Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: IslandStorm62 on December 30, 2024, 11:22:55 AM

Title: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: IslandStorm62 on December 30, 2024, 11:22:55 AM: I'm curious, how many hunters pay to access Timber Company Lands to hunt. And, is it worth it?
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: Longfield1 on December 30, 2024, 11:31:53 AM: I did it once and I didn’t use it except opening weekend and got a little blacktail buck. If you live close by then it might be worth it. I personally won’t do it again though.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: RB on December 30, 2024, 11:57:19 AM: Have purchased multiple access permits over the years and have not harvested a single animal with them. To be honest something always comes up and the last three times they have been purchased the envelope never got opened. The one most purchased is close to my home, but never seem to have the time to go out. Used this permit to drive my kids up in the hills where we used to go for free when I was younger, so it was fun for a couple trips. One reason the permits have been purchased was in case a special permit was drawn for the area, because the access permits are sold out by the time special draws are done. :twocents:
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: Hunter mike on December 30, 2024, 12:05:16 PM: I’ve had the WH permit locally for about 5 years. This will be my last. Unless you’re a road hunter, there’s not much hunt quality. Countless times, I hike down a spur road and there’s either a truck already down in there or one drives in behind me. Hard to have what I consider a real hunting experience when people drive down every road, slam the door, throw out a couple bugles (and usually take a crap in the middle of the road). It makes the hunting really tough and the animals mostly hunker down. I’d rather drive further and be less successful to get the experience I’d prefer but that’s just me. As mentioned above, it’s not a terrible way to hunt with your kids - that’s the only reason I’ve been purchasing.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: blackymaster20 on December 30, 2024, 12:08:25 PM: It's good if you like to road hunt. That's just not my thing. I've had several permits over the years but no longer buy t
hem.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: Crunchy on December 30, 2024, 12:19:20 PM: I pay for two different permits. Both within an hour of home. One of the two I haven't set foot on in two years lol. Its like a place to hunt and a back up place to hunt.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: Angus on December 30, 2024, 12:28:09 PM: Its worth it to me, I live 20 minutes from a Weyerhaeuser/ St Helens tree farm gate and have paid for a key for the last 5-6 seasons, I've killed a buck all but 1 of those seasons and that year I passed on a spike and missed a forky. I've stepped out of my rig and shot 1, all the others were while still hunting or out of a tree stand.
If I didn't pay $350 for a key to hunt here I would be making numerous trips to eastern WA to hunt which cost me $200+ per trip in gas, plus other expenses that all adds up quickly, it also allows me to hunt a lot of afternoons after I get off work and maybe the best thing, I get to sleep in my own bed every night. :twocents:
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: GOcougsHunter on December 30, 2024, 12:35:51 PM: Bought a WEYCO key in 2023. The area I focused on in region 5 was advised as very high probability of car break ins on the public land access. $400 replacement window + stolen gear is more expensive than an access key. And with WEYCO, you get some firewood thrown in to bring home. Almost pays for itself.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: CarbonHunter on December 30, 2024, 01:41:09 PM: I used to but I didn’t like how they are shutdown most of the summer and during bear season. Also most of the camping on their land isn’t any good.

I’ve killed a couple of bucks off of permit land but at the end of the day there was way more pressure than I like to experience during deer season and I really never had any success predator hunting so I just choose to drive East.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: Humptulips on December 30, 2024, 03:19:23 PM: I bought the Promised land permit from Rayonier for like 6 years and it would be a tough call for me if it was just hunting. I am in a unique position because I trap and pay for the permit with what I catch. In those 6 years I harvested one elk and another elk on FS land adjacent that saved me a lot of packing because of the access the permit afforded.
This year I bought Rayonier's Polson Camp permit, and it is a desert in there as far as hunting. I did OK with the trapping, so it was worth it.
Hunting has deteriorated and I don't know that either would be worth it for hunting but locally here it isn't any better anywhere. Seems like you are kind of forced into buying something just for a place to go if you want to hunt close to home.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: Cspahman99 on December 30, 2024, 04:12:08 PM: Me and my hunting group have got the Rayonier permit for a long time now. We have enjoyed it and been quite successful, get about 2 elk a year and our deer if we don't get them in Eastern Washington or high hunt. Definitely caters to road hunters but if you learn the area there are walk in only areas and pockets that are tough to hike into that yield good success. It is not prime hunting by any means but we are grandfathered in now for early access so it will be hard to stop buying it.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: Sundance on December 30, 2024, 04:13:36 PM: I bought a Rayonier permit this year for my son and I to deer hunt on. He had a youth tag for that area, so I gave it a go. Decent numbers of deer but I never saw a buck that broke the 100" mark. We didn't take any deer off the permit area, probably hunted it 15+ days this year. It's a 45 minute drive to the gates, which for after school hunts was just too far for my liking. There are no elk in this permit area, and we saw very few bears or sign of bears. For a large family looking to fill the freezer on spikes and forkies I could see making it pencil. The main reasons I wont buy it again are because the poor communication from Rayonier and the 4-month window for usage. The map they sent was all wrong and after numerous phone calls and emails all I got was radio silence. I had to drive around for a day figuring out which gates to use because the map was incorrect, felt like they got my money so why bother with customer service. Also, to only have access for 4-months is a bummer compared to other timber co's that give you the whole year. Between waterfowl, trapping and cougar I could still be using the permit January through March, let alone cutting firewood. Rayonier really ticked me off, can't say I'll look to buy a permit from them again.

