Does WDFW send you any findings from the tooth you send in?

[Pete112288]

I got my first bear this last sept. to top it off, first bowkill ever as well. and first bear i have seen in person in the wild around where i hunt (southern coweeman unit) I sent in the tooth like you are supposed to. I didnt think twice about it till a few of my dad's buddies said that I should have got a letter or something giving the rough age and such of the bear. Is this true? Should I have recieved anything? I know it wasnt the reason for this post but talking about it has got me all jazzed up again. It was crazy, came out of the reprod at 18 yards and turned broadside, looked at me as I drew my bow, then went back to eating berries. it was the only spot within a quarter mile that you could have even seen more than 5 yards unobstructed. It hit, well farther foreward than i thought was good. But after reviewing bear anatomy compared to deer or elk, it was a textbook broadside shot. It was a sow without cubs, and no she wasnt pregnant either, she was big though, for a sow at least. Weighed it on a hoist before gutting it on site. She hit 212 lbs, I was always under the impression that average sows around here were 140 ish. And another bonus, she has good character with a nice size white patch on her chest. cant see it in the pic, its just under her from there.

[Ridgeratt]

Try this.


http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/tooth_age/

[Pete112288]

Oh nice, I dont know why i didnt find that myself. thank ya much

[washelkhunter]

You should receive a letter detailing the results of the assesment, mine took about 4 weeks in 2004.

[Pete112288]

New question now, how old is old for a Pacific NW area blackbear? how old is average? how old is "still young"?

[Pete112288]

I never got a letter. Does the letter have much more stats than just the approx age?

[steen]

You need to look on the site that has that info.  They don't send it in the mail anymore.  If you go on the site from your hunting license and follow to where the bear info is you will find it.  I shot one last fall and just got the info about a month ago.  Hope I'm clear enough without posting the link cause I don't know how!

[dreamunelk]

The price for aging is quite expensive for an individual tooth and goes done substantially when they send in a bunch.  I was told at one time that just sending in a single tooth cost more the $20 but when they send in a 100 or more is goes down to few bucks.  these are just estimates from a foggy memory.  Short story is they wait until they have a bunch.  In some years it could be a year or two.

[6.8mmARHunter]

Send in a human molar, or maybe one from your dog.


WDFW is just another gov agency. "Requiring" more and more "data" from us. F-them.

My 

[6.8mmARHunter]

Just kidding.

Do what is required... Follow the Law.

That is what I would do.



Peace

[D-Rock425]

I've never received a letter.

[steen]

I've never received a letter.

They don't send letters anymore. You have to look it up on the fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov site and poke around.  It will get posted when it is done.  You may have to put in your Wild Id.  I can't remember off hand.

[Ridgeratt]

Try this.


http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/tooth_age/

here we go again

[fish vacuum]

I haven't got a letter either.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Useless ....that's all I can say ... They expects us to do something for them but they can not do much for us  Told them over and over again about letting me know how old my cougar was ..never heard sheet ...same with all my bears ...never get back sheeeet 

[fish vacuum]

How long should I expect to wait for my letter?

[6.8mmARHunter]

How long should I expect to wait for my letter?

Forever...

I've never received a letter.

They don't send letters anymore. You have to look it up on the fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov site and poke around.  It will get posted when it is done.  You may have to put in your Wild Id.  I can't remember off hand.

[fish vacuum]

Do they send the tooth back with the letter?

[dreamunelk]

Do they send the tooth back with the letter?

The tooth goes to a lab where they cut it to determine age.  It is not sent back.

[Blacktail Sniper]

No letter comes back, on-line checking only for results if you submitted your WILD ID# with the tooth as stated above.  Letters haven't been sent out for quite some time.

[huntnphool]

They say Shorty's 4x3 whitetail was a year old.

[Dirty Mike]

I shot a bear in 2004 still waiting

[dreamunelk]

They say Shorty's 4x3 whitetail was a year old.

Very probable.   Antlers to not tell age in many cases.  Good enough nutrition and you get some good growth.

[ShaneTyTrey]

Cool info, I just looked up the boar I shot in Spring of 2012.  I had guessed it at 3 but turns out it was 4.

[ianwood76]

It's actually voluntary to send in a tooth. I've got little info back. When I didn't it told me that my first bear I shot was almost 17 years old!

[fish vacuum]

So will my letter come from WDFW or the lab they send the tooth to?

[ICEMAN]

So will my letter come from WDFW or the lab they send the tooth to?

 

[fish vacuum]

When they send the letter, will it have any info on the bear's overall health? Can they get that from a tooth? Seems like they could determine if the bear had any vitamin deficiencies. It would be really helpful if the letter I receive says the bear has been eating berries or garbage.

[ellensburgpo]

They do, and to save postage they also send you the winning numbers for the following weeks lottery in the same envelope and if you're really lucky Kate Uptons phone number is on the letterhead....

[fish vacuum]

Great! It would also be sweet if they could tell me the bear's favorite color so I know what color backing to put on the rug.