Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: Goshawk on October 22, 2024, 10:46:18 AM
-
Ok, I admit it. I bought a vehicle pass for Weyerhaeuser in Vail this year. It's mostly for mushrooms and grouse since I can easily walk into my favorite deer areas from a gate. The grouse population seems way down still, but we did find some chantrells to make the trips worth while. What bothered me (ok, I'm in Karen mode) is how many gates between Weyerhaeuser and National forest or highway 7 were wide open, with traffic flowing just like you'd expect during opening morning of deer season. I feel like a sucker enough paying for access to lands I grew up on, but seeing others enjoy for free while I paid a lot just rubs me wrong. Opening morning of Deer using a keyed gate takes me an hour and 45 minutes to get into my favorite cuts. The traffic coming up from one of those open gates completely ruined it for me between the quads and trucks. Anyone else find open gates too?
-
I got an email from Weyerhaeuser a few weeks back advising people that are caught leaving the gate open and or unlocked will be trespassed/banned. They take having access serious where we hunt and I see the security guy all the time.
-
Yeah I second medic6 - I have only had a pass once but people took gatekeeping VERY seriously which I appreciated. One morning there was a train of 3 trucks, and each one opened the gate, drove through, then walked back and locked it. It was pretty cool. That's also where I took my first, and only deer!
-
These were not the public access gates we paid to have access to. Just regular logging access gates.
-
I closed every gate I see left open Per the email received several weeks ago
-
Open gates are the worst
-
Fourth year with a St Helens key and I have yet to see or be checked by security and I spend a lot of time in there, between setting/checking trail cams, grouse, deer, elk and bear hunting. With as much as Weyerhaeuser makes off us, I would expect to run into security a few times each year. :twocents:
-
These were not the public access gates we paid to have access to. Just regular logging access gates.
If it's one of the gates I'm thinking of, it was like that last year too. I reported it to the security guy- he said they were aware and would look into it. It seemed like all the trucks I saw had keys. There was a solid quad trail around the gate. I'm well acquainted with security, but they're spread pretty thin esp. during hunting season.
Some of the gates are left open intentionally during work hours on weekdays.
-
Fourth year with a St Helens key and I have yet to see or be checked by security and I spend a lot of time in there, between setting/checking trail cams, grouse, deer, elk and bear hunting. With as much as Weyerhaeuser makes off us, I would expect to run into security a few times each year. :twocents:
I am on the other end of the spectrum. Been up 8 or so times and been checked every time and he even recognized me the last time. Last year during elk season we were up there for 12 days straight and were checked every day but one and then we got checked probably twice more gathering firewood and just bouncing around.
-
Fourth year with a St Helens key and I have yet to see or be checked by security and I spend a lot of time in there, between setting/checking trail cams, grouse, deer, elk and bear hunting. With as much as Weyerhaeuser makes off us, I would expect to run into security a few times each year. :twocents:
I am on the other end of the spectrum. Been up 8 or so times and been checked every time and he even recognized me the last time. Last year during elk season we were up there for 12 days straight and were checked every day but one and then we got checked probably twice more gathering firewood and just bouncing around.
They must not spend any time between Rose Valley Rd and Kalama River Rd.
-
I closed a gate last Saturday in the Yacolt unit. The rec lock was left unlocked inside the gate, not sure if it was laziness or malicious that someone would leave it open and unlocked like that...
-
Fourth year with a St Helens key and I have yet to see or be checked by security and I spend a lot of time in there, between setting/checking trail cams, grouse, deer, elk and bear hunting. With as much as Weyerhaeuser makes off us, I would expect to run into security a few times each year. :twocents:
I am on the other end of the spectrum. Been up 8 or so times and been checked every time and he even recognized me the last time. Last year during elk season we were up there for 12 days straight and were checked every day but one and then we got checked probably twice more gathering firewood and just bouncing around.
They must not spend any time between Rose Valley Rd and Kalama River Rd.
That would make sense as I have never been on that side either mine is all up off Spirit Lake Highway.
-
Hunting vail from the tono/e150 side the gate has always been locked when I've crossed it.
Guess I haven't gone deep enough to get to the national forest adjacent parts
-
If they do not have a permit on display get a plate number and a picture and send it to the game warden or Weyerhauser. They keep certain gates open for logging traffic. I paid for 2 permits this year and if I see someone without a permit I will be reporting them as its BS to spend that kind of money only to have others think they can do it for free.
-
The last gate I found open was on Road NF7112. 46°40'37.82"N 122°28'45.63"W
The other at the end of August Rd., and the gate at the end of Pigeon Springs has a highway around it.