It is offical the WDFW is buying 4-O Ranch

[400out]

  do you qualify for any state/federal grants  I bet there is a way to do it Hell they build brand new houses for families that make my "work my ars off for shack" look like... well you know 

[Atroxus]

do you qualify for any state/federal grants  I bet there is a way to do it Hell they build brand new houses for families that make my "work my ars off for shack" look like... well you know 

I don't know, but if I do qualify, I am not sure I actually want to know. If I knew could do it, I am not sure I could talk myself out of it.

[colockumelk]

Here is my concern and maybe someone in the know can help me out........  Similiar deal, different place.

Prewitts in Twisp, essentially Davis lake, Fuzzy canyon to Pipestone.   The government buys the land from them...AWESOME DEAL for wildlife.  He retains the rights, BUT STILL puts fresh white NO TRESPASSING signs up every year, LOTS of them.  Patrols it and hunts it himself.    Game department bought it.........so what is up with that?   AND could the same thing happen with this new property?   The game department also bought his neighbors...again more awesome property.  Charlie Leman.   Again, not sure about access for the average citizen.   I believe access IS open on the Pipestone side, but not the river road.

Now I am wondering if I can sell my house to the government, but retain the right to live here? 

Atroxus you can do this. It's called a reverse mortgage. 

[Junkdog]

Dogs wont be allowed when there are cows grazing, if you accidentally shot a $10,000 bull your in trouble. I think this deal stinks. I feel like we need to have state lands specifically for our hunting and recreational use.
I really hate hunting where there 1000 cattle roaming around, they chase the elk and deer out of the area and start bellowing and cause all kinds of problems trying to sneak up and any animal.

[B.G.hunter]

Dogs wont be allowed when there are cows grazing, if you accidentally shot a $10,000 bull your in trouble. I think this deal stinks. I feel like we need to have state lands specifically for our hunting and recreational use.
I really hate hunting where there 1000 cattle roaming around, they chase the elk and deer out of the area and start bellowing and cause all kinds of problems trying to sneak up and any animal.

I have read the agreement on the 4-O but they already ranch and farm the property and It has more elk per square mile than any other property in the 172 unit.  We have other property the WDFW manages over here and no cattle are allow on it.  Those areas are getting overgrown with brush.  Last year hundreds of elk were wintering on private land just of the wildlife management area. I would hope you would pay attention to where you are shooting so you don't shoot something you intend. 

[Machias]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding this deal, probably am, but..... hmmm, I sell my land to the WDFW, however I retain the right to run livestock and farm it, no hunting allowed.  Hmmm, I get to keep using the land the same way I am now, but I make money and no longer have to pay taxes.  Wow what a sweet deal.  We should all sell our land to the WDFW.  Am I all wrong on this?

[high country]

No chit....where do I sign.

[Jack Diamond]

pretty much the same as RMEF, or High Valley ranch at Winthrop 20 some years ago. 

[mtman]

SMALLER GOV.   we dont need them contrling more land. It seems to me the animals over in asotin hang out on private land. So even if they did open it up to hunt. most of the animals will go somewere else. The fish and game own property over there. It used to be really good hunting slowly get'n worse.

[Sumpnneedskillin]

The article in the Lewiston Tribune made it sound like all big game on the "former" ranch was going to be special draw.  I can't wait to head over and chase some birds in the breaks.

[3nails]

Here is my concern and maybe someone in the know can help me out........  Similiar deal, different place.

Prewitts in Twisp, essentially Davis lake, Fuzzy canyon to Pipestone.   The government buys the land from them...AWESOME DEAL for wildlife.  He retains the rights, BUT STILL puts fresh white NO TRESPASSING signs up every year, LOTS of them.  Patrols it and hunts it himself.    Game department bought it.........so what is up with that?   AND could the same thing happen with this new property?   The game department also bought his neighbors...again more awesome property.  Charlie Leman.   Again, not sure about access for the average citizen.   I believe access IS open on the Pipestone side, but not the river road.

There are so many things wrong with that, it makes my head hurt thinking about it.  When I first read the OP, then the bit about the landowner keeping farming rights its pretty much the first scenario that popped into my head.  Now I am wondering if I can sell my house to the government, but retain the right to live here? 

Unfortunately that's exactly what you are already doing. They own it. You just lease it from them. Don't pay them the money they are demanding from you and they will come armed and take it from you.

[NoBark]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding this deal, probably am, but..... hmmm, I sell my land to the WDFW, however I retain the right to run livestock and farm it, no hunting allowed.  Hmmm, I get to keep using the land the same way I am now, but I make money and no longer have to pay taxes.  Wow what a sweet deal.  We should all sell our land to the WDFW.  Am I all wrong on this?

The only thing your missing that I can see is that, while they have sold the ranch and can continue to opperate as a cattle ranch, they are leasing the property from the state. Perhaps the lease is more than the taxes were? (I would hope so).   No promises, but my guess is there will be a buffer zone around the buildings, and big game hunting will be by permit.  Not everything the department does turns into a disaster.   Just some of it!     

This could be a good thing if it is indeed giving us new places to hunt, albeit by permit.   


Optomistic because it's almost Christmas darnit.

[JLS]

NoBark,

It's easier to bitch and be negative.

I for one am glad the state was able to make this purchase. 

[highlander]

From what I've read, the land will be managed by WDFW as part of the Asotin wildlife area (Bob Dice is the present mgr i think)  I guess if we all write to WDFW and let thenm know our concerns, we may get to enjoy this property without having to worry about being chased by the jerks who work there.

[Junkdog]

WDFW can TRY to restrict public access, they can try to bully people into thinking they own the land. Spring hunts where calves/cow are presnt may be restricted, or fall hunts too. I think this is a better deal for WDFW employess and well to do ranchers who dont loss anything and we pay for it.
WDFW gave over 1 million to WSU last yr for that stupid grazing project, only for them to show that livestock compete with wildlife for resources.
This measn we will be paying for wildlife biologists to fix fences and watertanks, this will cost us a lot of public money. 
Also, even if WDFW put grazing in the contract it does not protect them from lawsuits since they still must provide high quality habitat for wildlife. More than likely WDFw make promises to 40 that they might not be able to keep because of potential conflicts with lawsuits and the public outcry.