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Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Tenderfoot on July 11, 2018, 11:12:21 PM


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Title: GMU 673 - Private Property - Tree Farms
Post by: Tenderfoot on July 11, 2018, 11:12:21 PM
Hello all, new to this forum. Thanks for having me.

I've been interested in hunting GMU 673 during muzzleloader season and have talked with Handcock and they have no holdings there, and that the "Skidmore" unit of American Forest Management / FIA is in the GMU and it's $100 for a permit. Wondering if any of you have bought a permit and hunted it in the 2017 season. I've attached a map of the Skidmore mgt/permit area.

Thanks for any info provided...
Title: Re: GMU 673 - Private Property - Tree Farms
Post by: optic2 on July 12, 2018, 12:12:01 PM
Hello all, new to this forum. Thanks for having me.

I've been interested in hunting GMU 673 during muzzleloader season and have talked with Handcock and they have no holdings there, and that the "Skidmore" unit of American Forest Management / FIA is in the GMU and it's $100 for a permit. Wondering if any of you have bought a permit and hunted it in the 2017 season. I've attached a map of the Skidmore mgt/permit area.

Thanks for any info provided...

I believe the permits are closer to $350, at least that's what a local told me. Get OnX maps and it will show you all of the land holdings.
Title: Re: GMU 673 - Private Property - Tree Farms
Post by: Tenderfoot on July 12, 2018, 07:06:36 PM
I've exchanged emails with AFM/FIA, $100 for walk-in, $325 for vehicle (per occupant). Not a fan of OnX maps.
Title: Re: GMU 673 - Private Property - Tree Farms
Post by: dreamunelk on July 12, 2018, 07:44:32 PM
Hancock, No holdings?  Dude you called the wrong office.  Yes they manage a large chunk of land and it is free access.  For the most part walk in only.  Campbell also has land that is free access.  This is also some good sized DNR chunks of DNR land.  Go to the Pacific County map sifter to look at ownership.  No need to pay a fee.  Just camp on DNR land.

Title: Re: GMU 673 - Private Property - Tree Farms
Post by: bkaech on July 12, 2018, 08:26:39 PM
Hancock, No holdings?  Dude you called the wrong office.  Yes they manage a large chunk of land and it is free access.  For the most part walk in only.  Campbell also has land that is free access.  This is also some good sized DNR chunks of DNR land.  Go to the Pacific County map sifter to look at ownership.  No need to pay a fee.  Just camp on DNR land.

I Agree!

don't buy a permit unless you know the area and know that the permit will help. 673 should have plenty of land that can be accessed without a permit. If you hunt it and learn it and then want to pay the $ that's one thing, but just because they have permits doesn't mean the hunting is any better there.
Title: Re: GMU 673 - Private Property - Tree Farms
Post by: Tenderfoot on July 12, 2018, 10:31:03 PM
Sourdough... Don't know about Campbell (I have a call into them), but you're right about Hancock... my mistake... walk in, bike in, free access. Thanks for jingling my brain.
Title: Re: GMU 673 - Private Property - Tree Farms
Post by: Tenderfoot on July 12, 2018, 10:32:15 PM
Agreed, bkaech. Thanks.
Title: Re: GMU 673 - Private Property - Tree Farms
Post by: dreamunelk on July 12, 2018, 10:44:32 PM
Sourdough... Don't know about Campbell (I have a call into them), but you're right about Hancock... my mistake... walk in, bike in, free access. Thanks for jingling my brain.

You may not get a call from Campbell.  Drive down and read the sign on the gates.  Many would like you to do that instead of calling them. They just don't have the staff.   Read page 98 in the regs for basic rules.
Title: Re: GMU 673 - Private Property - Tree Farms
Post by: optic2 on July 12, 2018, 11:11:19 PM
I've exchanged emails with AFM/FIA, $100 for walk-in, $325 for vehicle (per occupant). Not a fan of OnX maps.

I'm curious why you don't like OnX?
Title: Re: GMU 673 - Private Property - Tree Farms
Post by: Tenderfoot on July 12, 2018, 11:12:12 PM
dreamunelk - I appreciate the advice. I will be scouting the area very soon. While I know the tree folks prefer not to field phone calls, I like to call and ask questions and almost always get my calls returned.
Title: Re: GMU 673 - Private Property - Tree Farms
Post by: Tenderfoot on July 12, 2018, 11:34:58 PM
optic2 - I tried to use it a few seasons ago and it really wasn't very good. It was a trial version through RMEF and it was riddled with ads for itself and pop-ups and froze up a lot and it was a battery suck and didn't zoom in close enough (that's a big issue) and I just didn't like the UI and UX top of that. I used to use another app a few years ago - it was affiliated with Cabela's for awhile - and it was one of the first hunting gps apps and it wasn't riddled with ads or sucked the life out of my battery or had pop ups or froze all the time. And I could interface with my hunts online via my desktop - not sure if OnX has that feature.

I read the recent reviews and see things like landowners are 3-4 year off and hunting seasons are 1+ years off. That's just not acceptable. Plus, I read that they changed their tier service / pricing structure and still auto-billed. A big no-no. On top of all that, from what I can glean, their customer service isn't very good.

As someone who has run the building of apps... free, one-time purchase, and subscription, too many things are big red flags. I'm handy with a compass and topo and google earth, etc... Hope that answers your question.
Title: Re: GMU 673 - Private Property - Tree Farms
Post by: grundy53 on July 13, 2018, 04:34:34 AM
I have the ONX app and have none of those issues and yes you can use it on your desktop.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Title: Re: GMU 673 - Private Property - Tree Farms
Post by: Peewee on July 13, 2018, 06:47:47 AM
Good old skidmore slough...get up in there find a gate n walk in, last time I was in there was before the pay to play...there was a bit of elk in there and people
Title: Re: GMU 673 - Private Property - Tree Farms
Post by: Tenderfoot on July 13, 2018, 09:34:06 AM
grundy 53 - I downloaded the app today and also looked at it on the website. While it looks good on the web, on my iphone the satellite view wasn't good at 100 ft or 50 ft or 20 ft and the topo didn't get below 200 ft. I can reluctantly deal with the satellite view not being sharp, but bad topo is a deal breaker.
Title: Re: GMU 673 - Private Property - Tree Farms
Post by: grundy53 on July 13, 2018, 01:22:58 PM
I guess I'm just less picky.  Works great for what I use it for.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Title: Re: GMU 673 - Private Property - Tree Farms
Post by: cougforester on July 13, 2018, 01:59:15 PM
I guess I'm just less picky.  Works great for what I use it for.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

I couple OnX with TopoMaps+, and between the two cover any mapping needs I may need. I won't leave to go on a hunting trip without OnX maps predownloaded on my phone so I can use them on airplane mode. Works great for me!
Title: Re: GMU 673 - Private Property - Tree Farms
Post by: SteelheadTed on July 13, 2018, 06:07:38 PM
grundy 53 - I downloaded the app today and also looked at it on the website. While it looks good on the web, on my iphone the satellite view wasn't good at 100 ft or 50 ft or 20 ft and the topo didn't get below 200 ft. I can reluctantly deal with the satellite view not being sharp, but bad topo is a deal breaker.

I guess it depends on what you need from it.  As a topo tool it could use some work but as a scouting tool looking for burns, clear cuts and land owner information it's hard to beat.  I love it and can't imagine going back to a time I didn't have it.  I have found hidie holes for both fishing and hunting I would never have found without it.  One feature I really like is marking spots and the tracking tool.  it really helps finding a way back into a hole that was hard to get to without having to refind the way in from scratch each time.
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