, time or effort to hunt in that area for deer ( or elk, or...).       

Any advice would be welcome.

Thanks

[arrowflinger]

I'm pretty sure that the permits are all sold. they go fast. I also believe that you can't hunt elk in there unless you get drawn. Hope some with more experience chimes in.

[cem3434]

No.......lots of elk, but very few deer. I also believe they are all sold out as well.

[bigtex]

I am considering a purchase of a White River Hancock Permit, but wonder if it is worth the money, time or effort to hunt in that area for deer ( or elk, or...).

Well you are out of luck for this year. I believe they sold out in mid February or early March. They usually start selling around December 1. For the White River Farm there is a small portion of GMU 454 which is open for elk, but the majority of the farm is the White River GMU which is permit only. As far as deer goes I would probably pass on the permit if that's all your going for. There is usually a pretty healthy bear population in there though.

I see you are in Renton. If I were you I would go for the Snoqualmie Tree Farm permit (also Hancock and the same cost as White River) near North Bend. Very healthy deer and bear population and the elk numbers are on the upswing in the area and you can hunt all three species during the general season.

[cjensen]

Can you walk or bike into Hancock within 454 without the permit?  I know some areas you can and some you cant? 

[link]

I thought if you had drawn a permit, they would sell you one for the elk season, even if they were sold out.

[cjensen]

I think that in the white river unit you can walk into their property without a permit, but not sure about 454???  I know you cannot do this with the Kapowasin permit. 

[bigtex]

You can walk into the White River (off of 410) and Snoqualmie (near North Bend) Tree Farms without a permit. It doesn't matter what GMU you are in.

[sirmissalot]

Where are you guys hearing they are sold out? If so it happened in the last few days. I know someone that bought one at Work sports on Saturday.

The area gets a lot of pressure and not really a lot of animals. I am not a local but a good friend of mine is, he says the Mucks kill a lot and lots of locals shining deer and elk up there... I wouldn't walk in, there will be a bunch of guys driving around which to me would be a frustrating experience.

[notellumcreek]

as far as ive heard there is stil WR permits available, personally 250 dollars for a year of access and 5 cords of wood is worth it for me  all of the WR hancock is walkable/bikeable.

[7mag.]

White River Tree Farm is not sold out. Deer hunting is not good and elk is draw only. There is a small portion in the GMU 454 on that tree farm that is open for elk hunting, but there is lots of pressure and not many elk. You can walk, bike, and ride horses into the White River Tree Farm without a permit, but vehicles require permits. They sell at Work Sports and More in Enumclaw for $225.

[hawksfan75]

Despite my best efforts, I have yet to find a website with any information about these permits. Do you guys have any that they send out with the permits? In the absence of a website, is there somewhere I can pick up some brochures or other information?

[bigtex]

Despite my best efforts, I have yet to find a website with any information about these permits. Do you guys have any that they send out with the permits? In the absence of a website, is there somewhere I can pick up some brochures or other information?

There is no website.

If you go to Work Sports in Enumclaw they will have a brochure. You can also have them mailed to you 1-800-782-1493 and leave a message telling them which tree farm info you want.

[rjn cajun]

Fella`s are right there are still permits availible and from the sounds of it there not going to this year. They added a bunch and the hunting seems to get worse in my opinion. For deer. Certain area for elk which is the left side of the main line or the west side. But it`s also the power lines. Took awhile to figure it out. I hunt the east side of the state but in years I`ve opted for the permit and hunted the west, The permit is great for wood. I buy one if I don`t kill on the east and hunt late buck up there. Get a spork or a button every other year but that`s about all I see up there. On some occassions cutting wood I`ve seen nice 3 and 4x`s. The natives are more plentiful every year in there and starting to run it in to the ground but that`s a hole other topic. Good Luck

[sako85]

You can call hancock from the phone book(orting office)

[liljozie495]

I don't see why people are saying there is no deer, trust me its like anywhere... put the time in and youll find some. And yes its crappy one can't elk hunt the whole unit... But if you like taking good elk pics, it can happen. And if you burn fire wood, your paying the same price for 5 cords as a person pays for one cord, and a lot of berry picking, just only flaw is the not being able to hunt elk anywhere but a select small pressured area. I love it up there tho, notellum and I spend alot of time up there. 

