How about UNCLE TED Baiting Bear in WA

[Geno]

One point about not having hounds chase bear, is that as a hunter without dogs, I feel like I may have a better chance on foot. I am not studied with numbers regarding success rates or saturation of bear, but I just feel like I have a better chance without the hound hunters in the woods. This is just an opinion.

On the other hand, as stated often here, we need to circle the wagons together on hunting issues. You help me, I help you. Our enemy on this one, and other issues like it, is the non-hunting public. Somehow, we need to convince them to support our causes....

+1
 Most of the hunters I know feel this way

[littletoes]

I've never hunted with hounds, nor over bait, but as an American, I just hate losing another "Right".
I see it as another nail in the coffin....and eventually they will be done nailin' if you can get what I mean.....


Tell me this.....are you "ok" with folks using dogs for bird hunting....then tell me what the differance is?!? It just doesn't fit into "Your" little world to hunt bear with dogs? Is that it? There just wasn't THAT many bear/dog hunters out there, but they got "US" to split up, and vote against each other, didn't they?? MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

Sure hope some of you are smart enough to get that last statement.....

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

And for anyone out there who doesn't like a particular method of hunting, I have two suggestions:1. Try it before you criticize.  Early in my hunting career I too was personally against baiting until I spent a month trying it and found that it's not easy, bears are always unpredictable and will go cold on a bait in an instant.  I have not run cats with hounds (yet), but know far too many who have to know that it is tireless, exhausting endeavor that often ends without a shot.  Bottom line, if YOU don't like it, then choose not to do it.2. Think about the big picture with how you vote.  I choose to hunt with a bow because that's my preference and fits my view and satisfaction of hunting, but I'll fight to my grave for the rights of gun hunters because in the end, it's not about ME; it's about HUNTING as a whole.   :WE really need to quit pissing on each others shoes or NONE of us are going to be able to hunt unless it is high fence hunting, and I would move to Canada first.

[bankwalker]

Whatever... to each their own...

Josh, I'll agree with you on the "to each their own" part.  People like you is the reason why the stupid initiative passed.  If you don't want to hunt a certain way then don't.  But hunting with hounds and baiting bears were two great ways for harvesting bears and many people liked doing it.

I couldn't understand all those people voting for the ban.................just because they didn't want to hunt that way why should they restrict others from it?

it would be the same as modern firearm hunters trying to get archery, and muzzlers banned because they feel it leads to more wounded animals.