Discover Pass on DNR Lands

[bobcat]

There is a new map on the DNR website showing where the pass is required and where it is not. It's better than the map I saw previously, and it shows GMU boundaries as well. Not sure if it's been posted on here yet.

Here's a link:  http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/amp_rec_dnr_gmu_hunting.pdf

I'll attach an image here but you'll want to click on the .pdf link if you want to enlarge it and see it in detail.

[pianoman9701]

Have we figured out how to tell when our hunting parking permits are not enough to cover our vehicles?

[bobcat]

Sure, the WDFW vehicle use pass is only for WDFW lands. So if you're on DNR land you need the Discover pass.

[pianoman9701]

And they didn't even say "wham, bam, thank you ma'am".

[Heredoggydoggy]

The catch is, a lot of the land is DNR property that is managed by WDFW.  So you still need a Discover Pass.  I won't buy one, and if I didn't already have my Big Game license and deer tag, I wouldn't be buying those, either.  And if the Discover Pass is still in effect when my license expires, I won't be renewing it. 

[bigtex]

The catch is, a lot of the land is DNR property that is managed by WDFW.  So you still need a Discover Pass.  I won't buy one, and if I didn't already have my Big Game license and deer tag, I wouldn't be buying those, either.  And if the Discover Pass is still in effect when my license expires, I won't be renewing it. 

Thats false.

There is DNR land that is managed apart of a WDFW Wildlife Area. Those areas can use either the WDFW VUP or the Discover Pass. The issue is, you need to know when your on DNR lands managed apart of a WDFW Wildlife Area, and when your on DNR lands managed by DNR which only accept the Discover Pass.

[fireweed]

I have yet to see a "discover Pass Required" sign on some significant chunks of DNR land on this map.  The 37,000-acre Toutle Block has no signs.  There isn't even a sign telling you that you are on state land vs. Timber company.  I was told by state rep. and the DNR that areas needing a Discover Pass would be signed, but since I don't see that common-sense requirement in the law, there are vast areas with no signs.   Is this an intentional trap for hunters?  Or they feeling a bit sheepish about spending their very first "recreation dollars" for a sign telling you to pay up.  What about out-of-staters?  They won't even know about the discover pass.  Just hunting or enjoying land like they always have and BAM a ticket.  Unless you are a computer geek, and see this map online you are in the dark and out of luck.  I'ts hard to believe the Federal USFS NW Forest Pass program is SO much better organized, SIGNED, and Managed that the state program. What a CROCK

[bobcat]

I believe it's written into the law that areas requiring the pass need to be posted with signs. If there are no signs, then you don't need it. At least that is my interpretation. I don't believe they can write tickets in areas that don't have signs. Perhaps bigtex can verify this.

[fireweed]

I thought that was in the law, too. But I just went and searched the law online and couldn't find where signs were needed.  What a major oversight!

[rebal69972]

i have been told and seen it on here its our responsibility to know the law. on the being told side the judges keep telling me ignorance of the law is no reason or excuse 

[bigtex]

I believe it's written into the law that areas requiring the pass need to be posted with signs. If there are no signs, then you don't need it. At least that is my interpretation. I don't believe they can write tickets in areas that don't have signs. Perhaps bigtex can verify this.

Bobcat is correct.
In order for a ticket to be written it must be posted that the pass is required. There may still be areas that haven't had signs installed. However just because the sign isn't there today doesn't mean it won't be there this weekend. If an area is on the map as having it being required then obviously it is either already posted, or it will be posted soon.

There is no trap regarding where it is needed and where it isn't needed. WDFW, Parks, and DNR all have sites that list where the pass is needed.

[724wd]

so i park my rig today for a 5 day hunt.  hike in 12 miles.  when i come back out a sign has been hung.  now what?   does my rig have a ticket?  what a stupid state to even have to worry about s#!t like this!   