At the end of the day the money I spent on gas and the permit will be put towards trips to Montana and Alaska. Buying an access permit in Washington doesn't magically make our seasons and quality not suck.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: bigtex on December 30, 2024, 04:35:38 PM: Yes. Only about 45 minutes from the house to the gate. Saves a lot of gas $ compared to having to go to different parts of the state.

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Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: addicted1 on December 30, 2024, 04:40:12 PM: Think it’s great for those that want to hunt from a vehicle. I prefer locked gates with no vehicle access. As other mentioned closed during fire season, no camping, access times not conducive to setting up early. I’ll take public land with difficult to access or lower quantity of deer any time.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: Katmai Guy on December 30, 2024, 06:28:41 PM: I buy one every year, mainly for the fishing. Might get into trapping the area.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: fishngamereaper on December 30, 2024, 06:42:03 PM: Not sure about the others but Rayonier is a scam...

Unless u like paying a couple grand.
Cause a few hundred gets you the privilege of sharing the area with a few hundred of your best friends...that all share their keys.
And if you go on the cheap for walk in only..... the areas suck and people still have keys.

They don't manage like Pope did....it's all about the easy $$$.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: huntnnw on December 30, 2024, 08:51:24 PM: I do as there’s tons of IEP land out my door. It’s $80 for the year for myself and wife.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: pd on December 30, 2024, 09:32:03 PM: Quote from: fishngamereaper on December 30, 2024, 06:42:03 PM
Not sure about the others but Rayonier is a scam...

Unless u like paying a couple grand.
Cause a few hundred gets you the privilege of sharing the area with a few hundred of your best friends...that all share their keys.
And if you go on the cheap for walk in only..... the areas suck and people still have keys.

They don't manage like Pope did....it's all about the easy $$$.

PREACH!
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: kramman on December 31, 2024, 02:34:04 AM: I bought the green diamond permit, as it's where I used to hunt for free. Doubt I'll do it again. Over an hr drive there and it was still packed with people..... but if I lived really close to a gate and could use it yr round I would.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: hunter_sean08 on December 31, 2024, 10:39:12 AM: Something else to consider with permits is not necessarily the access they grant you to a specific property but the access you might get to adjacent properties that would be extremely difficult for anyone else to get to without the same permit.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: ruttnbuck on December 31, 2024, 02:09:47 PM: I've purchased the WHP the 6 or 7 yrs and I think the only reason I do, is to be up in woods in the winter and spring and not see anyone while predator hunting It's nice to go predator . You hardly ever see garbage strung out over a landing or at a dead end road either. It does get a little crazy during hunting season at least where I go, but that's going to happen anywhere. When the kids where younger it was nice to go up and spend the day doing whatever and teaching the kids too drive. Only thing i wish they'd do now is offer a family pass that allows the kids that are over 19 to go with they're parent . Alot of kids can't afford the 300-400+ dollars to get a permit. But other then that in my opinion it's worth it if you live fairly close to the area and if you just enjoy being in the woods .
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: colersu22 on December 31, 2024, 05:11:44 PM: I buy the snoqualmie tree farm pass and it is worth it to me. With the pass I can take my 5 and 3 year old up hunting and fishing and makes it easier than hiking in with them. My father in law also gets the pass so I can go up with him and with a bad back and hips we can get out and hunt still.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: Fidelk on December 31, 2024, 06:23:56 PM: Paid to hunt Pysht Tree Farm out towards Neah Bay......shot a spike BT one year and crawled over it and saw no shootable bucks the next. They have a drawing for an elk bull. Some people pay the fee with no intent to hunt deer....it's more of a lottery for the elk draw. I learned a bit about elk behavior when I stumbled in very close to the elk herd. I was sitting very close to them with wind in my face and they walked by unconcerned. When they reached where I had walked in, they did a quick about face and changed direction.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: Ingwe on December 31, 2024, 09:08:47 PM: To me timber company permit is worth the price. Close to home. I am well over 75 and I can’t get out and walk like I used to. I admit I do some driving or road hunting but I see a lot of animals. There are still a lot of places to walk. I walk a lot of small patches of timber and jack fir patches. Amazing what you can see 100 yards off a road. I see a lot of nice bucks and bulls killed every year. Main thing for me is it is a good place for older hunters like me to go year round just to be out in woods.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: CarbonHunter on January 01, 2025, 08:54:02 AM: Another thing I do not like about the timber company land is that most of them prohibit target shooting. So if I want to test my skills I am left having to go to public land anyways or to a range.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: cohocrazy on January 01, 2025, 09:10:56 AM: Quote from: fishngamereaper on December 30, 2024, 06:42:03 PM
Not sure about the others but Rayonier is a scam...

