Yellow WDFW landowner permision signs

[T-Dozzer]

You might sing a different tune if it was your land & you were always dealing with trespassers & poachers. Those signs & program involvement  are often a last ditch effort to keep the bad apples out. Not everyone asks like you guys. Try to remember, that owner probably wants to hunt his own land. He does give out cards to others, but he can't let everyone on just because they asked.  Try asking after the season when things calm down.

[steeleywhopper]

I call and get my permission in July. Never had a problem yet.

[Furee65]

Yeah this year came down to the wire for me literally on securing some private land over in Douglas to hunt but it can be done as my brother also stumbled into some private land as well over in the huckleberry unit for his doe tag this last Saturday when he was checking out an old willies jeep that was for sale in front of an old farm.  In my case it doesn't hurt that my wife is from the area and had a few connections from back when her mom owned the douglas store years ago but I took a shot in the dark and connected with one of her old friends and also got to know a few locals at the Waterville fair this summer and talked hunting and fishing with them. I was honestly prepared for no call back or sorry try again next year since I did wait longer than I should have to ask for permission but it was a relief hearing back and now I will do what ever I need to do so that i can hopefully secure this area and continue building the relationship with the land owners over there. On a side note the land owner who I connected with over there was surprised that there were only 4 other people who have asked to hunt their land this year.  My wife did warn me that there are times the land owners can be off the grid and do not get cell phone reception and are also not the quickest to check their messages especially if they are out at one of their properties thats off the beaten path so just keep at it and hopefully the numbers you called will pay off.

[CAMPMEAT]

CAMPMEAT, you do. I met him last year on curley's property, down by singers place.  Seemed like a pretty nice dude.

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I think he comes over from Colville. I've heard the same thing about being a good guy........

[buckcanyonlodge]

I know Dan Anderson goes over to Ferry County from Colville from time to time. One of the better Gamies IMO.. He handled a trespassing case for me.

[bigtex]

I know Dan Anderson goes over to Ferry County from Colville from time to time. One of the better Gamies IMO.. He handled a trespassing case for me.

Ferry, Stevens, and Pend Orielle are all one WDFW LE detachment. Basically the officers in those counties bounce all over those 3 counties, even though they may not live in that county.

[Limhangerslayer]

I have had the same experience with those types of properties. Either nobody will answer at the prone number provided, or I leave a message never to be returned? Still curious if these landowners get compensation from the state? If so, what a waste.

No compensation is paid to the landowner. Have friends that were in and now out of the program.

not true, but the register top hunt program they are paid 3 dollars an acre and the landowners have full control of when the hunts are conducted. Sounds like a win win for them.

[buckcanyonlodge]

I have had the same experience with those types of properties. Either nobody will answer at the prone number provided, or I leave a message never to be returned? Still curious if these landowners get compensation from the state? If so, what a waste.

No compensation is paid to the landowner. Have friends that were in and now out of the program.

not true, but the register top hunt program they are paid 3 dollars an acre and the landowners have full control of when the hunts are conducted. Sounds like a win win for them.

The yellow signs that say " Hunting By Written Permission"...the landowner does not get compensated.

[bradslam]

Be aware that just because the sign says Hunting by Written Permission doesn't mean they have to let everyone who inquires hunt.  I hunt properties in the program and the landowners still restrict the number of permission slips they hand out.  I usually get it taken care of in January or February, not during the season or immediately before.  Have some respect for the landowner.

[Jingles]

If you are talking about land in the 260 and 248 GMU's the 260 will only re[ply to letters sent well in advance. Stopped in to see owner one day and he said send him a letter in JAN or Feb. for permission, all I was after was permission to hunt yotes. the land owner in the 248 has numerous cattle there and pretty much waits till his cattle are off property

[huntinguy]

I don't remember exactly what the compensation is, I think it may depend on what permissions they agreed to with DFW.

The key, we were told, was to use the online system for getting permission.

Also, the DFW has asked for feed back because they don't want it to become a "friends and family" proposition. That was made very clear in the meeting (the money comes out of DFW).

Therefore, if you feel that the land is not being managed according to the rules you NEED to let the DFW know IN WRITING not just a phone call. Give specific details: date, time, location and any-other information you think may be important.

[Gobble Doc]

I called the name and number on one of the yellow "hunt by written permission only" signs with the name and the # of the land owner on it.  He informed me that he was booked out 2 years and wasn't taking anyone else.  Roosevelt GMU. 

[idahohuntr]

It is my understanding that hunt by permission properties do not get compensation from WDFW.  However, I do believe folks that enroll/attempt to enroll in CRP or similar federal programs can get extra $ if they are "enrolled" in a state hunting access program...and of course the feds don't differentiate between the state systems. So a landowner enrolls in Hunt by permission...only lets close friends/family hunt (as they would anyways) and still gets $ out of the deal. *I will note here that this is my general observation, I'm sure there are some genuine folks enrolled in the program*  I have complained to wdfw that the hunt by permission system is generally a scam with no real benefit to sportsmen.  I think wdfw has improved their access program though...they are posting maps/listing areas on their website and they are increasing the use of the hunt by reservation system which is a step in the right direction.  They still have the worst private lands access program in the west, but they are getting better.  I would like to see an elimination of hunt by permission, much more hunt by reservation, and tweak the reservation system to a lottery type draw for the high demand hunt areas/dates.  Private land hunting access is the most important thing wdfw can work on IMO...I would put the head of the private lands access program in an office just down from the governor...the WDFW director would be beneath that guy!   

[GameHunter1959]

I have had the same experience with those types of properties. Either nobody will answer at the prone number provided, or I leave a message never to be returned? Still curious if these landowners get compensation from the state? If so, what a waste.

No compensation is paid to the landowner. Have friends that were in and now out of the program.

I think where some of the forum members are confused about payments from the WSDFW....

If the land owner is receiving "damage claim reimbursements" from the WSDFW; they are "required" to open up a "portion" of their land. This is called the "land access program". The WSDFW land access managers release a contact information list of participants in September of each year. Hunters can call Olympia and get a copy of the participants list, to use to gain permission to hunt. Olympia will not release the list until a few weeks before the modern season starts.

I think it is somewhat of a joke. Key word "portion". I found most participants opened up a small portion to hunt, which was not worth hunting. All the prime hunting ground was reserved for the land owner. The entire property was posted "hunting by written permission", which is misleading.

I don't think the department should be paying damage claims, unless 100% of the land is available for the department to manage through public hunting.

[Fish4Fun]

The lands that are in the Hunt With Written Permission are almost always booked solid when you call the land owner. Standard thing I hear is sorry we are full up this year. Then come season, you NEVER see a single person hunting any of the posted lands. bumped into a farmer on time and his reply was "No I am sorry but I am reserving it for my Grand Kids and don't want anyone hunting it". That did for me, I called Ephrata WDFW and chewed on the game guy. Gave him names and ranches that flat out said they hold it for friends and family ONLY. Wouldn't you know, none of those ranches are in the program any more and the signs are removed from the properties. They were having the WDFW post it and patrol it, then not giving out any permits to outsiders. Fine job our tax dollars were doing and that farmer didn't have to look like a bad guy by saying no because it was in the program and full up with people (friends and Family).