[backwoods_boy]

http://backwoodsgraphics.bigcartel.com/product/huntaholics-tees

[pianoman9701]

I have yet to see a "discover Pass Required" sign on some significant chunks of DNR land on this map.  The 37,000-acre Toutle Block has no signs.  There isn't even a sign telling you that you are on state land vs. Timber company.  I was told by state rep. and the DNR that areas needing a Discover Pass would be signed, but since I don't see that common-sense requirement in the law, there are vast areas with no signs.   Is this an intentional trap for hunters?  Or they feeling a bit sheepish about spending their very first "recreation dollars" for a sign telling you to pay up.  What about out-of-staters?  They won't even know about the discover pass.  Just hunting or enjoying land like they always have and BAM a ticket.  Unless you are a computer geek, and see this map online you are in the dark and out of luck.  I'ts hard to believe the Federal USFS NW Forest Pass program is SO much better organized, SIGNED, and Managed that the state program. What a CROCK

I've seen them here near Larch Mountain. Some of these signs are posted 15 feet up a tree and would be easy to miss. They also have them posted at all of the parking spots and points of interest. It's a shame that we hunters have already paid for access to open state lands through our hunting licenses and need to pay again. It seems like double taxation to me.

[bobcat]

It's a shame that we hunters have already paid for access to open state lands through our hunting licenses and need to pay again. It seems like double taxation to me.

How have hunters paid for access to DNR lands? Answer is, they haven't. Not that I agree with the Discover Pass, but saying that hunters were already paying for access to DNR lands simply is not true.

[pianoman9701]

so, none of our license fees go into the general fund?

[pianoman9701]

It's a shame that we hunters have already paid for access to open state lands through our hunting licenses and need to pay again. It seems like double taxation to me.

How have hunters paid for access to DNR lands? Answer is, they haven't. Not that I agree with the Discover Pass, but saying that hunters were already paying for access to DNR lands simply is not true.

Let's just say you're correct and I'm not sure you are. DNR land is logged and products are used by private companies for sale. They should be paying for the upkeep of this public land that I'm letting them use for profit. The parking portion of our licenses formerly let us use this land. If we needed more parking passes, which I have in the past, we had to pay more money for extra passes. Is all of the money spent on the parking permits staying with WDFW and not going into DNR? Please tell me where you found this out. Thanks Bobcat.

[logger]

We do pay, we pay a fee for road maint. that goes to road maint. of all dnr land. we build our own spurs at our expense, they also have a thing called purchaser maint. of certain mainlines that everybody uses, so when you see a grader working chanches are that the timber sale purchaser is paying for it. not the taxpayer.

[bobcat]

The WDFW vehicle use pass is, and always has been, for WDFW lands. Not DNR.
 
DNR has never had any fees associated with the recreational use of any of their lands. Until now, with the Discover Pass, of which 8% of the revenue from that goes to DNR.
 
Pianoman, does that answer your question?

[bigtex]

so, none of our license fees go into the general fund?

All hunting and fishing (including commercial) fees go into the Wildlife Fund which only goes to WDFW. NONE goes to any other funds including the general fund.

[pianoman9701]

The WDFW vehicle use pass is, and always has been, for WDFW lands. Not DNR.
 
DNR has never had any fees associated with the recreational use of any of their lands. Until now, with the Discover Pass, of which 8% of the revenue from that goes to DNR.
 
Pianoman, does that answer your question?

It does, thanks Bobcat and bigtex

[fireweed]

The Discover Pass was not concieved to fund the DNR. It's a rescue-the-state-parks pass. Remember, for each pass hunters buy, the DNR only gets $2.40. (I wonder why the chief of DNR Peter Goldmark is pushing this pass so much when they get so little--The could easily only required the pass at "developed sites" per the law)  I'd gladly send the DNR their $2.40 directly--even more--and stop subsidizing the state parks with hunter dollars.

[Rob]

Thanks for the map link, very helpful!

[chukarchaser]

funny the map does not show the pass being required for GMU 251, but when I was in the basin last weekend the roads signs said it was required

[pianoman9701]

The WDFW vehicle use pass is, and always has been, for WDFW lands. Not DNR.
 
DNR has never had any fees associated with the recreational use of any of their lands. Until now, with the Discover Pass, of which 8% of the revenue from that goes to DNR.
 
Pianoman, does that answer your question?

It does, thanks Bobcat and bigtex

If I have to pay $30 more to hunt, I'd much rather have the option of paying for a DNR pass than the Discovery Pass. I don't use state parks and, if the above posts are true and only $2.40 goes to DNR from Discovery, that's a rip. Why am I paying $27.60 for a service I never use?