Lowdown on Molalla Tree Farm

[Old Goat]

So, what is the concensus about the outcome of the pilot program (pay to hunt) at the Molalla Tree Farm? There was a lot of discussion earlier, but no real discussion after the fact. Interested mostly in hearing from those who participated more than those who object to the concept. We have covered that already.

[49erjimmy]

From my experience up there, there was a lot of road hunting and few places to really get away from all the road hunters on the drive-in side. Would have been a lot better if they would have closed most of the spur roads and crossover roads and just left the mainline roads open. There aren't too many areas on Weyerhaeuser that you can get more than a quarter mile from a road. Other than that, no major problems that I observed.

[huntinfool]

My observations were the same as 49erjimmy. The one or two walk in areas had vehicles parked at them always and I won't hunt behind someone. The game was plentiful before the season started, but even towards the rut the deer seemed to disappear. I still found many guys who hiked in from the outskirts without a permit-most of them barely spoke english.

[steelhead22]

Originally Posted by huntinfool

My observations were the same as 49erjimmy. The one or two walk in areas had vehicles parked at them always and I won't hunt behind someone. The game was plentiful before the season started, but even towards the rut the deer seemed to disappear. I still found many guys who hiked in from the outskirts without a permit-most of them barely spoke english.

Same observations here. The whole "special permit entry" thing seemed to attract people in hords, and honestly, it was MORE crowded at times than the National Forest and other public land. Pretty sad for the few of us who have been hunting the area and only seeing a handful of people during the year, usually the same guys day in and day out. I met a lot of people scouting who had "heard from a buddy that next Oregon record was coming outta here this year"...and I'm willing to bet that didn't happen. Lotsa hype, not worth it...at least not anymore.

For those who were successful, congrats (not saying that we weren't) and to those willing to drop the $250 for a high pressure hunt, you can have it. I've spent many years RESPECTFULLY hunting the land up there, but I'm done. To Weyerhauser...you asked for it.

NOTE: I do know of one person who DID NOT pay for a permit for the area and hunted it almost exclusively throughout the season. He hadn't even heard of the area prior to this whole "permit thing", but do to the added focus on the area, "word got out" and he thought he'd see what it was all about. He couldn't afford the permit, so he entered in from another area all season. I suspect there's more than one person out there doing this.

[huntinfool]

I contacted the permit coordinator today via email and the changes are for 2009:

1. One vehicle per permit
2. immediate family MUST live with the permit holder
3. only THREE guests (instead of the six) allowed last year
4. Permit holder will be allowed two cords of wood for free.

[s20055]

Originally Posted by huntinfool

I contacted the permit coordinator today via email and the changes are for 2009:

1. One vehicle per permit
2. immediate family MUST live with the permit holder
3. only THREE guests (instead of the six) allowed last year
4. Permit holder will be allowed two cords of wood for free.

Enforcement?

[Bigbuck6x9]

I guess you could say me and my friend did pretty well at the tree farm!!

[huntinfool]

Originally Posted by Bigbuck6x9

I guess you could say me and my friend did pretty well at the tree farm!!

Yah that's it, go ahead and lure in more people. You won't continue to see bucks in there like this for much longer.

[Cliff D.]

Originally Posted by huntinfool

Yah that's it, go ahead and lure in more people. You won't continue to see bucks in there like this for much longer.

Don't worry about it kid. Nice bucks. Congrats to you and your buddy !!

[RiverRogue]

Originally Posted by huntinfool

Yah that's it, go ahead and lure in more people. You won't continue to see bucks in there like this for much longer.

I really don't think that will entice anyone to write out that $250 check anytime soon. Since there is little enforcement, some may choose to enter illegally, but eventually someone will get caught and have to pay up. And if hunting with a firearm, that is a Class 3 Misdemeaner which can be expensive. But we are all ethical hunter here, right?

[huntntrap]

Originally Posted by huntinfool

I contacted the permit coordinator today via email and the changes are for 2009:

1. One vehicle per permit
2. immediate family MUST live with the permit holder
3. only THREE guests (instead of the six) allowed last year
4. Permit holder will be allowed two cords of wood for free.

also the gate will be open at 5pm on weekdays now.

