Rayonier General Permit?

[Mfowl]

So I am not much of a westside elk hunter but I drew the MS tag this year and I am looking to hunt the westside. I am considering buying the Rayonier general permit. I have been reviewing some maps of all the Rayonier lands and it seems that this permit allows access to quite a bit of ground. I see that there are 500 available. Has anyone had this permit previously? Do the lands get crowded? I will research and scout for myself I just don't want to buy if its a chit show and not worth the money. I am also considering some of the North Peninsula area specific permits like Dickey/Hoko and Deep Creek but they are a step up in price and I would be obligated to hunt only there if I purchased one. Any info is much appreciated, thanks!

[Mfowl]

Crickets huh? Makes me think I should buy a permit....

[Bronson]

Might be helpful if you share where you were planning on focusing your hunting?  That general permit has access to land from the Columbia almost up to the Strait.  If you gave some idea on where you were thinking of hunting someone might be able to provide some additional details.  Overall though, I think many people on this site arent big fans of the pay to play permits so might not be many people who can help with what you are asking for.

[Mfowl]

If I bought the general permit I would likely focus on the SW corner/Willapa Hills region. If I decide to hunt the N Peninsula I will likely buy one of the higher priced area specific permits.

[JimmyHoffa]

I've heard mixed results on Rayonier Permits.  The general (upper OP) I guess isn't usually in large enough blocks to hold a few herds, so they just move through the area and go on other private lands or state/fed.  The special area permits have more animals and reduced people, most seem to think success went up a little but not really a huge bump.  Still at the mercy of sections being closed due to logging.  For a multi season it might make sense for some of the permits due to price, without multi season for example you would only get one of the seasons in most cases--the area would lie in early muzzy but not late muzzy.  The general permit could get you different areas since you could jump GMUs.

[Mfowl]

Great input! Thank you! I am gonna try to buy a general permit to keep in my pocket, its not a bank breaker if it doesn't pan out. I'll just need to log some truck and boot miles and figure it out.

[JimmyHoffa]

I seem to remember the first year they offered Dickey (before they included Hoko), they only had two gates for permit holders.  Just past one gate they decided to repair a bridge during modern and they were logging hard along the road going in/out the second gate.  A few of the permit holders thought that was kind of crummy.

[L8NITE]

PM sent

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Just wanted to comment, with the advertisement showing up on my FB page, someone was amazed at the Salmon Creek price.
The "company" responded with how it had a 90% success rate, the only guy who did not fill a tag passed on taking one until it was too late.
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I commented on how bad the hoof rot was in the area, and maybe that's why he passed..
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I no longer am getting those ads, my comment was removed, and I am blocked from commenting again.
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[scoutdog346]

I've gotten the permit 5 times now. 

[floatinghat]

The hoof rot is getting worse all along the Columbia. 

[scoutdog346]

 I haven't noticed a difference in the size of the antlers or the taste of the meat if they have hoof rot has anyone else? I've seen some huge bulls with good rot

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I don't know about the taste of the meat, the elk where I hunt don't have it yet.
Elk are tough animals, able to survive some horrendous injuries, extreme conditions, and still survive, its just that when I look at one that is not healthy, I don't feel the same.
I do see a lot of limpers in local herds near where I live, and have seen them in the Salmon Creek area.
There is a real good bull in the herd, but between the hoof rot and the fact he spends most of his time on private land, I have no desire to hunt him.
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Actually I think it would be beneficial to remove infected animals, but the majority of infected elk I have seen are on, in, or around private land.
Paying an access fee to hunt is not in my plans.
Especially when they are infected.
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I hunt elk because I am fascinated with them.
Being able to notch my tag is not more important than my ability to hunt a healthy animal.
If, and probably when, I do kill one with hoof rot I will feel like there is an asterisk next to my memory.
Sure, I filled a tag, but was it any different because of the handicap?
Paying a fee for limited access private land, to hunt an elk that has been hobbled by disease is not much different than a high fence hunt in my opinion
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Power to you, if that's what you choose, but I catch and release planter trout, sometimes even eat them.
I just only brag about it when my kids catch them.
They taste fine, look good in pictures, but there is something missing...
Personal satisfaction in accomplishing something.
I don't want a participation trophy.
I want to enjoy my hunt, even when I don't harvest an animal.
Not saying I would pass on an infected animal.
But, when selecting an area to hunt, there is no way I would pay the amounts they are asking UNLESS they were managing the land for the benefit of game, and not just for the trees.
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Now if they seeded the area with grasses and forage, left escape cover, and actually had a healthy FREE RANGE herd, them I could see paying access fees.