Bear Scouting and dogs

[gallion_t]

Just a quick question. I'm planning on going and scouting an area for bears soon and was wondering if it is legal to bring my puppy with me? I know you cant use them while actually hunting but is there a time frame before the hunting that you cant have them out? You cant hunt an area for 4 weeks after baiting it, is it similar for dogs? Shes just going to be a hiking buddy for me and not actually trying to track bears or anything like that.

Thank you

[92xj]

Sounds like you're going on a hike with you pup, you might just see some wildlife on the way.

[h20hunter]

Yep...out for a walk with maybe a sidearm for personal protection.

[mfswallace]

have a nice hike and watch out for bear 

[snowshoes22]

as long as pup is not chasing wildlife there won't be an issue.

[xXLojackXx]

You're fine. Go find some bears! Now if you had a pack of hounds with you running free it would be a different story. But one dog, the WDFW won't say anything.

[halflife65]

Yeah - just hiking with a dog.  Presumably, you have no intention of having your pup chase a bear (which is probably wildlife harassment and not legal, anyway) and you're not going to shoot a bear.

(As an aside, I wonder if you poached a bear and had a dog if they could get you for both things?  Probably.)

[bobcat]

I agree with what all the others have said, but just so you know, there is no rule about waiting 4 weeks after an area has been baited. It's pretty much up to the discretion of the game warden to decide if you are guilty of hunting bears with bait or not.

[bassquatch]

Go for it!! I do it all the time with my two Jack Russell's

You are technically just hiking if the season isn't open anyway

[gallion_t]

I agree with what all the others have said, but just so you know, there is no rule about waiting 4 weeks after an area has been baited. It's pretty much up to the discretion of the game warden to decide if you are guilty of hunting bears with bait or not.

I could have sworn that there was a time limit to what is considered an active bait site. Oh well, doesn't matter for me. I don't bait anything wether it be deer, bear or the lockness monster so I'm not concerned about it. Thanks for the heads up though.

Looks like ill be out hiking next weekend.

Thanks everyone

[fillthefreezer]

how do you think it would play out if you were hiking with your dog mid august and saw a bear a shot it. your dog was on a leash and isn't a hound or anything. just opportunity presented itself? illegal?

[xXLojackXx]

No, I think most game wardens have enough sense to know that anyone hunting bears with dogs (illegally) would have a pack of hounds. Not a lab or random breed of dog. For it to be illegal, your dog would have to tree a bear or cat, and you would have to shoot it out of the tree. Besides, Ive never seen a bear thats afraid of one dog, making it less than likely that your dog would tree a bear by itself. But i guess ya never know.

[muzbuster]

No, I think most game wardens have enough sense to know that anyone hunting bears with dogs (illegally) would have a pack of hounds. Not a lab or random breed of dog. For it to be illegal, your dog would have to tree a bear or cat, and you would have to shoot it out of the tree. Besides, Ive never seen a bear thats afraid of one dog, making it less than likely that your dog would tree a bear by itself. But i guess ya never know.

Was told by 2 different game wardens that it doesn't matter what breed of dog it is, if you are hunting bears & have a dog with you...... you are illegally hunting bears with a dog! 
 

[billythekidrock]

No, I think most game wardens have enough sense to know that anyone hunting bears with dogs (illegally) would have a pack of hounds. Not a lab or random breed of dog. For it to be illegal, your dog would have to tree a bear or cat, and you would have to shoot it out of the tree. Besides, Ive never seen a bear thats afraid of one dog, making it less than likely that your dog would tree a bear by itself. But i guess ya never know.

Was told by 2 different game wardens that it doesn't matter what breed of dog it is, if you are hunting bears & have a dog with you...... you are illegally hunting bears with a dog! 
 

Been told the same.

Also, a site member was harrassed by WDFW because he was near a bear trap with a dog kennel in the back of his rig.

[Bob33]

If you have a dog with you while hunting bear, you will likely be cited.

 http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=77.15.245

".. it is unlawful to hunt or pursue black bear, cougar, bobcat, or lynx with the aid of a dog or dogs."