Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: adam.WI on September 15, 2010, 09:09:17 PM

Title: Public Land Access
Post by: adam.WI on September 15, 2010, 09:09:17 PM: So I was sitting in my chair reading some post and realized how many people complain of the misfortune they have while hunting public land. Now don't get me wrong, I realize it is frustrating, but what is expected. I hunted private land in WI all my life for the realization that public land is just that. Any person that wants to come on and have a polka festival could do just that. I don't understand the anger people have towards others, just because they don't help your cause doesn't mean they have any less right to be there.

I suppose this is just stirring the pot but I want to know how others feel, should I be more upset by the fact that someone interrupted my hunt or be happy I have access to hunt somewhere even though someone might interrupt my hunt.
Title: Re: Public Land Access
Post by: ICEMAN on September 16, 2010, 05:38:57 AM: The problem with Public land is the diminishing amout of it which is reasonably accessible. Out here in the west, land managers seem to enjoy decommissioning public access to "preserve" the land. Areas once accessible by vehicle are often made inaccessible by digging out roads leading into the area. Mind you, I like closed and gated areas, but I am talking about managers closing access to vast areas making entry in by foot the only option. Who has access now? Only a limited amount of folks who are in great or excellent shape. My dad cannot access huge chunks of public land now, areas he had access to for decades. Now the area is only open to a select few, or criminals willing to drive around gates and tanktraps.

Also, jerks who dump trash in the woods are also responsible for gates. Now, they just dump their crap closer to the highway, and the gate stays. Trash still happens, gates stay up, old timer hunters get locked out.

Private land companies are continually closing access to their lands causing more folks to flock to public land. Add all these together and you have a bad situation continually worsening.
Title: Re: Public Land Access
Post by: trophyhunt on September 16, 2010, 06:09:26 AM: That pretty much sums it up. I agree :yeah:
Title: Re: Public Land Access
Post by: BlackRidge on September 16, 2010, 06:45:18 AM: Wow, Iceman did sum that up really well. Totally agree with you there
Title: Re: Public Land Access
Post by: pods8 on September 16, 2010, 07:26:40 AM: Quote from: ICEMAN on September 16, 2010, 05:38:57 AM
Out here in the west, land managers seem to enjoy decommissioning public access to "preserve" the land. Areas once accessible by vehicle are often made inaccessible by digging out roads leading into the area.

What I find even worse is when the don't just berm it a couple times but do it ever 100' over and over and over again all the way across the road such that even on foot you have to repeatedly scramble over dirt & brush piles. Makes it much harder to stay quite on your way into something.