who's hunting bears Thursday?

[fastdam]

Thursday after work its on!

[snowpack]

tempted....found more sign than could hope for the other day and it was in the mid 40's in the morning.  But it's also supposed to rain a little and the summer steelies are poised to make it to the traps.  Decisions....

[Smossy]

I think its harder to find a bear in some places then to find the berry's they eat on lol

[CedarPants]

Does anybody happen to know the reasoning behind the varying dates for the season opener?  I've always wondered, especially over here on the dry side but never really knew.

August 1st in the East Cascades and Columbia Basin, not until August 15th in the units near Spokane, then not until September 1st everywhere else north and south.

[bearpaw]

It's all due to management within wdfw. I don't think there is any biological data supporting not opening earlier now that hounds and bait are not used.

[luvmystang67]

I have to go fishing in Ketchikan with my girlfriend, so I cannot make it.  Monday after work though... i'm putting down a small bear for an easy pack.

[h20hunter]

Stang....you heading up the hill where you saw the two wee ones?

[CedarPants]

It's all due to management within wdfw. I don't think there is any biological data supporting not opening earlier now that hounds and bait are not used.

Thanks Dale - ya that is the part I've tried finding info on .... biological reasoning for the varying dates.  Can't locate anything.

[D-Rock425]

Stang ain't killing nothing besides a few keystones.

[Buckmark]

Not me, thinkin about just not hunting at all this year....tired of going solo....

[snowpack]

It's all due to management within wdfw. I don't think there is any biological data supporting not opening earlier now that hounds and bait are not used.

I would think that they probably have some historical data like # days/kill/hunter and then try to predict number of animals they want killed, then use those to give a rough number of days and it is probably close to the seasons they set.  On the coast our season is 1 Aug to 15 Nov and they let you take two, so they give a good chunk of season to get it done.  (A lot of it is for killing tree farm bears).  I think in parts of Eastside they only allow one bear and have seasons run a bit shorter, might not have the tree farms lobbying to kill the additional bears.
Maybe they vary the start dates the way they do so that it gets closer to deer/elk season and they hope hunters will be more focused on deer/elk and let more bears pass.  But, yeah, I don't know why they don't all open at the same time, but in that case they would have to close some earlier to keep same number of days in the season.

[wt]

I'll be out before light Thursday, and so will my five year old if hes been a good boy.

[D-Rock425]

Not me, thinkin about just not hunting at all this year....tired of going solo....

is that a plea for a partner?  I'll go with you.

[Critter Ritter]

I Will be out first thing in the morning.

[memmons]

Not me, thinkin about just not hunting at all this year....tired of going solo....

is that a plea for a partner?  I'll go with you.

If anyone is looking for a partner I would be willing to go