Changes to Spring Bear season - WE HAVE A SPONSOR!!!

[huntingcl]

tag

[6haase6]

Would that apple blocks designed for deer that have the plastic hanging loop in them be legal in this? From the way I read it no unless you broke it up and got the loop out? Just curious.

[lokidog]

Would that apple blocks designed for deer that have the plastic hanging loop in them be legal in this? From the way I read it no unless you broke it up and got the loop out? Just curious.

Really?   

This sounds like potential good news, keep us posted.

[Cap.Silver]

I admire your perseverance Blacktail sniper and thank you for the good work .

[Blacktail Sniper]

Thanks everyone!!!

The number is HB 1838, introduced by Rep. Drew MacEwen. 

Link to bill:

http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2015-16/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1838.pdf


Now is the time to start calling, emailing, writing your local Representatives and Senators and ask them to vote in favor of HB 1838.

[Blacktail Sniper]

All related threads are updated with link to bill....

Here we go!!!!!!!!!

[Blacktail Sniper]

so do you think that if this passes and permit holders can bait thus increasing their success rate would be cause for fish and game to lower permits available? dont they come up with how many permits to offer based on hunter success rate? low success rate high number of permits in order to kill the target amount of bears?

im all for baiting, its just a question ive been pondering

Generally, I think that the largest impact will be on the hound hunters who have enjoyed running their dogs all summer long these past almost 20 years since the ban was voted in.  The spring damage hunts are more about mitigating property damage more so than overall population control. 

More successful spring hunters, less need for summer hound hunts, not going to make the hound hunters happy, but just seems more fair and balanced to me. 

Don't get me wrong, it is not intended to replace the use of hounds during the summer, as I am sure some will not want to or believe in using bait, some will not do it right and not be successful, etc.

Just trying to level the playing field a bit and give something back to the sportsmen & sportsladies that are restricted buy the current law to boot hunting only in one form or another.

[Blacktail Sniper]

Rep MacEwen's office just informed me the public hearing is set for Feb 10th @ 10:00, House Hearing Rm B, John L O'Brian building. 

As many able to stop in, it sucks it is during the day, but it is when it is, that would be willing and able to show support would be great.

Hope to see some of you there, and if you haven't already, contact your local area lawmakers and ask for theirvsupport.  We are close, let's see if we can finish it off!

Thanks all, Dennis ""Blacktail Sniper."

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

 

[Man Tracker]

Congrats BTS for all your hard work.  A spring baiting season to help reduce damage is a great way to harvest some bear AND help the timber companies.  I found most timber companies (in Region 4 at least) had more damage than they realized, but several were reluctant to allow the use of hounds to deal with the damage issue.  Hopefully more areas would open to hunting w/bait under this proposal?  Baiting and hunting in a stand of damaged trees should hopefully target peeling bear and have the potential to be more beneficial than hounds that may or may not target "peelers".  But a word of caution, an increased success rate (if that happens) could lead to a smaller number of permits as biologists are concerned about the total number of bears removed from some areas.  The private timber companies who feed bear in the spring could potentially save some $$ by have hunters bait as opposed to buying feed.  That would be a win/win for everyone.  In a normal year, bear quit peeling by July 1 as other food sources come on line.  DFW quits giving damage permits for hounds at this time.  (or at least they did)

[huntnnw]

way I read it this will not include NE WA or the Blues?

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

I would think theyd do it for all spring areas.  Atleast give the option.

[Netminder01]

tag

[bigtex]

And some bad news.

The fiscal note (how much does this bill cost) was released today by the Office of Financial Management (OFM).

Under the bill WDFW MAY not must, will, shall, etc issue the bear bait permits.

According to the fiscal note issued by OFM, WDFW will NOT issue bait permits. However, if the "may" is turned into another word (basically forcing the hand of WDFW) then obviously permits will have to be issued.

"Section 2(1) allows the Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to issue bait station permits and to assess a fee
of $10 per permit.

With the bill’s permissive language, WDFW would not implement the bait station permits.  If, however, the bill
specified narrower situations in which black bear baiting were allowed by permit, WDFW would implement the
program.  In that case, WDFW estimates that 55 permits would be issued each year, resulting in cash receipts of
$605: $550 for the permit and $55 for the transaction fee.  Costs would be approximately $22,000 in the first
year, and $11,000 each year thereafter."

https://fortress.wa.gov/binaryDisplay.aspx?package=39287

[bigtex]

way I read it this will not include NE WA or the Blues?

If this bill were to take effect only the following spring bear hunts would be eligible for baiting:

-North Skagit
-Monroe
-Copalis
-Kapowsin

The reasoning is the bill only allows for spring damage hunts to be eligible for the baiting permit. Under the proposed big game hunting laws, those 4 areas are the only damage hunts.