Unless u like paying a couple grand.
Cause a few hundred gets you the privilege of sharing the area with a few hundred of your best friends...that all share their keys.
And if you go on the cheap for walk in only..... the areas suck and people still have keys.

They don't manage like Pope did....it's all about the easy $$$.

Interesting perspective. I've been buying a Rayonier permit most every year since they started the program. I paid around $450.00 in 2024 for motorized access although I mostly hunt the non-motorized areas within the unit. You can have 2 people on a permit and split the price and can camp in the permit area. We have had good success elk hunting the area, we don't deer hunt the area. I do agree some folks, mostly locals, share their keys. Rayonier could put more effort into enforcing their own rules. Also, as has been pointed out by others here, this permit gave me access to other properties that I could not have gotten in to without the access through the Rayonier land. Overall, I felt like it was a decent program. Doesn't matter now though as Rayonier has sold the area I hunted as well as most of their properties in the Forks area. Not sure what access to the area will look like next hunting season.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: BigGoonTuna on January 01, 2025, 04:37:31 PM: I bought weyco vail permits for a couple years. I never got to spend a lot of time in the off season in there, but during rifle deer it was a lot like hunting public land. They’re extremely draconian in their rules also. I’ve heard of a guy that got banned for climbing a tree and posting a picture of himself on facebook a while back (for “vandalism”).

The last year I had a pass for vail, I bought a walk-in permit, only to have the area I liked hunting get closed to access since weyco leased or sold the right of way to a gravel company. I was done with them after that.

Since 2020, I’ve purchased a green diamond permit. It’s further away, but there are areas I can get into from Boistfort all the way to Matlock. The wood cutting alone probably saves me more than the cost of the permit. Target shooting is allowed as well. While their road systems aren’t as maintained as weyco, there are a lot of washouts and decommissioned roads I can get out and walk in without worrying about out anyone buzzing past me. Most of the time I’m not even in the main access area, some of the main lines up by Shelton do get crowded during hunting season.

While I am no fan of paying for access that was formerly free to the public, being able to get in a ways off the highway and not worrying about getting my catalytic converter stolen or my truck broken into is nice. The permit is less than my insurance deductible.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: brokentrail on January 01, 2025, 05:17:08 PM: I buy the Hancock/Manulife Kapowsin permit every year if I can and to me it is definitely worth it. The 1 year that I didn't get one, as I was on a plane when they went on sale and sold out, I spent 3 times the permit fee in gas getting to another place to hunt that was about an hour away and I only hunted there on weekends. With the permit, I can hunt pretty much every night after work if i want to do so. I can also cut a bunch of firewood that more than pays for the permit if I bought that much wood and I have been pretty successful year after year getting my deer in there. I hear a lot of complaints that there aren't any deer, only elk, but I haven't found that to be true. I don't road hunt, I am usually parked at a locked gate and hunting behind it somewhere and I see plenty of deer.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: MADMAX on January 01, 2025, 05:25:47 PM: Never bought one
I’ve heard the Weyco passes for St Helens tree farm are gone within an hour
Don’t know if that’s true
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: Macs B on January 02, 2025, 09:53:01 AM: It really comes down to if you do or don't have access to good ground somewhere else. If you live close enough to public lands I wouldn't pay for tree farms. If you can't get anywhere else then a tree farm is probably your best bet.

