Author Topic: Cover Scents & Attractants for Bears (Read 14958 times)

billythekidrock · « **Reply #1 on:** July 28, 2007, 06:45:06 AM »

Hey Fos....Getting close to your WA trip..
This years regs do not mention it, but in the past it stated that bait ment food or attractent, natural or manmade.
A couple years after the bait/hound ban I asked a gammie the same question and he told me that cover scents were ok, attractants were not. If it represents a food source it would be illegal. So I had another question for him.
Since I mostly call for bears in elk areas I like to use a cow call and a elk cover scent wafer. Would this be legal?

He stated that as far as he was concerned that would be against the law, as the cover scent and calls represent a food source. He also said it may be a judgement call by other officers.

I still use the coverscent wafers on my hat depending on the area and how I want to hunt.. Do not hang them from a tree/bush, etc. This could be considered baiting.

If you guys stay on the flat (where I met you and the area where you camp) I would use them. The wind usually is steady, but it can swirl a bit. If you guys are going back up to the other unit that you hunt, I wouldn't worry to much about it. Usually the thermals will keep your scent away.

Machias · « **Reply #2 on:** July 28, 2007, 08:38:24 AM »

Here's what you do, pack a bivy sack and a fold up chair and a stove. Go to your calling sites and setup "camp". Then do your honey or bacon burn "breakfast, lunch or dinner" depending on the time. Then shoot your "camp" bear when he comes in.

That guy is full of it if he is saying calling and cover scents equal baiting. I'll call WDFW HQ on Monday. Baiting has to be something the bear can eat, plastic wafers are NOT a food item, just becasue your adding the audio signal doesn't change that fact. So, if you step out of your car and you are eating an apple or have a sandwich in your posession, according to this guy you can be charged. BS!

billythekidrock · « **Reply #3 on:** July 28, 2007, 09:06:24 AM »

Quote

That guy is full of it if he is saying calling and cover scents equal baiting. I'll call WDFW HQ on Monday. Baiting has to be something the bear can eat, plastic wafers are NOT a food item, just becasue your adding the audio signal doesn't change that fact. So, if you step out of your car and you are eating an apple or have a sandwich in your posession, according to this guy you can be charged. BS!

I agree, but that is what he told me. The wafers could be construed as an attractant and that would be illegal.

Straight from the Initiative.
(d) As used in this subsection, "bait" means a substance placed,
exposed, deposited, distributed, scattered, or otherwise used for the
purpose of attracting black bears to an area where one or more persons
hunt or intend to hunt them.

I choose to wear them as a cover scent to mask my odor and I use cow/calf/fawn vocalizations to cover the noise I make while moving through the woods. But any over zealous fish cop could make a case that I was "distributing an attractant" by doing so.

Remember, it is the interpretation of the law by the officer that gets you a ticket and you have to prove you did nothing wrong...isn't that how it works now days?

Let me know what you find out and make sure to get names.

billythekidrock · « **Reply #4 on:** July 28, 2007, 12:19:02 PM »

Fos - Though the land you hunted last time is owned/managed by DNR, you will want to contact the Fish & Wildlife dept concerning game laws.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/

Machias · « **Reply #5 on:** July 28, 2007, 04:58:58 PM »

I wasn't doubting you Billythekidrock.

Best way is to send e-mails and then keep the responses for future court dates

billythekidrock · « **Reply #6 on:** July 28, 2007, 06:04:16 PM »

Quote from: Machias on July 28, 2007, 04:58:58 PM

I wasn't doubting you Billythekidrock.

Best way is to send e-mails and then keep the responses for future court dates

Didn't think you were.
Great advice on the email.

billythekidrock · « **Reply #7 on:** July 28, 2007, 06:05:14 PM »

Quote from: FOsteology on July 28, 2007, 05:27:18 PM

E-mails have already been sent out to the directors office, enforcement office, regional office, and fish and wildlife commission for clarification.

Great.. looking forward to the response.

WDFW Hates ME!!! · « **Reply #8 on:** July 28, 2007, 07:29:01 PM »

Isn't bear hunting illegal... Cause technically arn't we bait???

ICEMAN · « **Reply #9 on:** July 28, 2007, 08:12:13 PM »

WDFW Hates Me, you are a genious. Why the heck didn't I think of this before. Skrew hiking all over hill and dale to try to find a bear to shoot, I am going to set up a lawn chair looking over one of those bearproof food boxes at a backcountry state campground I know. Why didn't I think of this before? Think how much gas and exertion you have just saved me. Thank you !

high country · « **Reply #10 on:** July 28, 2007, 09:45:42 PM »

I read an article a bit ago where a guy, perhaps even a guide (memory failure) here in wa was sighted for baitng. at his trial he was found innocent because the hound hunting and bear baiting were written on the same bill which is unconstitutional in wa.......some one will know about this.

