Firring center ?

[coachcw]

So my buddy has the central raffle tag wich allows him to hunt any 300 gmu . He is down to just the muledeer . After some advise from members we decided to hunt the training center . He went there yesterday and was having problems getting acess , they said he wasn't on the master list . What the heck ! We have spoke with a few wdfw officers durring this hunt and often have got the responce " Now what tag is that " "where is it good for " . Seems like there's a bit of a dissconect huh. Any info on our best path of resolve would be great Thanks Coach .

[trophyhunt]

You don't have to be a any list to hunt the training center, they are not the smartest people running the gates. One year they told us we were supposed to leave the guts in the deer? Just tell them your bird hunting, watch the video, pay the money and get your gun registered. As long as your leagal and that unit is leagal for your buddy to hunt you'll be fine. Good luck in there, the yaks have wasted the deer in that unit. That's why it's gone from 75 permits a few years ago down to 5 now(rifle).

[Sumpnneedskillin]

http://www.lewis-mcchord.army.mil/yakima/otherdocs/Outdoor_rec_policy.pdf

[coachcw]

Thanks

[adamR]

You don't have to be a any list to hunt the training center, they are not the smartest people running the gates. One year they told us we were supposed to leave the guts in the deer? Just tell them your bird hunting, watch the video, pay the money and get your gun registered. As long as your leagal and that unit is leagal for your buddy to hunt you'll be fine. Good luck in there, the yaks have wasted the deer in that unit. That's why it's gone from 75 permits a few years ago down to 5 now(rifle).

I disagree!  they are very picky about what you say you are hunting out there, during my deer hunt a couple years ago a buddy that was supposed to be coyote hunting killed a bear and they had a formal investigation to make sure it was legal... take the regs to them and calmly explain the situation, they're not familiar with the regs at the gate but they'll figure it out

[wraithen]

They are gate guards. They're basically just sentries. You can't expect them to know very much outside their lane which is standing there guarding access. You will probably end up having to explain everything a few times. They don't even know all the rules for their own job sometimes. Had a few instances where I thought I might get shot for admitting having a legal weapon legally (according to base regs, not just the state ones) in my vehicle. They're almost rent-a-cops for the most part. I do have to admit there are some of them that are great and know all the ins and outs. Others... 

[boneaddict]

considering one of the "gate guards" is a prominent member on this site, I am going to laugh when he chimes in.

[wraithen]

Just to clarify, I wasn't trying to bash them. Merely stating that there's all types bone. Like I said, I've met some great ones, but I also know there are some less great ones around. Even had one that hated me in NY bc he was dating my ex. I magically got a random vehicle inspection every time I went through the gate. It stopped a few weeks after she dumped him but it got annoying after a while.

[coachcw]

I'm sure is a missunderstanding and once they reserch his mystrey tag he will get acess , I don't know what the hang up is though ANY 300 GMU ?

[boneaddict]

Anyone can have access most of the time as long as he has his card and his firearm is registered.   He will then need to pick which three open areas he wants to visit for the day.   He does that downrange.   They have certain closed areas certain days.

[Stickerbush]

I worked out there last summer, would be great to hunt it. But yea some days u get in pretty easy, other days they are tough about it just depends on who is working I guess. Do they give you a map if you are going in to hunt? thats crucial

[boneaddict]

You get a map when you get your card.

[halflife65]

It's all about who you talk to there - some of the people there are pretty knowledgable and some not so much.

I know somebody that had an archery tag there this year (not much luck on his hunt, though) so I called well before season (like right after he found out he drew) to figure out access.  The lady that I talked to told me only the permit holder could go in and that no one else could.  I told her that I wouldn't have a weapon and would just be going along to help and she could not figure out why I would want to do something like that.  Told me I couldn't and I told her that was ridiculous.  Anyway, she did get me to the right person, the guy new A LOT and got us all straightened out.

Some of the people aren't hunters, aren't interested in hunting, are from out of state and just don't care.  I don't really have a problem with that - I don't expect them all to be into it.  The only thing that I would change is that if that person is kind of winging it (clearly the lady was) she should have just referred me to someone earlier in the conversation rather than getting in a (rather mild - NOT heated) disagreement about the rules.

When going through the gate, all of the guards have been polite and some have been genuinely interested in what we were doing - never had a bad experience there.

[pat2bear]

I've never really had a problem. Most everyone I've meet out there is for most part very polite and have never really been treated rudely by anyone. I've had the vehicle inspections and stuff but it's no big deal. The only problem I had is when the MP's still ran security out there (pre 9/11) one guy tried to tell me I had to wear orange to coyote hunt. I told him that wasn't right and then another guy came in and agreed with me. Moot point since everyone has to wear orange now anyway. Good luck on your hunt. I know between the Wanapums and the cougars the deer have been annihilated. There's still a few good bucks out there but nothing like it was 5 years ago.

[Dan-o]

I think n AdamR gave you the right advice.

I've hunted there just enough to know to go prepared and be patient and the sentries have been good to work with.... and to see that the guy who was impatient and condescending to them didn't seem to make it through the process all that quickly.

Best of luck to you and your buddy.   It is a fun area to hunt.