VAFB guest hunting pass

[pbrdog]

I just found out that authorized personell may have a guest (1) while hunting on Vandenberg AFB. The guest pays a fee of $25 per 3 days. Not a bad deal. The guest must be with the sponsor at all times. I'm sure that doesn't mean side by side while hunting. It covers all the types of hunting also. Pig, bird/small game, deer, and fishing.

 

[larrysogla]

My wife's niece(daughter of my wife's older brother) is married to an Air Force officer stationed at VAFB. The problem is he DOESN'T hunt. Even if he could sponsor me, he would have to be out in the field with me the whole time and that is not where his hobby is. His hobby is his work and watching sports on TV and going out with his family. No hunting interest. If he were into hunting, I would have been chasing piggies in VAFB long ago because he was stationed in VAFB for around 5 yrs. running now. Just my luck hah!!! A non-hunting relative. He is NOT even into guns or archery. 'Nuff said.

 

[JD HHI 6092]

Back in the early 90's there were no handguns allowed for hunting. I ended up hunting with a shotgun, never scored but did see lots of hog sign. I hope this has changed since I'll be heading back out there this summer for a couple of weeks. It will be a lot easier to fly with my TC Contender than a shotgun or rifle.

 

[pbrdog]

Handguns are NOT allowed on VAFB.

 

[Rampage1]

I can second that, NO handguns on VAFB at all. It really sucks because Ive been in a couple of situations where one REALLY would have been useful.

 

[Hawaiianhunter]

Heads up on the guest program at Vandenberg. The sponsor must be in control of his or her guest which means the guest has to be at their side. Failure to follow that rule will result in the sponsor losing their hunting privileges for a year and possibly cancellation of the guest hunter program. Also the sponsor must be hunting themselves and not just out in the field with their guest. Any retiree or active duty member from any service is authorized to bring a guest.

 

[weekender21]

The guest must be within sight and voice communication, i.e. in your pocket. No handguns!!!

 

[ltdann]

Straight from the regs dtd 1 Sept 08

"5.3.1.1. Only active duty and retired military may escort one (1) civilian guest to hunt on Vandenberg AFB. The civilian guest must be a United States citizen and cleared by background check prior to hunting on the installation pursuant to 30 SWI 31-101, Installation Security Instruction.
5.3.1.1.1. The escort will be responsible for the guest at all times while on the installation and must ensure the guest has all appropriate documentation required to be on the installation and to hunt.
5.3.1.1.2. The escort must be within both visual and verbal contact with the guest."

PBR, I'm suprised that you didn't know they had a guest program, after all, you've hunted there a number of years.

For Hawaiian hunter-I'm guessing your stationed there?

 

[myfriendis410]

(Quote from ltdann):For Hawaiian hunter-I'm guessing your stationed there?

Yes, he's here at Vandyland.

 

[weekender21]

FYI, the guest program was designed so active and retired military personnel could hunt with their parents, children, or other immediate family. There have been concerns that some people are abusing the program and hunters are starting to complain. I'm not trying to deter anyone but I'm not sure how much longer that program will be around if hunters continue to bring multiple unrelated guests.

 

[ltdann]

Really? I've only ever seen one guy with guest, guess I wasn't paying attention. Never thought it got used much.

 

[Hawaiianhunter]

Itdann, yeah I live on the base my wife is active duty Air Force and I am retired. I also hunt with 410. I've been here since 1999.
As for the guest program the majority of the hunters are pretty good in following the rules. However, there are always the few that mess it up for everyone. As of right now the program is going great, the fish and game office sees alot of Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen bringing family members or friends to hunt. The wardens know that most hunters value the guest program, so when they do find someone breaking the rules that person gets hammered and reminded what that program is for.

 

[weekender21]

I saw the same guy with his elderly retired neighbor in an area I hunted almost every weekend two years ago. You could tell he obviously talked the retiree into taking him hunting. Apparently this was happening quite a bit, that's why they put limits on guest hunter passes last year. Three passes for three days each per guest in one year.

 

[rsolo]

I saw the same guy with his elderly retired neighbor in an area I hunted almost every weekend two years ago. You could tell he obviously talked the retiree into taking him hunting. Apparently this was happening quite a bit, that's why they put limits on guest hunter passes last year. Three passes for three days each per guest in one year.

One of the game wardens told me that someone was taking payment to come on as his guest, so instead of just punishing that guy, they decided to limit everyone's access.

Nine days total is kinda lame especially if you want to hunt more than deer. I used up all nine on two 4 day deer hunts and one pig hunt. I don't know if they'd actually enforce it with a father and son. The game wardens have been pretty good to us over the years.

I hope the program doesn't go away, it's provided some of the best memories I have of my dad.

 

[ltdann]

Itdann, yeah I live on the base my wife is active duty Air Force and I am retired. I also hunt with 410. I've been here since 1999.
As for the guest program the majority of the hunters are pretty good in following the rules. However, there are always the few that mess it up for everyone. As of right now the program is going great, the fish and game office sees alot of Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen bringing family members or friends to hunt. The wardens know that most hunters value the guest program, so when they do find someone breaking the rules that person gets hammered and reminded what that program is for.

I should hope so, the guest program is a good deal. I'm planning on using it for the first time this year. Matter of fact, the VAFB hunting program is the best I've seen anywhere, bar none.

 

[Hawaiianhunter]

rsolo, unfortunately what the warden told you was not quite accurate. They suspected several hunters of charging for a hunt on the base, but they did not have hard evidence to punish them. The final straw that caused the limiting of hunting days came when they received information about a retiree who was bringing a guest that was supposedly scouting the base for a known poacher.

 

[huntley]

Sorry to hear about the limits, but I can remember when there weren't any guests allowed. Let's be happy for what we have. I hunted as a guest a couple of times last year with one of my old hunting partners who took me out when I was a dependent and in High School (about 30 years ago). We didn't get a deer, but we had a great time. Maybe we'll get one this year.