Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: kglacken on March 21, 2013, 08:29:07 PM

Title: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: kglacken on March 21, 2013, 08:29:07 PM: I have a few questions and I was hoping someone who has had the permit before could help me out.
1. Will I be able to camp up in the woods with the Rayonier Permit? Or is there state land close by to camp on?
2. Can I bring guests in without them having a pass. (Filming the hunt for ZG Outdoors)
3. Will I be able to get in the property to scout before the season starts?

I know this permit is a tough one, but I am trying to do whatever I can to set my self up for success. With only being able to hunt weekends, I want to make the most of my time in the woods. Anyone who can answer these questions or help me out with some info would be greatly appreciated! I can't wait to get out there :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: Bob33 on March 21, 2013, 08:37:31 PM: 1. Yes. Some.
2. No.
3. Check with Rayonier.
Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: rb2506 on March 21, 2013, 08:40:26 PM: It's been a few years since I had the tag but camping was a yes , don't know if the boundaries have changed but I saw green dots off of 101 a few weeks ago. Should be able to do some scouting.lots of bears in there good luck

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Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: kglacken on March 21, 2013, 08:47:57 PM: I thought I read something about a guest pass? I guess I could call their office but I work during their office hours and I'm planning the hunt now so I wanted quick answers :chuckle:
Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: Bob33 on March 21, 2013, 08:55:15 PM: Representative of what to expect:

http://www.rayonierhunting.com/Permits/TermsConditions.aspx (http://www.rayonierhunting.com/Permits/TermsConditions.aspx)
Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: hunterrcc on March 21, 2013, 09:31:51 PM: PM me if you want info on the hunt I had permit last year i will give you some spots to start. Wouldn't even worry about your buddy having a permit never saw anyone in there. Yes you can camp on the property.
Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: CementFinisher on March 21, 2013, 09:39:06 PM: tag
Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: NW-GSP on March 21, 2013, 09:43:25 PM: I had a guy check my permit when I was in there two years ago. He was driving around looking for wood poachers. He was real happy when I pointed him in the right direction.
Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: madmack76 on March 21, 2013, 09:52:14 PM: you can bring one person only kids included and you have to register that person even if he is 10 years old
Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: billythekidrock on March 24, 2013, 06:41:14 AM: Quote from: NW-GSP on March 21, 2013, 09:43:25 PM
I had a guy check my permit when I was in there two years ago. He was driving around looking for wood poachers. He was real happy when I pointed him in the right direction.

I was checked and saw others checked in the two spring seasons I hunted there.
Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: adamR on March 24, 2013, 09:07:52 AM: you should get a guest pass for your partner I was checked as well. You get one guest pass with your paid pass so you won't have to pay for them as well.
Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: kglacken on March 24, 2013, 11:27:20 AM: So what do I do in a situation where I have one person with me one weekend and another on a different weekend. It will be tough to film myself so I will need a partner. I dont understand why you cant bring two people with you as long as they dont carry a weapon and they stay in your vehicle and not bring their own :bash:
Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: oldschooltrucks on March 24, 2013, 06:36:13 PM: I too drew a copalis hunt this year and I've already bought my access permit. As far as the scouting, I tried going today. Every gate was closed and the only open gate had a large red dot. I'm going to give them a call tomorrow to find out when I can scout. From what I saw, its pretty thick and flat. Maybe it'll look better once we get in there.
Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: bigtex on March 24, 2013, 06:37:11 PM: Quote from: kglacken on March 24, 2013, 11:27:20 AM
So what do I do in a situation where I have one person with me one weekend and another on a different weekend. It will be tough to film myself so I will need a partner. I dont understand why you cant bring two people with you as long as they dont carry a weapon and they stay in your vehicle and not bring their own :bash:

Their land, their rules
Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: kglacken on March 24, 2013, 11:36:03 PM: Quote from: bigtex on March 24, 2013, 06:37:11 PM
Quote from: kglacken on March 24, 2013, 11:27:20 AM
So what do I do in a situation where I have one person with me one weekend and another on a different weekend. It will be tough to film myself so I will need a partner. I dont understand why you cant bring two people with you as long as they dont carry a weapon and they stay in your vehicle and not bring their own :bash:

Their land, their rules
I understand that BigTex. Thats obvious :rolleyes: Im just saying, they should let you get a couple guest passes as long as they dont hunt. It doesnt jurt anything.
Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: kglacken on March 24, 2013, 11:37:11 PM: Quote from: oldschooltrucks on March 24, 2013, 06:36:13 PM
I too drew a copalis hunt this year and I've already bought my access permit. As far as the scouting, I tried going today. Every gate was closed and the only open gate had a large red dot. I'm going to give them a call tomorrow to find out when I can scout. From what I saw, its pretty thick and flat. Maybe it'll look better once we get in there.
I am going to give them a call tomorrow as well and see what info I can get out of them
Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: oldschooltrucks on March 25, 2013, 11:20:04 AM: I was told to wait for the information packet to come in the mail and they would not answer any questions until I have recieved it and then they would answer specific questions I had. Hurry up and wait lol. I'm just itching to get out there!
Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: brew on March 26, 2013, 07:49:39 PM: Quote from: oldschooltrucks on March 24, 2013, 06:36:13 PM
I too drew a copalis hunt this year and I've already bought my access permit. As far as the scouting, I tried going today. Every gate was closed and the only open gate had a large red dot. I'm going to give them a call tomorrow to find out when I can scout. From what I saw, its pretty thick and flat. Maybe it'll look better once we get in there.
hate to be the buzz kill but your primary observations are correct...thick and flat...a lot of advice is to hunt the north end by the quinault rez but i had the most luck heading west of the humptulips store and finding access roads that headed north---didn't start seeing much sign (peels and scat) until closer to Memorial Day weekend...saw one bear around the opener (mid april) and then nothing else till late may...don't get discouraged
Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: oldschooltrucks on March 26, 2013, 08:22:01 PM: Thanks for the advice. I'm amazed that bears are already out farther east. I can only hope its the same for the copalis area. I really have high hopes this year lol. Either spring or fall. Question, do spring bears respond to calling or is that better for fall? I have a rabbit in distress call but I don't know if I should try to use it. Thanks
Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: CementFinisher on March 26, 2013, 08:29:12 PM: should be out earlier in copalis , with its warmer temps. plenty of browse already growing
Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: bobcat on March 26, 2013, 09:01:29 PM: Calling will definitely work in the spring. We called a bear in on May 15, during my Capitol Forest spring bear hunt. Then the following weekend on May 22, called another bear in, which I killed. About 20 minutes after I shot that bear, another bear walked right through the middle of the clearcut, obviously looking for that fawn in distress it had heard.
Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: oldschooltrucks on March 26, 2013, 09:55:48 PM: Great! I will give it a try then. Thanks for the advice
Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: pd on January 08, 2014, 10:21:19 AM: Resurrecting this thread!

I checked the Rayonier website for any updates to the hunting rules for the 2014 Spring Bear season, but I didn't find anything useful. For the Copalis unit (GMU 642), does one need to purchase access permits from Rayonier? How much? Where is this information?

Any advice from previous tag holders would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: Bob33 on January 08, 2014, 10:25:32 AM: Quote from: pd on January 08, 2014, 10:21:19 AM
Resurrecting this thread!

I checked the Rayonier website for any updates to the hunting rules for the 2014 Spring Bear season, but I didn't find anything useful. For the Copalis unit (GMU 642), does one need to purchase access permits from Rayonier? How much? Where is this information?

Any advice from previous tag holders would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
If I were you, I would call Rayonier.
http://www.rayonierhunting.com/Permits/PermitsHome.aspx (http://www.rayonierhunting.com/Permits/PermitsHome.aspx)
Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: pd on January 08, 2014, 10:44:17 AM: Quote from: Bob33 on January 08, 2014, 10:25:32 AM

If I were you, I would call Rayonier.
http://www.rayonierhunting.com/Permits/PermitsHome.aspx (http://www.rayonierhunting.com/Permits/PermitsHome.aspx)
[/quote]

Thanks, Bob. I have already. Their recorded message is all about land leases, nothing about access permits. I am not starting a hunting lodge, I just want to know how much it costs for a single permit for Spring Bear season.
Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: ouchfoss on January 08, 2014, 04:08:49 PM: I've heard a few rumors from different people locally that the whole lease and permit access thing is going to stop and those areas are going to back to being public access. Supposedly its because of the whole timberland tax exemption thing and that by charging recreation fees it changes their tax bracket. Not sure how that would change the spring bear hunt though. Could also be complete BS too but I'm sure we'll find out soon enough.
Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: kglacken on January 09, 2014, 08:49:49 PM: Heres advice from a previous tag holder.... Dont apply...
In all honesty if you have a tonnnnnn of time to hunt, you dont mind hanging treestands or you just want a hunt close to home then apply. I was very disappointed. I consider myself to be a good hunter. Not a master, but able to adapt and overcome in order to increase my chances of success. It is flat, thick and the bear numbers are down in my opinion. I hunted almost every weekend from April 15th to June 15th and saw one bear that crossed the road within the first 5 minutes on the first day. I called, I hiked, I sat in tree stands, I sat in reprod patches where there were peels. I did everything I could think of and wasnt able to get it done. Im not saying its impossible but id be willing to bet that out of the 100 passes they give out, 3 people might fill a tag.

Another thing, bring a good gps with hunting maps chip because their property is not all one piece. Its a bunch of tiny little parcels that are scattered all over. If you dont pay attention, you will end up on property that is not legal to hunt.

As far as the access pass is concerned, once you draw the permit you can buy a discounted pass that allows you access to the area only during the spring bear season.
Title: Re: Copalis Permit Questions
Post by: pd on January 17, 2014, 05:35:11 PM: Great advice, KG. Thanks.