WDFW Hates ME!!! · « **Reply #11 on:** July 28, 2007, 10:29:16 PM »

Ice, that is what i was thinking...
If i could put up with the smell i would just fill my pockets with rotten shad. Are they going to arrest me for using myself as bait???

billythekidrock · « **Reply #12 on:** July 29, 2007, 06:25:51 PM »

Quote from: WDFW Hates ME!!! on July 28, 2007, 10:29:16 PM

Ice, that is what i was thinking...
If i could put up with the smell i would just fill my pockets with rotten shad. Are they going to arrest me for using myself as bait???

Uh, excuse me sir.. Is that you or do I smell shad?

littletoes · « **Reply #13 on:** July 29, 2007, 07:29:11 PM »

Funny, but I asked the same questions of the wardens over here. I was told that electronic calls are LEGAL for bear, that ALL attractents are ILLEGAL.

Wish they would get this stuff straight!!!
Like said elsewere (and this realy pisses me off!) THE SUBJECT OF THE LAW IS UP TO THE WARDEN ON SIGHT!

HORSE-HOCKY.
Thats why we have lawyers, 'cause none of us can interpret it!

billythekidrock · « **Reply #14 on:** July 29, 2007, 07:50:59 PM »

As of right now electronics are legal for bears (and elk) but not deer, waterfowl or turkey.

Curly · « **Reply #15 on:** July 29, 2007, 08:03:17 PM »

It sounds like Jefferson County would be the place to go bear hunting this year. Just bring your twinkies, cocoa puffs, frosted flakes, and honey nut cheerios............

You might be able to bait a bear in. You probably want to be willing to get a ticket and take it to court too, though.

billythekidrock · « **Reply #16 on:** July 30, 2007, 08:24:56 PM »

Fos - What region? Was this the whole response? Can you message me the whole thing, including any tagline or names? I would love to laminate it and keep it in my pack.

billythekidrock · « **Reply #17 on:** July 30, 2007, 08:44:58 PM »

Fos - Good request. I would be surprised if they actually sent you a list or named cover sents.
The Monte office is region 6.

WDFW Hates ME!!! · « **Reply #18 on:** July 30, 2007, 08:48:30 PM »

Sweet, so now i can strap slabs of salmon to my legs and go for a hike...As long as i do not intend to attract anything. I can defend my right to wear salmon filets in the woods...

billythekidrock · « **Reply #19 on:** July 30, 2007, 09:08:14 PM »

Quote

I was surprised that whomever fielded my inquiry failed to identify them self. Very unprofessional.

Yes, I was a bit surprised as well.

Machias · « **Reply #20 on:** July 30, 2007, 10:33:43 PM »

You guys realize it is NOT illegal to bait lions.

billythekidrock · « **Reply #21 on:** July 31, 2007, 05:30:32 AM »

Quote from: Machias on July 30, 2007, 10:33:43 PM

You guys realize it is NOT illegal to bait lions.

Same for coyotes

sisu · « **Reply #22 on:** July 31, 2007, 05:48:05 AM »

Hell, just buy some honey shampoo, and some bacon drippin' after shave

and you'll do fine on the bear hunt.

As for deer species use some apple shampoo with an apple after shave.

Actually I keep my hunting clothes outside during the season, and I try to find as many cow pies and road apples as I can to walk in in and out of a hunt to cover my foot scent ( I have stinky feet

) I've tried the scent removal stuff and don't know if it works or not. I've had deer walk up to me with and without it.

ICEMAN · « **Reply #23 on:** July 31, 2007, 06:14:36 AM »

Quote from: billythekidrock on July 31, 2007, 05:30:32 AM

Quote from: Machias on July 30, 2007, 10:33:43 PM
You guys realize it is NOT illegal to bait lions.

Same for coyotes

So how does this work...? "Yes officer, I was coyote hunting with bait, and this bear came in, I shot it..."

Machias · « **Reply #24 on:** July 31, 2007, 10:45:05 AM »

No that part would be illegal, you'd have to take photos only, no shooting a bear over bait.

STIKNSTRINGBOW · « **Reply #25 on:** January 18, 2009, 01:45:17 PM »

What about if you are down the trail a piece?

billythekidrock · « **Reply #26 on:** January 18, 2009, 01:49:31 PM »

Quote from: STIKNSTRINGBOW on January 18, 2009, 01:45:17 PM

What about if you are down the trail a piece?

I have a pretty good idea that a citation would be issued if you were hunting on a trail that led to a bait pile.

STIKNSTRINGBOW · « **Reply #27 on:** January 18, 2009, 02:00:20 PM »

I was only joking, but still, what about "plausable deniability" or does that only work for politicians?

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Author Topic: Cover Scents & Attractants for Bears (Read 14958 times)

sisu

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