Manulife Hancock Forest Lands in Oregon to become Fee Access only!

[repins05]

Gates may or may not stop people from getting onto grounds that require permits. However, when you purchase a permit you also receive a hang tag that is supposed to remain visible in your vehicle. People who pay $500.00 for access and see someone without a permit typically get pissed and you run the risk of getting called in. Also many drive in permits do not allow you to bring in an off road recreational vehicle like a quad or sxs. I believe Weyerhaeuser sells a permit that allows drive in and off road recreational vehicles. Those permits are very limited.

For me, sneaking around, and trying not to get caught on private property etc. isn't hunting and would take the enjoyment right out of it. This feeling would be the same regardless of a small land owner versus large. I know a lot of people don't care. I have friends that fall into the I don't care category. I have a hard time understanding this mentality.

In my opinion, from what I have seen, permits have become a big money grab. Don't get fooled by the "general public" trashing on lands etc. Yes it definitely happens and may be a part of the rationalization for being able to charge for access.....but I do not think it is the driving force. I believe, like everything else, it is the almighty dollar. It sucks, but can't blame them either.

 

[Oregon]

The 2 major timber companies in my backyard allow free access, all walk in but access nonetheless. Hope that doesn’t change. I also have a 360,000 acre state forest plug full of roads. That’s awesome, because if I walk in behind a gate and see the 5 mile marker on the tree, I know for a fact the next day my ass will be in the truck driving forest roads cause my knee will be swollen and sore!

 

[307]

Not my cup of tea.

Yeah, I'm with you. Sounds lame AF.

 

[repins05]

The vast majority of Lands in the Oregon Access and Habitat Program here in Eastern Oregon are owned by Manulife partners. This land is being pulled from the General Public Access Program and will be going to an annual access fee system effective June 1, 2026.
ODFW did offer them the highest amount in the programs history to remain in A/H. However, Manulife believes that to be only about 50% of what they will make from permit fees.

Do I like it, NO!
Howerver; as much as this sucks, I do have to say I am thankful that worse alternatives didn't happen!
They could have sold out to other private individuals who would lock it up completely!
They could have leased the hunting rights to private individuals or outfitters!
They have been hounded by prospective buyers and leasee's for years and could have given in to that for less of a headache than the program they will now be administering.

Anyways, here is the link to the Info sheet they released today:
https://mimpublicdata.blob.core.windows.net/alumimdocuments/NortheastOregonAccessPermitProgram.pdf

Permits are only for walk in ? Or did I miss something.

 

[hibernation]

Permits are only for walk in ?

Correct, the permit is for nonmotorized access.

 

[Lowedown]

Roads that have been open to public travel will remain open to public travel, roads that are closed seasonally or year round will remain so. the recreational permit allows you to get off the road and "recreate"

 

[manbugle]

I guess I need to research more where these public travel roads are. We have enough points to draw this hunt this year and will probably pull the trigger on it. I had read that camping areas were a long long ways from the gates and to expect driving a lot both in and out daily.

 

[repins05]

Will be interesting to see what gets gated and what doesn't then. Weyerhaeuser 2.0. Thought the drive in for Weyerhaeuser was expensive.

 

[OregonSteeler]

Will be interesting to see what gets gated and what doesn't then. Weyerhaeuser 2.0. Thought the drive in for Weyerhaeuser was expensive

Manu said to Weyer...."You think your permits are expensive,hold my beer!"

New we can expect Weyer prices to go up to keep up with the Manus across the street ....

 

[Kodiak06]

More to follow...

 

[wapitibob]

I guess I need to research more where these public travel roads are. We have enough points to draw this hunt this year and will probably pull the trigger on it. I had read that camping areas were a long long ways from the gates and to expect driving a lot both in and out daily.

ODFW has TMA maps that show which roads are open. You can camp along the short sections of Manulife's roads before the gates, provided camping is open, normally it's not open during archery season.
Free camping is available in Wallowa, which is 25 minutes to the Kiosk at the intersection of Indian Pt and Promise roads. It's another 25 minutes to the end of Noregaard. Depending where you hunt, it is easier to camp in town.

 

[repins05]

M

Manu said to Weyer...."You think your permits are expensive,hold my beer!"

New we can expect Weyer prices to go up to keep up with the Manus across the street ....

Any excuse for weyer to raise prices and they will. They keep increasing the permit count every year. It’s getting ridiculous. Becoming high pressure in with the drive in permits.

 

[jfandel3]

What about all the Hancock land in NW Oregon like the Scappoose unit? How do we know recreational rules for those areas and what is huntable versus leased?

 

[Kodiak06]

call, check online. Odds are there will be signage...