[HntnFsh]

Originally Posted by Bigbuck6x9

I guess you could say me and my friend did pretty well at the tree farm!!

Looks like it was hardly worth it!

Congrats on the nice bucks.

[HntnFsh]

Originally Posted by huntinfool

The one or two walk in areas had vehicles parked at them always and I won't hunt behind someone.

Why not? Ive killed some dandy animals that others had walked or driven by.

Originally Posted by huntinfool

Yah that's it, go ahead and lure in more people. You won't continue to see bucks in there like this for much longer.

Nice compliment on there animals.Do you really think his picture is going to make that much difference?

[Spotted Owl]

Originally Posted by huntinfool

Yah that's it, go ahead and lure in more people. You won't continue to see bucks in there like this for much longer.

Ease up there stud. Nothin like slammin a couple kids to make you feel better huh. Sheesh

I don't think that a photo of a couple bucks is going to doom your public honey hole. I think that the Illegal entries should more of a concern. Ya it is public unless they come up with a way to keep all the nonpayers out. I hunted that area years and years ago, you don't need to be on the farm to get into animals like that. You just have to be willing work to get them. Bail over the side, thick, steep, nasty, yup. Do the deer live in that same country thats to thick, steep and nasty to hunt, yup. I think the lack of willingness to work for the animal is the number one reason for empty tags and less than "par" animals, not over pressure brought on from pictures posted on the internet.


Bigbuck6x9. Nice job on a couple fantastic animals. Keep up the good work kid. Don't let anyone anywhere hold you down, and don't worry about your photo there bringing in the masses.

Next time though, smile you guys should be darn proud of those blackies.


Owl

[huntinfool]

I hardly think I slammed them..........I just don't think that they know what they could be doing to "their" hunting area.

[huntinfool]

On a side note, the photo probably won't bring the masses.

But these threads coupled with the new advertisement in the hunting regulations just might!!

[Bigbuck6x9]

there was actually alot of nice bucks pulled out of there..thats me with the forky(it looks bigger in real life!!) and my buddy with the 6x5(the pic makes him look bigger)
we got them standing at the top of a clear cut, they were both standing next to each other.

[steelhead22]

Originally Posted by Bigbuck6x9

there was actually alot of nice bucks pulled out of there..thats me with the forky(it looks bigger in real life!!) and my buddy with the 6x5(the pic makes him look bigger)
we got them standing at the top of a clear cut, they were both standing next to each other.

Yep, nice bucks for sure! Congrats!!!

I saw those pictures here on Ifish the day they were taken. Took me about 2 phone calls to find out exactly where those bucks were killed. We hunted there the rest of the season, and I can tell you this, there's at least 2 more bucks that won't be in that area next year. Personally, I won't be hunting it next year, but I know a couple of friends that will.

This is why I don't post pictures. No matter what, it brings attention (not that this area didn't already have enough this year anyway). I had hunted that area many years ago, but to be honest, had totally forgotten about it and didn't even scout it during the summer. When I heard where those were taken, I thought, "Man, I should go check that area out again." The rest is history.

Most guys have seen my posts, and distain for posting pictures of specific areas on here. I can't stand post chasers...but I'm guilty as charged in this case.

Again, NICE BUCKS!!! There's still a few up there the escaped the onslaught this past season. I'm sure you guys will match it next year!

[steelhead22]

Originally Posted by huntinfool

I contacted the permit coordinator today via email and the changes are for 2009:

1. One vehicle per permit
2. immediate family MUST live with the permit holder
3. only THREE guests (instead of the six) allowed last year
4. Permit holder will be allowed two cords of wood for free.

Now Weyco can get TWO payments for the price of one...well done Weyco! Give 2 vehicles and 6 guests the first year to attract the masses. Then, cut that in half the next year, knowing that most people will just buy 2 permits now instead of one...all the while thinking they have some "private" access. And for those guys that get wound up about the changes, throw in a couple chords of wood so the permit "pays for itself". Genius!!!

Get ready, this should begin to be the norm around the state with the "success" of this year.

