Willapa Hills 506 (Forks Creek closure)

[MonkeyMan1]

Doesn't Weyerhaeuser get a tax cut from the state to keep some of there gates open for hunting? If so the state needs to take it away.

[windygorge]

The bad thing with everything being gated is Weyerhaeuser doesn't allow camping- EVER. So if you were to hike in10 miles to where you want to hunt, you'd have to do that hike in and out every day. You can't pack a camp in there and stay for a few days.

Yeah, which is the case for many of the roads down in the Willapas and in Williams Creek, not to mention the fact that it's steep country. Only a couple years ago, we had one of the biggest elk camps down the Nemah. We also had a ton of old timers that really enjoy road hunting for the simple fact that they can't get around that country on foot anymore. Yeah I like to hike and do a little more work for my animals, but it was fun to spend the time with my grandpa and other relatives, especially since they have 50+ years of knowledge and experience down there on those roads. For many of them, it's the only way of hunting they have left...

[bobcat]

I was wrong about Weyerhaeuser not allowing camping. I never knew this, but I just listened to the message on the access hotline for the Pe Ell area, and it said camping is allowed from October 15 to December 31st, with a permit, and it costs $3 a day. Still doesn't help the archery hunters who want to camp during the early archery season.
 
Surprisingly, they did not say anything about Weyerhaeuser lands (in Pe Ell area) being closed for fire danger.
 
Of course it does talk about Forks Creek and Trap Creek being closed. Those areas are closed even to walk in hunting, except on weekends. The gates will be opened to allow for motorized access during modern firear deer and elk seasons.
 
That's about all I recall from the message I listened to. I wish they'd get into the 21st century and put all the info on the internet. It would be much easier reading it instead of trying to listen to it all one the phone. It's pretty confusing because all of the different areas have different rules.
 
 

[Alan K]

What I heard was that it was actually a contract logger who was stolen from while working on Weyerhaeuser ground.  Had something like 25k of rigging stolen. 

Gates = Better hunting. . . Period.  Even when the employees drive in, they generally hunt a LONG way back in there from what I can tell.  They want to get away from people just like everyone else, and almost always drive further back than walk in hunters are willing to go.  I'd put money on the land from the gate to 4-5 miles in is or will be much better hunting than it was when everyone was able to just drive in, even with the employees driving in.

Unfortunately, the old timers and physically unable people won't be able to access like they once had, but there is still plenty of DNR and FS ground that remains open in general year around. 


Also, this employee access stuff has been going on for a LONG time in the Vail Tree Farm (granted they open the gates for a whopping 8 days out the year).  I used to bike in there during archery season and get my buck every year while in high school.  I can't tell you how many times I had guys drive past in camo and dust me out, or unlock the gate, drive in, and shut it in my face while I was parked at the gate waiting for a bit more light to start biking in.  Sure it sucked, but the hunting was much better than having the gates open all the time, I know that for a FACT.

[Alan K]

And I'll add that employees driving in at the Vail Tree Farm are good people even if they do get to drive in while we don't.  The last year I hunted in there I had arrowed a 2 point and had it loaded on my bike riding out.  A guy passed on his way out and offered me a ride, which I didn't take since I had everything loaded up nicely, but it was a nice gesture and would have been happily taken up on had I just gotten the animal down.

I can't say that I've biked into the Pe Ell Weyerhaeuser ground, I'm usually on the state land outside Doty so I can't say they are the same way, but I'd bet if they had the chance to they would help a fellow hunter get his animal out. 

[grundy53]

What I heard was that it was actually a contract logger who was stolen from while working on Weyerhaeuser ground.  Had something like 25k of rigging stolen. 

Gates = Better hunting. . . Period.  Even when the employees drive in, they generally hunt a LONG way back in there from what I can tell.  They want to get away from people just like everyone else, and almost always drive further back than walk in hunters are willing to go.  I'd put money on the land from the gate to 4-5 miles in is or will be much better hunting than it was when everyone was able to just drive in, even with the employees driving in.

Unfortunately, the old timers and physically unable people won't be able to access like they once had, but there is still plenty of DNR and FS ground that remains open in general year around. 


Also, this employee access stuff has been going on for a LONG time in the Vail Tree Farm (granted they open the gates for a whopping 8 days out the year).  I used to bike in there during archery season and get my buck every year while in high school.  I can't tell you how many times I had guys drive past in camo and dust me out, or unlock the gate, drive in, and shut it in my face while I was parked at the gate waiting for a bit more light to start biking in.  Sure it sucked, but the hunting was much better than having the gates open all the time, I know that for a FACT.

That happened too but the final straw was when a Weyerhaeuser crew got ripped off. I have a couple buddies that are on that crew and they said they stole everything they could. Including the skyline and all the chokers and what not.