Late Willapa Hills Cow Tag

[hunter_sean08]

So I drew the late Willapa Hills Muzzleloader Cow Tag. I've heard Weyerhaeuser has been closing a ton of their roads. I've been hunting in the Williams Creek unit for the last several years, but haven't noticed much except for our camp getting shut down on the main line along the Nemah. I'll be heading down to Chehalis this weekend to talk with some local family members, who are involved with the timber companies, but I'm not too excited just yet. Is there any bit of good news down there?

[Goldeneye]

Some not so good news.  Rayonier has made their Fossil Creek and Salmon Creek units permit only for access.  So a chunk of the Willapa Hills is not open to the general public now.

[hunter_sean08]

Yeah it's a shame since a lot of the good hunting areas down there take quite a bit of driving to get to. I can only imagine hoofing it on foot or bike for a cow.... I'm only 21, so it could be a lot worse, but man I feel really bad for the older guys who can't get out and walk anymore (not the lazy yahoos that hate exercising for more than 5 minutes).

[Goldeneye]

Don't think you understood.  You can't even walk or bike in without a Rayonier access permit.  They made these two units exclusive only to those who bought permits.

[hunter_sean08]

Ah yeah. That's even more unfortunate... Weird because Rayonier opens their land out in Forks to the public during hunting season. Why they would do this down there with hoof rot and everything,  I don't really know...

[O_mykiss]

Money. They sold 4 modern rifle elk access permits for almost ten grand. Thats why they are doing this.

[Goldeneye]

Unfortunately, given how fast they sold out of these permits.  I anticipate they and other timber companies will be doing this in the future.  It's a money maker for the timber companies and they can control the amount of people who access their lands.  Rayonier had an issue with equipment vandalism and stolen radio equipment last fall.  At least that was the story I was given.

[hunter_sean08]

I guess when the timber industry goes downhill and idiots vandalize and dump their garbage, they'll do anything to save money and make money. The privatization of hunting continues...

[O_mykiss]

No kidding. Between Fossil Creek and Salmon Creek they grossed  $70,000 or so for locking the gates and putting up some signs. Not sure if they hired a security guard or are contracting with WDFW.

Rayonier and others have no obligation to let the general public hunt on their land and this is turning into a dangerous precedent. Kapowsin (Hancock) has been fee access for quite a few years now even when it was Champion timberland. More timber companies are going to charge fees which means more hunters are going to be squeezed onto less land unless you're willing to pay. Its a sad state of affairs.

[Stilly bay]

Some not so good news.  Rayonier has made their Fossil Creek and Salmon Creek units permit only for access.  So a chunk of the Willapa Hills is not open to the general public now.

well that blows my plans all to heck... anyone have any bright ideas of an alternative location other than winston creek? I was supposed to meet up with an old friend and hunt the salmon creek area.

[shadowless_nite]

Some not so good news.  Rayonier has made their Fossil Creek and Salmon Creek units permit only for access.  So a chunk of the Willapa Hills is not open to the general public now.

well that blows my plans all to heck... anyone have any bright ideas of an alternative location other than winston creek? I was supposed to meet up with an old friend and hunt the salmon creek area.

I hear ya! my hunting party has been hunting the grays river/ fossil creek area for the last decade and this new permit idea blew that out of the water this year, none of us knew until after the permits were released and we were caught off guard with no extra money set aside for it. I had the chance to buy one but none of my hunting party could as well so i bailed out too. Both permit areas are great and im going to set money aside to buy my permit next year  if the price doesnt increase even more from this years.

[BrandonWatts]

all of forks creek and rock creek off of highway 6 is locked up as well walk in only unless you work for Weyerhaeuser.