Post by: bobcat on February 15, 2011, 11:20:53 PM
Quote
Grant will help open land to hunters
Private Property: 12 counties involved
JEFFREY P. MAYOR; Staff writer | • Published October 24, 2010
A federal grant will help the state open to hunting at least 200,000 more acres of private land in 12 Washington counties.
Under the new federal grant program announced earlier this month, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife will receive $837,000 to develop land-use agreements with landowners who voluntarily make their land available to hunting and other forms of outdoor recreation.
The agency plans to use the Department of Agriculture grant to support projects that provide incentives to:
• Private landowners who allow waterfowl hunting, big game hunting and wildlife viewing in Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish counties.
• Private forest landowners who allow hunting in Lewis, Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties.
• Private landowners who allow hunting for pheasant and other wildlife found in fields in Whitman, Garfield, Columbia, and Walla Walla counties.
• Farmers who leave corn stubble untilled through the winter for waterfowl food and allow hunting in Grant and Franklin counties.
In addition, the department plans to update its GoHunt online mapping program, as well as develop an automated system that will allow hunters to reserve hunting days on private lands enrolled in some of the department’s access programs.
The federal funding is a major boost for current state efforts to open the gates to private lands previously closed to hunting, said Dave Ware, the department’s game manager.
“Hunters consistently rank access to suitable hunting areas as one of their top concerns,” Ware said in a prepared statement. “This new funding will allow us to build on current state efforts to expand hunting opportunities for years to come.”
Washington was one of 17 states to receive competitive grants under the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program, created by the 2008 federal Farm Bill to expand public access to private agricultural and forest lands.
The department currently has access agreements with more than 630 landowners, providing access to more than 1.23 million acres of private land around the state.
Ware said the state agency expects to open an additional 200,000 acres of private land to hunting by the start of next year’s hunting season.
To support that effort, the department has raised $400,000 to expand hunter access through additional fees paid by hunters who apply for new permit-only hunts.
Ware said the department has bolstered its Private Lands Access program to reverse the steady decline of land open to hunting due to population growth, suburban sprawl and crowding on public lands.
“Overall, I think folks are going to be pretty happy, especially on the west side where we’re going to be working with these timber companies that have been closing their gates more and more,” Ware said.
From the landowner perspective, Ware said the department is trying to address some of the big issues, such as littering, garbage dumping and behavioral issues including vandalism and keeping people out of active logging areas.
Besides opening their land to hunters, landowners can qualify for compensation by planting crops and vegetation that attract game or agreeing to allow duck blinds on their property.
Read more: http://www.theolympian.com/2010/10/24/1414440/grant-will-help-open-land-to-hunters.html#storylink=mirelated#ixzz1E6U1zDHn (http://www.theolympian.com/2010/10/24/1414440/grant-will-help-open-land-to-hunters.html#storylink=mirelated#ixzz1E6U1zDHn)
Post by: ICEMAN on February 16, 2011, 06:10:40 AM
Post by: fireweed on February 16, 2011, 08:08:10 AM
Post by: Elkaholic daWg on February 16, 2011, 09:04:46 AM
Post by: Jerbear on February 16, 2011, 09:07:28 AM
Post by: Special T on February 16, 2011, 09:51:24 AM
Post by: jackmaster on February 17, 2011, 06:54:50 AM
Let us not kid ourselves. The ONLY reason we get to walk in is the tax break for the timber companies. For a tax break, the land should be open for vehicular traffic, period. I know some of you like it, but the handicapped, seniors, and for the most part young hunters are eliminated. I doubt that the original intent of the tax break was for walk in only.they make it walk in only because of the people that got to drive in at one time used there lands as a private dumping grounds, and thrashed logging sites, evreything should be walk-in only except designated disabled areas, and yes i am a disabled hunter and a disabled vet, so i believe i have the right to say exactly that.
