Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: gonefishing4ever on September 20, 2016, 07:07:25 AM

Title: FS 1308 and Wildcat Road, Bumping GMU 356
Post by: gonefishing4ever on September 20, 2016, 07:07:25 AM: Good Morning All! First time post. Question: I am muzzleloader hunting in Bumping GMU and had set my sights on the southern side north of HWY 12 between Spiral Butte and Rimrock and the wilderness to the north around Indian Creek and the ridge. I read on the Forest Service website that FS 1308 and Wildcat roads are closed. I called and tried to get some info but that was fruitless. I don't live there and will be driving from Whidbey Island and just want to know at what point are the roads actually closed. If they are closed completely, does anyone know the actual status of these roads or have a suggestion for an entry point that I can set up a base from if they are closed? I really want to hunt this side and the wilderness to the north. Thank you and good luck out there.
Title: Re: FS 1308 and Wildcat Road, Bumping GMU 356
Post by: Naches Sportsman on September 20, 2016, 07:24:52 AM: They probably will never be fixed. Hasn't even been talked about and it's been 3 years. You can still get up Andy Creek to the trailhead.
Title: Re: FS 1308 and Wildcat Road, Bumping GMU 356
Post by: gonefishing4ever on September 20, 2016, 07:45:13 AM: That's good info, thanks. Any idea how close to the Indian Creek trailhead I can get? Thanks again
Title: Re: FS 1308 and Wildcat Road, Bumping GMU 356
Post by: Lucky Eric on September 21, 2016, 07:14:17 PM: Quote from: Naches Sportsman on September 20, 2016, 07:24:52 AM
They probably will never be fixed. Hasn't even been talked about and it's been 3 years. You can still get up Andy Creek to the trailhead.
I was told the other day by a co-worker that they were going to work on the Wildcat next spring.
Title: Re: FS 1308 and Wildcat Road, Bumping GMU 356
Post by: Naches Sportsman on September 30, 2016, 01:38:34 PM: Quote from: Lucky Eric on September 21, 2016, 07:14:17 PM
Quote from: Naches Sportsman on September 20, 2016, 07:24:52 AM
They probably will never be fixed. Hasn't even been talked about and it's been 3 years. You can still get up Andy Creek to the trailhead.
I was told the other day by a co-worker that they were going to work on the Wildcat next spring.
Nope. Maybe survey it, but it ain't going to be fixed for a long time as the money needed to fix it has been going towards paying for the fires.
Title: Re: FS 1308 and Wildcat Road, Bumping GMU 356
Post by: buglebuster on September 30, 2016, 02:15:03 PM: I also heard it is going to be fixed. The state is doing some work by the tunnel to prevent slides next year, and they need to access it from the top so they will fox the road.
Title: Re: FS 1308 and Wildcat Road, Bumping GMU 356
Post by: wiremonkey on September 30, 2016, 04:20:28 PM: Holy cow, was just up there and the washout is way worse than it was last year and there is another one further up also. not to mention the part of the road that is about to give before the first washout. that's going to cost some serious money. neat area though. hope they can do something
Title: Re: FS 1308 and Wildcat Road, Bumping GMU 356
Post by: logger on September 30, 2016, 05:19:13 PM: thats the forest service policy, wait till it gets to be a bigger problem then decide to buy fifteen more pickups instead
Title: Re: FS 1308 and Wildcat Road, Bumping GMU 356
Post by: 400out on October 01, 2016, 02:30:12 PM: I think it's better with out the road! Leave it and put a walk bridge over the washout!
Title: Re: FS 1308 and Wildcat Road, Bumping GMU 356
Post by: logger on October 01, 2016, 05:46:07 PM: better for what? we hunters are not the only user's or taxpayers of public land. it's not wilderness so everbody should have a fair shake in the access department. As a hunter I couldn't agree more with you.
Title: Re: FS 1308 and Wildcat Road, Bumping GMU 356
Post by: arifleman on October 02, 2016, 09:10:50 AM: I don't know Bumping, but I am suspicious of any fed inactivity after they mucked up FS 1501 road in Bethel some years back. It too was a washout; they closed it, evaluated it for repair funds ($50k), then studied it for a few more years and determined finally the road needs to be permanently decommissioned and road bed removed ($500k).

Unfortunately politics, pure and simple, from the top down, can affect funding priorities.
Title: Re: FS 1308 and Wildcat Road, Bumping GMU 356
Post by: snake on October 03, 2016, 06:04:58 PM: Quote from: arifleman on October 02, 2016, 09:10:50 AM
I don't know Bumping, but I am suspicious of any fed inactivity after they mucked up FS 1501 road in Bethel some years back. It too was a washout; they closed it, evaluated it for repair funds ($50k), then studied it for a few more years and determined finally the road needs to be permanently decommissioned and road bed removed ($500k).

Unfortunately politics, pure and simple, from the top down, can affect funding priorities.
I talked to a surveyor and he said it was paid for by a "special interest" group. he would not give any further detail.