[CombinationLicense]

Originally Posted by steelhead22

Now Weyco can get TWO payments for the price of one...well done Weyco! Give 2 vehicles and 6 guests the first year to attract the masses. Then, cut that in half the next year, knowing that most people will just buy 2 permits now instead of one...all the while thinking they have some "private" access. And for those guys that get wound up about the changes, throw in a couple chords of wood so the permit "pays for itself". Genius!!!

Get ready, this should begin to be the norm around the state with the "success" of this year.

There should be no doubt that this was the goal all along. "Pay for access" programs have been utilized by the timber companies in other parts of the US for years so it was only a matter of time until it made it's way here. You can bet that it will be implemented on other WEYCO holdings as long as there is a clientele to support it. Ultimately other property management companies will follow suit to, compounding the access problem for "average" hunters.

"CL"

[huntntrap]

[quote=steelhead22;2339852]Yep, nice bucks for sure! Congrats!!!

I saw those pictures here on Ifish the day they were taken. Took me about 2 phone calls to find out exactly where those bucks were killed. We hunted there the rest of the season, and I can tell you this, there's at least 2 more bucks that won't be in that area next year. Personally, I won't be hunting it next year, but I know a couple of friends that will.

if i didn't know better I'd think you were trying to scare people away
so you dint have as much pressure were you like to hunt. seems silly
to me not to hunt were your successful ??????

[FirstH2O]

Has anyone looked at a BLM map of that area?I know of a couple Weyco holding that are over 50% puplic lands & Weyco gets to lock them because they maintain the BLM roads.I would hate to pay for access on BLM land.

[49erjimmy]

It would be interesting to know how many of the people who bought permits last year will not buy them next year due to the excessive road hunting and crowds.

[steelhead22]

Originally Posted by huntntrap

seems silly
to me not to hunt were your successful ??????

Yes, it may seem a little silly, but there's many other places to get away from the crowds. Getting away from the crowds WAS the main reason I hunted the area in the past. I could walk/bike a few miles and essentially hunt without another person for miles of me. On a few occasions in the past I would run into another hunter, but it was rare, and with such a large area that required actual WORK to hunt in, it was easy to get away from them and most people were looking for the same anyway, so it worked out.

I joined with some friends and bought into the permit this year. I guess part of me was hoping that I could still find some space to get away. Another part just wanted to see what would happen. And yet another part was excited to see some areas that I hadn't ever had a chance to look at since they were so far back. Shortly into the season, I realized my preseason misgivings were warranted and that this place would never be the same again...even if they cancelled the permit the next year. Furthermore, the area actually received MORE pressure than many of the public lands I've hunted before. It simply got so much "hype" leading up to the season, and with guys feeling like they got a "special" area to hunt, the amount of hunters was staggering at times.

huntntrap, "success" can be measured in many ways. If killing an animal was the measure of success for me, this year was unsuccessful, at least on the Weyco property. I personally don't measure my season's success that way. I do know that when I see a truck parked on every landing with guys hanging out the window glassing clearcuts and all I want is to get away from people, I cannot get what I want from my deer season. So, for that I'm not going to go in on the permit next year.

Also, I might be living in Alaska.

[huntinfool]

Sometimes I think most people on this site would rather SEE people than game when out hunting.

[huntntrap]

you are right success i mesured in many ways there may have been alot of people up there but i got to see some country for the first time that
my dad used to hunt before they closed it. i also got to take my little boy up there and he saw deer,elk and even a bear what do you think the chances of a four year old getting to see those animals up the main river corridor slim all we would see is broken beer bottles old dishwashers burnt
cars and garbage. and my wifes grandpa that cant walk very well wouldn't
have been able to shoot a pretty nice forky with out walking to far. that is how i measure my success. not to mention all the bucks i got into early archery. huntntrap

[huntntrap]

Originally Posted by huntinfool

Sometimes I think most people on this site would rather SEE people than game when out hunting.

i saw deer bucks and does every time i went up there and i went alot
got close to some nice bucks but with my recurve i only shoot 25-30yrds
max with a compound could have been done the first 10mins if i hit the
animal you guy make it seem like the animals were not there????

[huntinfool]

Originally Posted by huntntrap

also the gate will be open at 5pm on weekdays now.

It was open at 5PM weekdays in 2008 also.