Why isn't Spring Bear General Season?

[h2ofowlr]

Why isn't spring bear a general season.  A May 1st-31st option?  It seems the bears are out peeling trees or getting into trash, etc and active.  It seems like it would be a good early season option at a chance at a bear with a nice coat?  It may also help out on lowering predation levels on fawning deer and elk.

[KFhunter]

$100 question right there

[madmack76]

got to remember what state we are talking about here

[D-Rock425]

No money in it for the state.

[dreamunelk]

Do you want bears in the woods to hunt?   A general season would likely cause high mortality in female bears.   Kill a female with two cubs and you have killed three.  Really would not take to many of these scenarios to severely depress the population.

[h2ofowlr]

No money in it for the state.

Only turkey to compete with.  I am sure the guys chomping at the bit to go hunting would start buying tags.  Good opportunity to learn new areas.  Cooler temps, would allow less potential spoiling of the meat.  Etc.  I am sure it has to do with the coming of the breeding season and pairing up, etc.

[jess]

I think it should be a general tag in areas that have a over population of bears that are killing lots of fawns in the spring.. In 101 last year i went with a friend that had a tag for a weekend and we seen 15 different bears in two canyons! That is way too many.. At the house here in malo we see 10+ bears every spring cruising looking for fawns when they are hitting the ground and the deer population is tanking because of it..   

[WildlifeAssassin]

That is like asking why the mule deer rut isn't a general season. They are too visible, vulnerable and down lower in areas that have high road densities. It would be a massacre.

[madmack76]

No money in it for the state.

I agree its not the money its that our wdfw sucks.

[Longbowz]

I asked that question at a WDFW season setting meeting several years ago.  The state biologists said there wasn't any reason the bear population couldn't support a general spring season in many west side units.   But I was also told "some people" wouldn't like it.  The some people they meant were the anti hunters.  Of course these people do nothing to support wildlife here but the state is still sensitive to their feelings - go figure.   

[grundy53]

I think it should be. At least on the Westside. I doubt you could even make a dent in the population over here without hounds or baiting.

sent from my typewriter

[KFhunter]

That is like asking why the mule deer rut isn't a general season. They are too visible, vulnerable and down lower in areas that have high road densities. It would be a massacre.

There is a lot of areas that need a good amount of massacring

[h2ofowlr]

I know when I had the tag last year the security guy would tell me about all the bear he was seeing.  It took me roughly 20 trips before I finally harvested my bear.

[Blacktail Sniper]

Those of you who have comented here, have you looked at the thread concerning Contract Hunting? 
Lots of interesting points and info being brought up.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,120603.45.html

Already alot of bears being killed in the spring & summer by the timber companies using contractors with hounds.   That equals a lot of missed opporunties for hunters later in the fall season because the dogs have already been running the area for several months taking bears out of the area.   

[cougarbart]

lol then enforcement would actually have to patrol at that time of year!  enforcement blew a gasket when the special cougar with hound permits where out that they had to patrol! i will guarantee you not having a spring general bear hunt has nothing to do with any kind of realistic management practice!  it all has to do with perception, cost to dept. and money!  if you could show a way how having one would put money in the depts. pocket they would be screaming about having one!

[Kc_Kracker]

is spring bear permit only? a member on here that lives in Yacolt told me they can hunt spring bear without a permit there?

[bobcat]

is spring bear permit only? a member on here that lives in Yacolt told me they can hunt spring bear without a permit there?

There is no general spring season in Washington.

[Blacktail Sniper]

is spring bear permit only? a member on here that lives in Yacolt told me they can hunt spring bear without a permit there?

Not legally.  Like bobcat said, spring bear is all by permit draw only, state wide.  Could he be taking bears off timber company property for damage control?  That happens spring and all through summer.

[ghosthunter]

I know at least in the Hamilton area that much of the bear problem is behind locked gates, in active logging areas. The timber companys just do not want that many public hunters running their roads with the trucks.

They like the permits because it limits the folks and same for the contractors.