Just keep in mind, tree farms are not good ground for game. There is little to any food present for hooved game like elk and deer. The crowds that you see on public ground are still there on timber grounds. If you want a relatively private hunting area and decent game you can either pay for a lease or find someone willing to give you access either for free or for pay.

I've pretty much quit hunting public or timber in Washington, just too many yoacals out there that I don't care to be around or associated with. Spend some time and maybe some money and get yourself somewhere away from the hordes.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: ljsommer on January 02, 2025, 11:16:30 AM: Is there any sort of map-based website that gives you a top down view of which timber companies offer hunting permits? That seems like it would be extremely useful. Even moreso if that app connected to the timber companies to indicate which still had available permits.

I feel like I am pretty ignorant of how many various timber (and other land holding) companies actually offer permits - I discover new ones each year that I didn't know about.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: elkhunter00 on January 02, 2025, 11:47:47 AM: Quote from: ljsommer on January 02, 2025, 11:16:30 AM
Is there any sort of map-based website that gives you a top down view of which timber companies offer hunting permits? That seems like it would be extremely useful. Even moreso if that app connected to the timber companies to indicate which still had available permits.

I feel like I am pretty ignorant of how many various timber (and other land holding) companies actually offer permits - I discover new ones each year that I didn't know about.

THIS 👆
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: brokentrail on January 02, 2025, 12:39:47 PM: Quote from: Macs B on January 02, 2025, 09:53:01 AM

<snip>
Just keep in mind, tree farms are not good ground for game. There is little to any food present for hooved game like elk and deer.
<snip>

I'm not sure that I would agree with this statement above. Any timber company land, that is actively being harvested in a rotation, has plenty of food for deer and elk once they are done spraying it to allow the new trees to take hold. IME that lasts quite a few years until the sunlight stops hitting the disturbed ground and by then there is a new cut/harvest area that they will start using for feed.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: jamesjett on January 02, 2025, 03:47:44 PM: Quote from: IslandStorm62 on December 30, 2024, 11:22:55 AM
I'm curious, how many hunters pay to access Timber Company Lands to hunt. And, is it worth it?

I don’t think it’s worth it anymore, at least not for me. I have been hunting Weyerhaeuser property since the late 80’s and before you needed a permit. Most roads were not even gated but as time went on vandalism increased and gates installed and permits followed.

I see less and less game every year. I am not a road hunter but sometimes when frustrated and/or weathered out I poke around to check out areas new and old. I used to archery hunt it and always waited until late season to take a deer and that was due to the confidence in always finding plenty of of deer/bear.

If I were someone new that didn’t know the areas I could not honestly recommend it, unless of course the firewood permits was your main reason. Now as the tribes buy more of the property restricting access I do not think I will be purchasing a permit in the future….
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: kodiak06 on January 03, 2025, 04:17:27 AM: Quote from: brokentrail on January 02, 2025, 12:39:47 PM
Quote from: Macs B on January 02, 2025, 09:53:01 AM

<snip>
Just keep in mind, tree farms are not good ground for game. There is little to any food present for hooved game like elk and deer.
<snip>

I'm not sure that I would agree with this statement above. Any timber company land, that is actively being harvested in a rotation, has plenty of food for deer and elk once they are done spraying it to allow the new trees to take hold. IME that lasts quite a few years until the sunlight stops hitting the disturbed ground and by then there is a new cut/harvest area that they will start using for feed.

