Hunting 'Timber Co.' Land?

[foambeetle]

Greetings all -

I have read many of the great posts on here, but thought I would finally try to tap into all the knowledge with a question of my own.

I have recently moved to SW Wash. and am curious about 'strategy' for bowhunting on private forestry lands.  I don't want to know gps coordinates (though I wouldn't turn them down, of course), just the methods used for access and use, dealing with gated roads, seasonal changes in mgmt., etc.  I have previously lived and hunted elk in MT, CO, and ID - aside from hunting some on private timber holdings in N. ID (didn't have to deal w/ gates) - I find myself unsure about how to approach archery elk season this Sept. here in SW Wash.

Are the risks of scouting and then encountering closures and various other changes in mgmt. just part of the game?  (I recognize it is private land after all . . .)  Is calling the 'hotline' the only means of knowing/predicting what is happening day-to-day w/ access, etc.?  How do you deal w/ an unexpected closure?

My understanding is that there is no overnight camping, so I am assuming a 'bivy-style' hunt is unlawful on company property.  Do folks just race into and out of the woods at an access point each day?

Many thanks in advance for your time and effort in providing any advice.

[bankwalker]

it really depends on the company...

[foambeetle]

e.g., St. Helen's Tree Farm/Weyerhaeuser?  Due to proximity, I am currently looking at the Coweeman unit, among other OTC options in the region.

[bankwalker]

idk about that farm.

you can call the hotline and see if/when they open the gates. if not though you can walk into the farm from any gates. they may also have a fee you can pay to get access to the farm aswell like a few of them do up north here.

[MagKarl]

Most timber company land is pretty much accessable for hunting.  Gate access varies, some places you can drive just about anywhere, some areas always locked.  You can find both pretty easily depending on what you want.  Weyerhauser has pretty good maps if you can find them, roads are generally well marked and hard to get lost.  Watch the Weyerhauser website before the season, and they also have an access hotline to call for info on fire closures.  When it's hot and dry in August, they often close their lands till it rains.  Program the hotline number in your phone, we've had some great hunts after some rain when the hotline says the woods are now open but all of the fire closure signs are still posted.

[280ackley]

Fire danger will be your most limiting factor during the early archery season.  Here is a link to the Industrial Fire Precaution Levels, it is updated almost every day by the DNR.  Most private tree farms wont allow entry if the fire level is above a 2.  Remember, this is only a snap shot of an area so definitely check with tree farm for access.

http://www2.wadnr.gov/IFPL/ifpltoday.html

[shanevg]

Where can you find Weyerhauser maps?

[Little Fish]

Shanevg - Bobs sporting goods (Kelso) has them. I would think other folks around the state (especially SW) would have them as well.

foambeetle - since you are thinking of the Coweeman unit I believe most if not all is Weyerhaueser land. I would recommend tracking down a map, then calling the hotline to see what roads are open, then doing some looking around. There is a pretty good thread about the Coweeman unit so I'd check that out.

As far as hunting timber company land during archery season...usually the gates are locked and if they aren't the land may still be closed (hotline will tell you this). Scouting is a good idea, but unless its a few days before the season I think you are just trying to get familiar with the roads, figure out some areas that seem elky and pick some spots you'd like to hit opening morning. In my opinion the elk can be anywhere in the Coweeman unit.

The way I access the unit is by either hiking or biking for the day. There is not really any way to get "way back" because after about five miles you'll hit another major access road and start meeting people coming from the other direction. In my limited experience once I get back about 3 miles plus or minus I see very few people. I don't think this is because folks are lazy, but because the elk can be 100 yards from the main road or 5 miles from the main road. They are where they are.

The last thing about hunting Weyerhaueser land is that if you get an animal down, you can hike out, call security and they will escort you in with your truck to pull the animal out. I have not been fortunate enough to have this happen, but it seems like a pretty good deal for folks hunting on foot.

[Curly]

St Helen Tree farm is almost always closed to access due to fire danger in early archery season.  I suggest you scout any State land you can find and access as a backup plan in case they close access.