Some of my own thoughts.......

Like everyone else, I am frustrated by gate closures into areas I highly value but..............I also understand the private timber companies point of view.

I have a good friend who works for weyerhauser and some of the stories he's shared regarding vandalsim are downright vulgar.
To put it in a nutshell, weyerhauser (and other companies) were patient as long as they were able to be and, believe it or not, they don't enjoy gating their land and have done it as a last desperate measure. Put yourself in their shoes.........Having to hire 24 hr. guards to watch equipment, $100,000 losses to machinery in a weekend.The list goes on.

I don't believe hunters do most of this but I do believe that some hunters AND THEIR FRIENDS trash the land the rest of the year. How many of us have come across white scum 4-wheeling in the boonies, target practicing, partying? Only to drive on by and not report what we saw? I'm guilty.

I do like the fact that gated roads reduce poaching though.

As far as the dry weather and low harvest of animals to date........I say bringon late blacktail season!! By then we should have rain with good numbers of animals available.......can't wait!