[bigtex]

How many tree farms Hancock operates with these passes?

From what I know:

White River
Snoqualmie
Kapowsin
Eatonville

They are in King and Pierce Counties
There may be some others...

[Arteman]

I don't know anything about the area but my older brother has a buddy who's son drew a bull permit for that White River area this year, funny thing is that they haven't even gone up to scout at all, my brother is going with them so I asked him if they bought the permit and he said no and that they won't need it.  Like I said, I don't know the place but I think they are fools for not getting one.  Probably should have posted this in the Elk hunting thread but i was just talking to him about permit subject the other day.

[bigtex]

I don't know anything about the area but my older brother has a buddy who's son drew a bull permit for that White River area this year, funny thing is that they haven't even gone up to scout at all, my brother is going with them so I asked him if they bought the permit and he said no and that they won't need it.  Like I said, I don't know the place but I think they are fools for not getting one.  Probably should have posted this in the Elk hunting thread but i was just talking to him about permit subject the other day.

HEAVILY patrolled by Hancock Security, WDFW Enforcement and USFS Law Enforcement.

[bigtex]

How many tree farms Hancock operates with these passes?

From what I know:

White River
Snoqualmie
Kapowsin
Eatonville

They are in King and Pierce Counties
There may be some others...

Where can I find more information on each tree farm? What GMU? Number of licenses? Etc.

Research on here.
There is no website. Hancock will mail you info about the individual farm you want info on, but doesn't really go into hunting info with the exception of basically saying you can hunt. Hancock 1-800-782-1493

[Gundy]

As a guy who has had a permit for WR since it was Weyco Land let me settle a few of the arguments here..

1) It is NOT heavily patrolled. There is only one watchman and 3 different access gates. I cant even count the hours ive put in up there this year and I have yet to see ANY type of patrol.The person who said it was heavily patrolled is wrong. Period.

2) There are PLENTY of deer in there. I have gotten a deer out of there every year i have hunted and so have all of my friends that buy the permit.

3) There is still quite a bit of area to hunt elk and the elk pop is solid. The Mucks have affected it but they dont put any effort into it so....

Its a great permit with thousands and thousands of acres at your disposal. Anyone who says otherwise, to be frank, dont know what the hell theyre talking about.

[bigtex]

1) It is NOT heavily patrolled. There is only one watchman and 3 different access gates. I cant even count the hours ive put in up there this year and I have yet to see ANY type of patrol.The person who said it was heavily patrolled is wrong. Period.

Gundy,
 You have had 9 posts on here. I will give you some slack, you will soon learn who I am and what I do from the other posts. Several state and federal law enforcement agencies do patrol the White River Tree Farm, in fact WDFW is required to patrol a certain amount of hours in order to get extra funding from Hancock. The local USFS Officer also patrols that area. The requirement from Hancock for WDFW to patrol those lands should give you some idea that there is some "extra" patrolling going on then your typical public land area. You are correct Hancock only has one security guard per tree farm. However as I have said, state and federal law enforcement agencies do patrol the area. Just because you haven't run into LE doesn't mean they aren't there. I know some people that hunt Hancock lands and run into WDFW almost daily, others almost never see them. If you don't see them it doesn't mean they are not there.

[Buckhunter24]

Never gone on the White River land but I used to go up on the Kapowsin tree farm a lot until recently. The security guy up there covered quite a bit of ground. Think his name is Clyde. Also saw a game warden right behind the Eatonville gate in 2006 or 2007. We BS'd with him for a while and he said they are on the farm pretty regular. He checked our Hancock permits so its not just the Security guard up there checking 

[Gundy]

1) It is NOT heavily patrolled. There is only one watchman and 3 different access gates. I cant even count the hours ive put in up there this year and I have yet to see ANY type of patrol.The person who said it was heavily patrolled is wrong. Period.

Gundy,
 You have had 9 posts on here. I will give you some slack, you will soon learn who I am and what I do from the other posts. Several state and federal law enforcement agencies do patrol the White River Tree Farm, in fact WDFW is required to patrol a certain amount of hours in order to get extra funding from Hancock. The local USFS Officer also patrols that area. The requirement from Hancock for WDFW to patrol those lands should give you some idea that there is some "extra" patrolling going on then your typical public land area. You are correct Hancock only has one security guard per tree farm. However as I have said, state and federal law enforcement agencies do patrol the area. Just because you haven't run into LE doesn't mean they aren't there. I know some people that hunt Hancock lands and run into WDFW almost daily, others almost never see them. If you don't see them it doesn't mean they are not there.

