Wdfw private lands access program

It is the policy of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission to maintain a viable private lands access program that encourages formal partnership agreements with private landowners:. Nothing in this policy or the private lands program shall be construed to infringe on the treaty rights of Native Americans. As stated in Commission policy C "The Department of Fish and Wildlife will engage tribal representatives in its decision making processes relative to wildlife management issues that affect tribal hunting.

Minimum Operating Standards and Guidelines of the Access Program: The Department will develop a variety of public access options for landowners. It is the Commission's highest priority to encourage partnership opportunities that provide general public hunting opportunity and those with passive restrictions rather than requiring special permits or additional access fees for hunters. Translation limitations and disclaimer. Policy number. Effective date. Nov 18, Signed by.

Policy Over half the state of Washington is privately owned, and some of the most important fish and wildlife resources are found on private lands. It absolves the landowners of managing hunting on their land, while increasing hunting opportunities for the public.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife WDFW works with the landowner to lay out each unit and ensure a safe hunting environment, while also taking landowner concerns and wishes into account. WDFW compensates each landowner for use of the property for hunting purposes.

Funds are provided by those who have purchased Washington state hunting licenses and applied for special permits. Additional funding is provided by the U. WDFW private lands staff members work closely with landowners to provide the best hunt scenario possible. When department staff member negotiate unit selection with landowners, two points are made clear:.

WHAP is designed to increase hunting opportunity in the state on land previously unknown or inaccessible to the general public. It focuses on providing the public with duck and goose hunting in the North Puget Sound area. In , WHAP provided public access to 67 sites and more than 3, acres throughout Whatcom, Skagit, and north Snohomish counties.

Access Acres: No Access permit is required on Weyerhaeuser parcels listed for these access sites; however, users cannot trespass through Weyerhaeuser properties that are NOT enrolled in this program to access these parcels. Not all parcels are accessible by road. No hunting blinds provided or allowed.

No tree stands provided or allowed. Electric or gas-powered bicycles are considered motorized for these purposes.