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

[Lowedown]

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

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Welcome to WA. Fees on almost all company held timberland.

 

[BuckSmasher]

$400 or $500 bucks. Not cheap.

 

[Lowedown]

They own 33% of the land in the Sled Springs unit which borders the most sought after elk units in our state. Rifle tags in the 2-4 preference point range and archery tags in the 7-8 preference point range, vs 20+ points for the neighboring units.
One major complaint by archery elk branch tag holders in this unit is that there are way too many spike hunters on the landscape. I'm going to guess most spike hunters won't pay for access, and the branch bull hunting will be much less crowded.

Here is a press release from ODFW:

MANULIFE TO END PARTICIPATION IN ACCESS AND HABITAT PROGRAM MAY 31. HUNTER ACCESS TO BE IMPACTED IN NORTHEAST, SOUTHWEST OREGON
EASTERN OREGON – (Release from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife) Manulife will not renew its cooperative agreement with ODFW’s Access and Habitat program, the company informed ODFW late last week.
This means Manulife properties in northeast Oregon and Jackson County that are currently open to hunter access through the Access and Habitat "Welcome to Hunt" program will no longer be open for hunting through the program after May 31, 2026. Hunters applying for fall controlled hunts need to be aware of these changes as lands where they plan to hunt may require separate fees or be closed.
Hunters will need permission from Manulife to enter their property as of June 1, 2026. Manulife has informed ODFW that they intend to launch a fee permit program where hunters or other recreationists can purchase a permit to access their lands. More information about the program should be available from Manulife in coming weeks, prior to the May 15 controlled hunt application deadline.
The decision will impact about 270,000 acres in northeast Oregon and a little over 12,400 acres in southwest Oregon. The list of impacted areas includes:
Northeast Oregon:
Catherine Creek, Mount Emily, Sled Springs (Manulife properties make up about 33% of this unit), Starkey, Sumpter, Ukiah, Walla Walla and Wenaha wildlife management units
TMAs: Little Catherine Creek, Meachem, Noregaard, Shamrock/Whiskey Creek
Deer Hunt Areas: NB-01, NE-02, NE-03, NE-04, NE-05, NE-06, SW-02
Southwest Oregon:
Jackson Cooperative TMA in the Rogue and Dixon wildlife management units
“We are saddened to see Manulife leave the program,” said Amy Patrick, Access and Habitat Board Chair. “We want hunters to know that our board worked tirelessly and negotiated in good faith to keep Manulife in the program, including offering the highest per year payment of any A&H property due to the large amount of property enrolled in the program, and negotiating on their concerns over state insurance requirements.
“Ultimately, this was their business decision,” added Patrick.
Manulife’s lands have been open to public access under the A&H program for several decades, including under different owners (the lands were managed by Hancock Forest Management and Forest Capitol Partners prior to 2017).
Manulife’s exit from the program will free up approximately $1.1 million in program funds over three years, which the A&H Board will consider for use to open new properties, improve habitat, or maintain current agreements.
The A&H program is funded by a $4 surcharge on hunting licenses and the auction/raffle of special deer and elk hunts. It currently provides hunter access to 2.2 million acres statewide.
For more information on A&H properties open to hunting, visit https://myodfw.com/.../hunting-private-lands-access...

 

[IdahoBeav]

The bad behavior I see on private timberland in Northern Idaho makes me wonder why any timber company would allow access.

 

[2531usmc]

$400 or $500 bucks. Not cheap.

Not cheap, but it probably succeeds in keeping problem people out of the woods.

 

[Steve300xcw]

The bad behavior I see on private timberland in Northern Idaho makes me wonder why any timber company would allow access.

I sure wouldn't allow access

When I worked in the woods I used to hate hunting season. Just one shitbag after another. Working behind locked gates was always a very nice thing.

Honestly surprised it took them this long to go this route.

 

[BLJ]

. Fees on almost all company held timberland.

Are there places where access to company owned land is free?

 

[Steve300xcw]

Are there places where access to company owned land is free?

Lots of it. Really depends on the area though. Some places are pretty locked down

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Are there places where access to company owned land is free?

There's some, out in the east side of the state mostly. Most if not all on the western side is fees. I am not an expert because I don't hunt any of those areas.

 

[WRO]

$400 or $500 bucks. Not cheap.

Less than a nr elk tag.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Chris in TN]

That might actually become a place worth going elk hunting.

 

[TheTone]

Dang. They own some land where I live in Idaho that is currently open. Hopefully other timber companies that are providing access here don’t get the same idea

 

[BLJ]

That’s crazy to me.
Company land around here (mainly coal and timber with some private owners) is all pay.

 

[High Climber]

Kinda sucks, but times change and as far as timber company land access goes, it never gets better. Makes me nervous to apply in Sled as a NR archery elk. It would suck if all the permits sold out before draw results were posted would also suck if it was closed for fire danger for the extent of my hunt