Post by: bobcat on February 17, 2011, 07:04:18 AM
One thing i didnt see is pierce county, i have 5 acres of private land on a private lake that i would be willing to let young waterfowl hunters use, at times it is some good ass shootn but i havent shot ducks or geese for a number of years on my property
There are people on here all the time looking for a place to hunt ducks in that area. :dunno:
Post by: jackmaster on February 17, 2011, 07:22:53 AM
what i was saying is that at the begining of this thread it layed out the proposed bill and i dint see where they listed pierce countyOne thing i didnt see is pierce county, i have 5 acres of private land on a private lake that i would be willing to let young waterfowl hunters use, at times it is some good ass shootn but i havent shot ducks or geese for a number of years on my property
There are people on here all the time looking for a place to hunt ducks in that area. :dunno:
Post by: bobcat on February 17, 2011, 07:57:53 AM
Post by: jackmaster on February 17, 2011, 12:24:33 PM
Post by: bobcat on February 17, 2011, 12:26:52 PM
well like i was saying i would be open to let young duck hunters come over and shoot ducks but they would have to have there dad or guardian with them
What do you consider young? I'd be happy to shoot some ducks off your pond if I fit the criteria. I could bring my dad too but at 68 he's not quite the shot he used to be.
Post by: jackmaster on February 17, 2011, 12:31:17 PM
i wouldnt mind i live in graham. i dont know how close it is to you, there is still duck blind set up down there that i built years ago, it isnt a real plush blind but your welcome to build one to fit your standards, you would probably want to build it in the summer though, gets pretty wet down at the pondwell like i was saying i would be open to let young duck hunters come over and shoot ducks but they would have to have there dad or guardian with them
What do you consider young? I'd be happy to shoot some ducks off your pond if I fit the criteria. I could bring my dad too but at 68 he's not quite the shot he used to be.
Post by: bobcat on February 17, 2011, 12:34:37 PM
i wouldnt mind i live in graham. i dont know how close it is to you, there is still duck blind set up down there that i built years ago, it isnt a real plush blind but your welcome to build one to fit your standards, you would probably want to build it in the summer though, gets pretty wet down at the pondwell like i was saying i would be open to let young duck hunters come over and shoot ducks but they would have to have there dad or guardian with them
What do you consider young? I'd be happy to shoot some ducks off your pond if I fit the criteria. I could bring my dad too but at 68 he's not quite the shot he used to be.
:chuckle: I was kinda kidding because I don't consider myself young. I'd love to take you up on the offer though, but I'd probably never find the time. Maybe when my daughters are old enough to hunt... :hello:
Post by: jackmaster on February 17, 2011, 02:01:10 PM
Post by: bobcat on February 17, 2011, 03:44:38 PM
Post by: jackmaster on February 17, 2011, 03:51:32 PM
OK, well five more years and the oldest daughter will be 10. That MIGHT be old enough. So don't go anywhere! :chuckle: (I have a feeling you'll be getting a lot of PM's over this) :yike:i promise you this i wont just let any whack job hunt my place, and definatly not going anywhere, i have a 15 year old son and a 12 year old daughter, whats funny is they could almost careless about huntn, my son deer hunts but i wont let him shoot the deer or elk at are house, but if you get a chance to bring your dad out to hunt some ducks then no problem, and it would be pretty easy for your pops to get around
Post by: bearpaw on February 17, 2011, 03:56:36 PM
Regarding The Grant:
This is exactly the sort of thing Pittman/Robertson or Dingle/Johnson sporting goods tax funds should be used for instead of planting and managing wolves. :twocents:
Post by: Wacenturion on February 17, 2011, 10:15:23 PM
As a comparison....it was stated in the news release........
"The department currently has access agreements with more than 630 landowners, providing access to more than 1.23 million acres of private land around the state."
Back in the 90's, agreements increased to an all time high...approximately 1300 landowners under cooperative agreements with in excess of 3.2 million acres of private lands under agreement.
Net loss of half the landowners and approximately 2/3 of the acres since 1999. Oh they're going to work wonders? What a bunch of BS. You have to be staffed properly to service agreements and be there for landowners...and that's not going to happen. More smoke and mirrors.