That quote you replied to made me laugh...
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: kodiak06 on January 03, 2025, 04:21:56 AM: Money to play lands here have limited permits, that means less people to contend with behind gates. Weekends may be a different story, I guess. Everyone I know that hunts and gets out of their trucks to do so is usually successful. They typically kill better deer than average. Most use the access permit to drive in and back door public land saving them 5-10 miles on a bike. That's the biggest perk IMO
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: hunter_sean08 on January 03, 2025, 10:17:42 AM: OnX has a layer included for Rayonier's access permits- although, as cohocrazy pointed out, a number of these are no more on the Olympic Peninsula. If I have time to do some thorough e-scouting, I'll look for private land owners in the areas I want to hunt on OnX that seem to be the big players and then look those land owners up online to see if they offer any sort of permit or access program.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: Lumpy Taters on January 03, 2025, 06:52:04 PM: I have got the WH permits since they started selling them. For many years it was awesome. Not many people and a whole lot of land to myself. The last few years there is way too many people who have no respect for others and only drive roads. I can only speak for the SW areas and the other issue is the hoof rot has really taken its toll on the herds. There is deer everywhere so for BT is really doesn't matter that much if you get a permit. I have hunted the same areas for over 40 years so buying the permit was a no brainer. I now where the animals like to be and have had good success. But I put a lot of miles on my boots and very few on my truck.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on January 03, 2025, 07:07:40 PM: If it's worth it, is up to each individual depending on their situation. But one thing is for certain, The cost of a use permit has made it easier to justify hunting out of State as far as cost goes. The permit cost pretty much pays for the out of State tag, and to be honest, I burn way more fuel here at home driving up into the unit and driving back home and some side trips to check out new areas than I do where I hunt in Idaho for instance. We set up camp close to where we hunt. This saves gas and also the extra time driving into the unit and driving home in the evening. I guess we could set up a camp where we hunt here, but with your own bed and shower relatively close by, it's hard to camp close to home.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: Martinhunter on January 05, 2025, 07:26:12 PM: I've been purchasing one of the Weyco permits the past 7 years within 45 minutes from my house and I think personally it's worth the money. It's a place to get away year around and the hunting isn't too bad either. All the people saying too many road hunters, just get off the roads then. The animals are there..
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: Macs B on January 06, 2025, 08:50:11 AM: Quote from: brokentrail on January 02, 2025, 12:39:47 PM
Quote from: Macs B on January 02, 2025, 09:53:01 AM

<snip>
Just keep in mind, tree farms are not good ground for game. There is little to any food present for hooved game like elk and deer.
<snip>

I'm not sure that I would agree with this statement above. Any timber company land, that is actively being harvested in a rotation, has plenty of food for deer and elk once they are done spraying it to allow the new trees to take hold. IME that lasts quite a few years until the sunlight stops hitting the disturbed ground and by then there is a new cut/harvest area that they will start using for feed.

Not to get into an arguement but what do you consider to be "prime" elk food in the forests? I'm of the belief that the spraying and density of the planting crowds out or kills almost all available browse for elk. Most elk on my timber lands and leases are eating alder leaves. bark, and dry browse when they can find it. The fact they move as much as they do tells me there is something out there they need to travel to find. Its not water, breeding, or sheltering grounds so what is it?
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: Buckhunter24 on January 06, 2025, 09:29:56 AM: Quote from: Macs B on January 06, 2025, 08:50:11 AM
Quote from: brokentrail on January 02, 2025, 12:39:47 PM
Quote from: Macs B on January 02, 2025, 09:53:01 AM

<snip>
Just keep in mind, tree farms are not good ground for game. There is little to any food present for hooved game like elk and deer.
<snip>

I'm not sure that I would agree with this statement above. Any timber company land, that is actively being harvested in a rotation, has plenty of food for deer and elk once they are done spraying it to allow the new trees to take hold. IME that lasts quite a few years until the sunlight stops hitting the disturbed ground and by then there is a new cut/harvest area that they will start using for feed.

Not to get into an arguement but what do you consider to be "prime" elk food in the forests? I'm of the belief that the spraying and density of the planting crowds out or kills almost all available browse for elk. Most elk on my timber lands and leases are eating alder leaves. bark, and dry browse when they can find it. The fact they move as much as they do tells me there is something out there they need to travel to find. Its not water, breeding, or sheltering grounds so what is it?

It's been a long time since I was in school, but I believe it's why they're called browsers. It's natural instinct not to eat all the food out of one spot. Same reason they follow the snow up in the spring when there is still available browse down low. Active management creates habitat.
Title: Re: Is it Worth Paying for Access to Timber Company Lands?
Post by: bobcat on January 06, 2025, 10:29:42 AM: I paid $100 for a walk in Weyerhaueser permit last year. It's a 25 minute drive from my house and gives me a lot of area to go and hike around and get exercise. That's mostly why I bought it, just for a place to get away from people and get exercise. Sometimes with the dog and sometimes not. I had a lot of trail cameras out there in the fall and that kept me busy. And I did hunt quite a bit during the late muzzleloader deer season, but didn't see any bucks, just a few does. I've had the motorized permit in the past and may buy it this year, but if not I'll definitely get the walk in permit again. If it was just for the hunting I probably wouldn't buy it. But with a lack of public land around here, it's nice having a place to go.