Any one else draw Monroe

[luvmystang67]

I had a pretty fun story.

First flat, no service, jack slipped and broke.  I pounded it back together on a rock (can't believe it worked) and it kind of haphazardly functioned.  I got the truck up a little bit and then decided it was risky to go up further, so we dug down under the slightly raised tire to clear enough room below it to put the spare on.  Digging down on a shale logging road, in the rain, using rocks, is about the worst thing ever.  Finally got that tire changed and drove home carefully.

The next one I had a floor jack and 2 spares in the back (and still hadnt fixed the original tire because it was the next day, so I was still running on my first spare).  When I got my second flat, I had the car jacked up before the air had fully left the tire.  My 2 spares were also GM 6 lugs, but it turns out they were a different diameter pattern.  Yes, I'm an idiot.  Then Dinker came up to save me with his spare on his older GM truck.  He has 16" rim spare, I have 17" rims.  The bolt pattern is identical.  Turns out, my Z71 stupid brakes take up all of that 17" diameter volume and his spare didn't fit.  Being enterprising lads, we turned the steelie tire around and put it on backwards so that the rim didn't have to envelop the brakes.  We drove out of there real slow with an inside out tire and about 35mph the whole way home.  What a trainwreck.  I went from thinking I was overly prepared to being hosed twice.  At least I had cell service (barely) the second time.

I get the discount tire warranty and was very pleased to be able to use it twice within the first year of getting my tires.  Makes me feel like I got my money's worth.

[DaveMonti]

I was 20 miles up Rock Creek Road outside of Missoula one summer on a solo fly fishing trip.  I got a flat, changed it, drove about another mile, and got another.  There is NOTHING on that road for miles and miles.  Luckily, a guy and his wife came by.  I had a plug kit, and they had a compressor that plugs into the lighter socket.  We made it work and I got back to Missoula.  For about an hour I was wondering if I would have to walk a good 10 miles to find someone.  I now travel with a fully loaded tire repair kit and a compressor of my own. 

[h20hunter]

 

Cmon people....where is the Monroe hunters and some trophy pics?

[Crosshair]

It's not looking to good as of this weekend. I am sure there are some around but not where I have been. We have walked some good roads and no sign at all up to this point.

[Crosshair]

Ready to call on some people with knowledge!!!!

[Turner89]

I heard a rumor that the spring hunters can only hunt the state land this year. Is that true, or can you hunt tree farm still?

[davk]

Cmon people....where is the Monroe hunters and some trophy pics?

Seriously.  Ran across a ton of piles in a new area this weekend.  Getting itchy for Aug. 1.

[jkthomps]

I hope you guys make good on the Monroe tags. I spoke with a GW this last weekend and he mentioned this will be the last year for the Monroe spring bear tags. Make it count this year!

[h20hunter]

Sorry come again? 

[jkthomps]

He mentioned the Monroe spring bear hunt was setup to be a damage control hunt and a study showed the spring bear hunt did not help with damage control and actually had an adverse effect by having hunters scare bears into towns. He mentioned two active bear incidents in towns close to the unit involving two different bears. He mentioned more details that I can type out later. I sent an email out to WDFW to see if I can get more info on this. I will share the response when I get one.

[JakeLand]

 Ehhhh sounds a little far fetched to me  so many hunters that the bear are getting driven out of the woods and into town At this time of year there are more day hikers with kids and dogs then hunters in the woods .

[X-Force]

Overall bear population would have significantly more impact on moving bears into town than hunting pressure. 

[kckrawler]

I did find in interesting (disturbing maybe) that Spring Bear 2018 was left out of the new regs.

I sure hope you're just blowing smoke jk......

[DaveMonti]

I certainly wouldn't trust that JKThomps guy.   

[jkthomps]

Not blowing smoke... just thought I would let you guys know what the game warden said.

It wasn't just the number of hunters forcing bears into populated areas, there was a lot more to the study of the specific unit and the damage control did not do what it was intended to do.

Like I said, will post the response I get back from WDFW. Heck, maybe they will get rid of the draw all together and make it OTC spring bear. 

[jkthomps]

I certainly wouldn't trust that JKThomps guy.   

  We are going to have so much fun in Montana   

[jkthomps]

Oh, the GW did have a Karelian Bear Dog with him. Pretty amazing what these dogs can do. Just thought I would toss that out there 

[jkthomps]

This is from the current regs (page 68), so there are changes coming.

NEW! 2018 Spring Black Bear Special Permit Hunts will be announced November 2017.
Please check the WDFW web page at http://wdfw.wa.gov/ for the hunt area announcement.
Additionally, information will be provided to all vendors and licensed hunters.

WDFW is changing the timing for determining spring bear hunt areas and permit numbers. This will improve
alignment of management needs where it is most needed. Spring bear seasons are typically used to address
specific management needs, such as tree damage on industrial managed timberlands, nuisance and damage, or
to better distribute harvest. Bear seasons are assessed using trends in the percent female bears in the harvest, the
median age of harvested males and females, and total harvest.

Note: The Department will present any proposed changes to hunt areas, dates and
permits during the August Commission meeting.

[Tbar]

Not blowing smoke... just thought I would let you guys know what the game warden said.

It wasn't just the number of hunters forcing bears into populated areas, there was a lot more to the study of the specific unit and the damage control did not do what it was intended to do.