I dont give 2 *censored*s how many posts I have had. I am up there on almost a daily basis and have yet to see any patrol people this year. In all my years up there I have seen the Hancock patrol maybe 3 times, WDFW once and NEVER seen USFS. Thats all I can go on while telling another fellow about the area. Im fairly certain you dont have the permit and are basing your facts on heresay. If im wrong about that, then so be it. I WISH they would patrol it more to be honest.

[lewy]

You probably should have picked up your permit earlier in the year to give yourself a chance to learn the area and scout deer in there summer habits

[sisu]

I got two warning sent to me about this thread. Come guys don't get your shorts in a knot over something as silly as how many people patrol a place. If some one wants it one way and you another so what. Let the good information go out with the bad. Makes no difference really as long as everyone is legally hunting, fishing. I could care less if there is one LEO in the woods or 100, because I am legal.
Lets keep it civilized.

[link]

I don't know anything about the area but my older brother has a buddy who's son drew a bull permit for that White River area this year, funny thing is that they haven't even gone up to scout at all, my brother is going with them so I asked him if they bought the permit and he said no and that they won't need it.  Like I said, I don't know the place but I think they are fools for not getting one.  Probably should have posted this in the Elk hunting thread but i was just talking to him about permit subject the other day.

HEAVILY patrolled by Hancock Security, WDFW Enforcement and USFS Law Enforcement.

This is the post that started the whole "security" issue? This guy said "no he didn't buy a permit and they won't need it". Who just assumed he was talking about hunting on Hancock property without buying a permit? Hell, he's probably headed up to Crystal mtn. or Huckelberry, or one of a dozen other spots in the White River unit not owned by Hancock.

[bigtex]

I don't know anything about the area but my older brother has a buddy who's son drew a bull permit for that White River area this year, funny thing is that they haven't even gone up to scout at all, my brother is going with them so I asked him if they bought the permit and he said no and that they won't need it.  Like I said, I don't know the place but I think they are fools for not getting one.  Probably should have posted this in the Elk hunting thread but i was just talking to him about permit subject the other day.

HEAVILY patrolled by Hancock Security, WDFW Enforcement and USFS Law Enforcement.


This is the post that started the whole "security" issue? This guy said "no he didn't buy a permit and they won't need it". Who just assumed he was talking about hunting on Hancock property without buying a permit? Hell, he's probably headed up to Crystal mtn. or Huckelberry, or one of a dozen other spots in the White River unit not owned by Hancock.

This thread is about the Tree Farm, not the White River GMU...

[Buckhunter24]

I wasnt trying to stir the pot with my comments. Just want to try and deter any trespassing on hancock land as I have a feeling problems like trespassing/drinking etc is what caused camping to be banned up there, and I would hate to see more restrictions for pass holders 

[jordanwlee]

I was out looking for bear today in the area. Any spots around there that isn't Hancock owned that you can hunt without a permit?

[muzbuster]

Link to Hancock's site.
https://hancockrecreationnw.com/white-river/about/about-white-river

[trophyhunt]

I'm almost 100% sure but I thought they change the rules on walking/biking in on their lands now! I'm pretty sure you have to have a permit just to be on the hancock properties even in the white river unit. They do not own all the unit, there is plenty of areas out side their boundary, I think the best area's are out side their property.

[westside bull]

I'm almost 100% sure but I thought they change the rules on walking/biking in on their lands now! I'm pretty sure you have to have a permit just to be on the hancock properties even in the white river unit. They do not own all the unit, there is plenty of areas out side their boundary, I think the best area's are out side their property.

White river hancock you can buy walk in day pass's. Ton's of land to hunt bear on beside's hancock timberlands its a big unit!

[grousegetter]

https://hancockrecreationnw.com/about/hancock-recreation-access-program/hancock-recreation-access-program

Here is the website for the recreation passes. You can buy them here and they mail you a packet with everything you need.

[Kc_Kracker]

Can you walk or bike into Hancock within 454 without the permit?  I know some areas you can and some you cant? 

no there is foot pass permits and also vehicle permits, at least for greenwater area.