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55 Posts
Wow, that was quick. Even AFTER they increased passes to $225. Any ideas on why it sold out so quickly this year?
Hancock Sold Out
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4,193 Posts
Someone's stocking the NF with 16" browns?
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821 Posts
im going to be pissed if this is true
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719 Posts
what is Hancock?
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7,174 Posts
Most folks don't realize that Hancock limits the number of permits it sells every year to 500. Thanks to the high cost of gas, and thus the expense of traveling further afield to fish, the number of permits sold to fishermen deciding to fish closer to home has increased dramatically.
Since most hunters traditionally waited until later in the year to buy their permits, many were surprised last year to find that there were none left by the time hunting season opened. (In fact Hancock sold out of the 2009 permits in June last year.) As a result, some hunters tried to follow a legitimate permit holder in through the gates at Spur Ten, hunt, and then reverse the process at the end of the day. Hancock security, WDFW and the King County Sheriff would routinely stake out the gates to bust hunters 'sneaking' in or out, many being cited for trespassing.
Vowing not to get locked out again this year, many hunters bought their 2010 permits early. Also Hancock began selling permits on December 1 last year, a full month ahead of their normal availability. I bought permit #71 (out of 500) just 6 days after they went on sale. They'd already sold well over 400 permits by last week.
What this means for future permits is unclear, but the cynics among us fully expect the price to rise, perhaps dramatically, on such evidence of strong demand.
K
Since most hunters traditionally waited until later in the year to buy their permits, many were surprised last year to find that there were none left by the time hunting season opened. (In fact Hancock sold out of the 2009 permits in June last year.) As a result, some hunters tried to follow a legitimate permit holder in through the gates at Spur Ten, hunt, and then reverse the process at the end of the day. Hancock security, WDFW and the King County Sheriff would routinely stake out the gates to bust hunters 'sneaking' in or out, many being cited for trespassing.
Vowing not to get locked out again this year, many hunters bought their 2010 permits early. Also Hancock began selling permits on December 1 last year, a full month ahead of their normal availability. I bought permit #71 (out of 500) just 6 days after they went on sale. They'd already sold well over 400 permits by last week.
What this means for future permits is unclear, but the cynics among us fully expect the price to rise, perhaps dramatically, on such evidence of strong demand.
K
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724 Posts
It's the American way! SS
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12,086 Posts
Kent,
Are the permits transferable? I can see a way to make a few extra bucks here. Permit scalping.
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35,204 Posts
I think that they made it that anybody who goes in there has to have a permit. You can't ride with your buddy and go in. You need a pass.
On another note. I went in there with Dave(wetline) a few times and the fishing wasn't that good. I could fish outside of that place and still get skunked. Lots of bears in there anywho
On another note. I went in there with Dave(wetline) a few times and the fishing wasn't that good. I could fish outside of that place and still get skunked. Lots of bears in there anywho
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4,193 Posts
I think the point being that they are offering a controlled experience, so the access points are intended as such. People trying to sneak in isn't the idea.
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7,174 Posts
'Sneaking' can be loosely defined as trying to enter the farm in a motor vehicle without a permit or as a passenger without a permit in a vehicle that has one. In the first case, it's a trespassing charge if caught. In the second, the permit holder will lose his permit for the rest of the year.
Permits were never technically transferable. But back when Weyerhaeuser owned the farm and permits were $60, a couple friends and I would kick in $20 each and then move the permit from vehicle to vehicle. Now, they're assigned to a specific person in a specific vehicle. When the security guy stops you, you've better have a copy of your permit and your driver's license to prove who you are. Sell the vehicle? Tough luck - buy a new permit. Replace your windshield? Better be damned careful removing the permit sticker from the old windshield and attaching it to the new one.
Here's the $64 question. Anybody can hike, bike or take a horse into the tree farm. It's only motor vehicles and the passengers in them that need permits. As for access points, open up your gazetteer and find a spot along the NF Snoqualmie county road. That said, the farm is about 160 or so square miles. Many of the best spots would take quite a hike or bike ride to get to.
Neither Dave nor I or any of the other 498 or so people who bought permits this year would even think about spending $225 if the fishing wasn't very good Jim. If you got skunked, that's your fault
The bigger issue though is not whether the fishing is great or not, but since only 500 permits are sold every year, the number of people on the farm at any given time is pretty small. As such, I'm a lot more comfortable about leaving my vehicle beside the road and not worrying about getting vandalized or hassled by some tweaker. A better way to think about the permit is that it's sorta like belonging to a really rustic private country club. The $225 fee keeps the riffraff out!K
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Huh? What gives you that impression? The NF is open year 'round as a special rules stream. You can hike or bike in and fish it anywhere from the NF county road.
Not sure what to suggest about your aversion to clear cuts. I don't much like 'em either, but aside from only fishing in protected areas like national or state parks or wilderness areas, I'm hard pressed to think of anywhere else in this state that doesn't have views of clear cuts.
K
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Rocky Ford has no view of clear cuts. Not even clear cut hay fields.
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7,174 Posts
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3,559 Posts
It really is more about the relative solitude close to the city than it is about quality fishing. You'll catch more fish in the Middle Fork Snoqualmie, but on a nice Saturday you'll have trouble finding a parking spot along the river; you'll also catch larger fish, on average, at Rattlesnake Lake, but you'll need to be careful not to cross someone else's line with yours when you're fishing there.
One minor correction to Kent's run down of the no-no's. You can get a new sticker and have your new license plate number transferred to you permit if you buy a new car (as I did a couple years ago). You need to write to their office with the info, but they were pretty prompt in providing the new sticker.
Dick
One minor correction to Kent's run down of the no-no's. You can get a new sticker and have your new license plate number transferred to you permit if you buy a new car (as I did a couple years ago). You need to write to their office with the info, but they were pretty prompt in providing the new sticker.
Dick
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Thanks for the correction Dick. That's good to know if you're considering a new rig (as I periodically do!)
K
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35,204 Posts
It's a tree farm. They replant the clear cuts. You ought to be happy that they cut the trees in there and not along all the highways.
Kent, I went in there quite a few times with Dave. Not only did I get the skunk-a-roo, so did Dave.
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