Like I said, will post the response I get back from WDFW. Heck, maybe they will get rid of the draw all together and make it OTC spring bear. 

There is relatively low damage in the area. In addition to that there has been very low harvest rates.

[jkthomps]

I just got off the phone with WDFW and DNR. WDFW advised me that the Monroe draw is controlled by DNR. I was transferred to DNR's Recreation/Conservation department and left a message for a call back. I will post back what the DNR has to say about it. 

[h20hunter]

  thx for the legwork.

[jkthomps]

thx for the legwork.

No problem. Unfortunately, I could not get a solid yes or no, but below is what I could dig up.

DNR conversation summary:
DNR does not manage the actual hunt, they manage the land/timber areas, and the DNR will make recommendations to WDFW if they need bears removed in the spring (damage control). The private land owners also make recommendations to WDFW if they need bear control to happen. The larger land owners (i.e. Tacoma Power), manage their own lands and will ask WDFW to open certain areas up for spring bear damage control. WDFW conducts studies in the area and determine how many tags each unit should receive based off of the damage, the number of bears, and the number of bears taken in the past (if/when it is/was open).

WDFW usually sets seasons in 3 year increments. 2017 is the end of the seasons that were set for the past three years (2015, 2016, 2017), and 2018 is the start of the next three years (2018, 2019, 2020). It is very possible that the Monroe spring bear hunt will be closed because the past three seasons did not prove to assist with the damage control, and the number of bears harvested during the spring season, in the Monroe unit, is relatively low on a percentage basis.

However, at this time, the season is not 100% determined to be closed. There will be opportunities for the public to make recommendations during the 2018-2020 hunting season setting process.

I was then referred to the following information on the WDFW website. http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/seasonsetting/

2018-2020 Hunting Season Setting Process

As outlined in the timeline below, there will be several opportunities for you to provide your input throughout the process. Your first opportunity to participate will be in late-June. The Department has asked for your help identifying the major issues that are important to you for the next three-year hunting season cycle.

Watch this website for regular updates on the season-setting process!  We will also be communicating via email throughout this process to hunters that have purchased a license within the last couple of years. If you have not recently purchased a hunting license, but would like to receive email notifications of news and upcoming events we encourage you to subscribe to our e-mail distribution lists.
Season Setting Timeline:

Regions Submit 3-Year Hunting Season Setting Ideas: May – June 2017

WDFW Regions submit 2018-2020 three-year Hunting Season Setting ideas.  Regional ideas will be incorporated with ideas received from the public since the last 3-year hunting season setting process.  The public will have an opportunity to submit new ideas through the public survey in mid-July through August.

Formulate Recommendations and Alternatives: July – August 2017

Members of the public will have an opportunity to give comment that would help shape the 2018-2020 hunting seasons at a series of public "open house" meetings planned by the WDFW in July and August.  Public can also provide comment online from July 14 2017 through August 31,2017.  Public comments received at the meetings and through the survey will help the Department understand the level of support for the proposed hunting regulations for 2018-20.  The Department wants to hear people's concerns, especially those that address a significant conservation or management issue.

Public Comment Period: July 14, 2017 – August 31, 2017

Public Meetings will be held from 7-9 p.m. (sign in begins at 6:30 p.m.) at the following locations:
Date   City   Address
July 25    Spokane Valley   Center Place Regional Events Center, Conference Room 110, 2426 N Discovery Place, Spokane Valley, WA 99216
July 26    Wenatchee    Wenatchee Convention Center, Fuji Rooms (lower level), 121 N. Wenatchee Avenue, Wenatchee, WA 98801
July 27    Yakima   Fair Bridge Inn, Suites & Conference Center, 1507 N. 1st Street, Yakima, WA 98901
Aug 1    Everett    Lynnwood Convention Center, 3711 196th Street SW, Lynnwood, WA 98036
Aug 2    Olympia   Red Lion Hotel, 2300 Evergreen Park Drive, Olympia, WA 98502
Aug 3   Vancouver    Heathman Lodge, Howard/Marshall Conference Room, 7801 NE Greenwood Dr., Vancouver WA 98662

Following public comment, Department staff will develop recommendations for consideration by the Fish and Wildlife Commission in March and adoption in April 2018. These recommendations will be based on the biological needs of a species and the social need of the public gathered through the comment period.

I called WDFW back and confirmed that the information I received from DNR is accurate. So, it is WDFW that manages the actual hunt and number of tags and seasons, and it is DNR and private land owners that ask for the spring seasons to be open.

What I got out of this is there is a possibility that the spring bear season will end in the Monroe unit, and there is a possibility it will not. After the conversation I had the GW, the studies that have been conducted, discussions with DNR and WDFW, and the end of the 2015 – 2017 set seasons I would not be surprised if it is closed. I recommend hunters voice their opinions at these meetings.

[DaveMonti]

WOW Jimmy, I didn't know you had that in you!
Great summary and thanks for following up!

[kckrawler]

WOW Jimmy, I didn't know you had that in you!
Great summary and thanks for following up!

  Nice of you to dig deeper into this, looks like the smoke has cleared.

It sure would be a shame if this hunt goes away though...

[Trevor91]

Come on guys we are seriously slack on getting bears on the ground! the Skagit boys are making us look bad.