Post by: hunter399 on October 17, 2025, 02:26:54 PM
I know they have started leased land deals.
Been trying to keep an eye on the website.
I've been seeing no trespassing signs everywhere. Even on chunks of land that I didn't even see on the website for lease.
Anyway just wondering if anyone has any info. Are we able to access anything at this point. Is there a way to contact people that lease it,to pay a trespass fee.
Can't believe it looks like about 4 dollars an acre to lease for one year. Is about the going rate.
I've seen a lot of signs going up since deer season started. Like I was there just a few days before season. Then show up a week later, trespassing signs everywhere.
How is this being enforced,when clear information isn't available on what's leased,what's available to the public access.
Did Hancock just turn all of NE Wa into a giant hunting club for the rich. Now we all have to join hunting clubs,pay trespass fee's.
What is going on here.
Anybody noticed a lot of trespass signs or what.
I think the private timberland hunter just got thrown under the bus,then the bus hit reverse on us.
Been hunting some of this ground for 30+ years,now I'm trespassing. Some of it ,I can't tell if someone leased it.
Or another hunter just posted it to keep people out.
Definitely confused,any reliable information appreciated.
Post by: lewy on October 17, 2025, 03:14:22 PM
Post by: hunter399 on October 17, 2025, 03:19:01 PM
You can lease blocks and bid on them by price per acre. I don’t like it either but its the way things are going.Seen one big chunk there.....68k a year on a lease.
Ya there are animals there,sure you get a key and can drive around.
Dang 68k. Per year
For that kind of money,like 20k acres to hunt.
I'm thinking your not planning on tag soup or even a spike to fill a tag.
I guess just selling walk in access permits to everyone,wasn't enough money .
Sucks for sure
Post by: Naches Sportsman on October 17, 2025, 04:05:14 PM
Post by: Tbar on October 17, 2025, 06:05:21 PM
If you think Hancock is bad, we will have to wait and see what happens for access to PotlatchDeltic lands next year with the Rayonier and PotlatchDeltic merger about to happen in the first part of 2026:yeah:
Along with what gets converted. Scary!
Post by: lewy on October 17, 2025, 08:01:51 PM
You can lease blocks and bid on them by price per acre. I don’t like it either but its the way things are going.Seen one big chunk there.....68k a year on a lease.
Ya there are animals there,sure you get a key and can drive around.
Dang 68k. Per year
For that kind of money,like 20k acres to hunt.
I'm thinking your not planning on tag soup or even a spike to fill a tag.
I guess just selling walk in access permits to everyone,wasn't enough money .
Sucks for sure
I agree
Post by: HUNTIN4SIX on October 17, 2025, 10:22:36 PM
Post by: PsoasHunter on October 17, 2025, 10:35:26 PM
I always had a thought the timber companies received tax break incentives to allow the public to hunt?
That was the original intent of the tax breaks in the early 1900's, not just hunting, all recreational access. It's ridiculous that isn't honored now, they should allow access or pay full tax rates. Millions of dollars in taxes, they could handle figuring out free access that is feasible for all parties interests.
Post by: kodiak10 on October 18, 2025, 08:20:31 AM
That was the original intent of the tax breaks in the early 1900's, not just hunting, all recreational access. It's ridiculous that isn't honored now, they should allow access or pay full tax rates. Millions of dollars in taxes, they could handle figuring out free access that is feasible for all parties interests.
Yeah I had the same thoughts when I first heard of all the closures. I feel its additionally painful when Stevens County is having issues funding critical services for the community such as our ambulance system. If these companies are going to hoard land and do very little for the community then the least they can do is pay a fair share of taxes to help give the community basic services. https://www.spokanepublicradio.org/regional-news/2025-08-13/a-northeastern-washington-county-tries-to-navigate-funding-shortfall-of-ambulance-system-were-at-that-point-of-critical-collapse (https://www.spokanepublicradio.org/regional-news/2025-08-13/a-northeastern-washington-county-tries-to-navigate-funding-shortfall-of-ambulance-system-were-at-that-point-of-critical-collapse)
My property taxes for my home here in Stevens went up considerably this year, and sure I was annoyed at first. But I know the county needs the money and I am happy to do it since it is so critical to everyone here.
Post by: Twispriver on October 18, 2025, 10:15:23 AM
Old wives tale i think.
Post by: TommyH on October 19, 2025, 07:44:20 AM
I always had a thought the timber companies received tax break incentives to allow the public to hunt?
I did as well, I did hear a few months back in early summer that they were not renewing their contract with the state… I don’t know what that is/was..
Post by: Alan K on October 19, 2025, 08:23:54 AM
Post by: hunter399 on October 19, 2025, 08:26:50 AM
I've owned private timberland since the early 80s and to my knowledge there has never been a requirement to allow public access to qualify for the program. I am required to have a forest management plan on file and public access is not included in the qualifying criteria for designated forest. I pay plenty of taxes at harvest time.I do agree with ya .
Old wives tale i think.
I've had a few property owners give permission in the past that fall under the tax break. I wouldn't want them to get screwed,when they was great about permission to hunt.
Post by: hunter399 on October 19, 2025, 08:37:42 AM
I always had a thought the timber companies received tax break incentives to allow the public to hunt?
I did as well, I did hear a few months back in early summer that they were not renewing their contract with the state… I don’t know what that is/was..
Maybe the cooperative road closed agreement.
That's with WDFW, page 86 in the regs.
They did remove a bunch of land that both of us hunt ,I believe.
Even some of the lands that remain,may still be leased.
Just means you have permission to walk the road.
Example would be , multiple property owners behind a gate.
You be allowed to access through the road system.
Not necessarily permission for Hancock.
I've been watching there lease deals,one area is behind a road agreement area. They only stayed in the agreement so you can access other lands . Not Hancock.
If it doesn't have a no trespassing sign,I'd hunt it while you still can.
Post by: HillHound on October 19, 2025, 09:33:15 AM
Actually had a new sign that said it was still open for walk in. Not to mention most roads we accessed through DNR,blm had nothing on their end but no trespassing when you got out the other side to the main road. Game warden we saw didn’t have a clue either, he said just don’t park at the gates with signs
Post by: hunter399 on October 19, 2025, 11:36:44 AM
While we were moose hunting it was very random what was posted not trespassing “leased”, just no trespassing, and one walk in only thatI thinks I know where your talking about .
Actually had a new sign that said it was still open for walk in. Not to mention most roads we accessed through DNR,blm had nothing on their end but no trespassing when you got out the other side to the main road. Game warden we saw didn’t have a clue either, he said just don’t park at the gates with signs
Ya ,those went up recently,that was one of the areas dropped from the road closed agreement.
Believe it's leased now,but who knows.
Last year ,you could hunt that all you want ,now screwed.
Post by: 71Shovelhead on October 19, 2025, 07:25:40 PM
Post by: hunter399 on October 19, 2025, 09:02:11 PM
What's the current status of the Manulife Hancock land near Republic and Curlew?Not sure ,that's the problem. Not sure what's leased and what's available for public access . They own a lot of land, probably starting south. Probably take several years before it's all leased,some north units may be last,just a Guess.
With all that said,
I get it as a business stand point . To make money on the land as you wait for trees to grow. It will direct alot of pressure on public lands. If you hunt true public,state , federal,your not seeing a lot of game,and a lot of hunters. That's gonna get a lot worse.
As another reminder......
Tree stands, cameras,blinds ,I'd take my personal property with me after the season of hunting Hancock. You may come back and be locked out ,no trespassing signs,and the guy that leased it sitting in your stand.