I pulled a 113 Spring Bear tag!!!!!!!

[quadrafire]

 

Just wondering if anyone knew why there are no tags for that unit??

[Expedition Scout]

I believe because it is a griz recovery area.

[gun-dog]

Supposedly there are a thriving population of grizzlies in 113.  Everyone who lives up here has a "I saw a grizzly" story.  I personally have been all over 113 and seen a lot of black bears, some light brown color phase bears, but I have never seen a grizzly.  I think it is a myth, kind of like the myth that there are no wolves in the blues.   

[Expedition Scout]

I don't know about thriving? But there are a few. I have first hand experience with this. They roam between WA, ID and Canada in their home range.

[gun-dog]

You're right, thriving might not have been the best word for it, little bit of a hyperbole.  I was just being sarcastic which is difficult to convey using a computer.  Hahaha. Hopefully I will see one of these grizzlies.  I have been up looking for the caribou, but no luck yet. 

[Expedition Scout]

A friend of mine sent me a picture of them from BC off Crowsnest trail (Hwy 3). Bull and a few cows. From what I understand of their home range in Wa, you would need to hike into the NE corner, maybe off off Shedroof divide or Salmo Basin. The only issue is being there when they are.

[buglebrush]

Supposedly there are a thriving population of grizzlies in 113.  Everyone who lives up here has a "I saw a grizzly" story.  I personally have been all over 113 and seen a lot of black bears, some light brown color phase bears, but I have never seen a grizzly.  I think it is a myth, kind of like the myth that there are no wolves in the blues.   

I have come across several Grizzlies up there.  Definitely have no desire to come across more 

A friend of mine sent me a picture of them from BC off Crowsnest trail (Hwy 3). Bull and a few cows. From what I understand of their home range in Wa, you would need to hike into the NE corner, maybe off off Shedroof divide or Salmo Basin. The only issue is being there when they are.

Except they spend almost all their time in Canada, and when they are in the states it is Idaho more than WA. 

[huntnnw]

but yet its open in the fall for OTC bear...more crap from WDFW 

[Expedition Scout]

Not that I'm going to side one way or the other... but bear breeding season is from May to June/July (spring bear season). You have a species with a low population density that, according to species conservation, needs all the help it an get to increase the population, which is what they (WDFW) desire. It was most likely considered that the number of people running around the area hunting would adversely affect breeding. Hence it is closed in the spring and open in the fall.

[jasnt]

Not that I'm going to side one way or the other... but bear breeding season is from May to June/July (spring bear season). You have a species with a low population density that, according to species conservation, needs all the help it an get to increase the population, which is what they (WDFW) desire. It was most likely considered that the number of people running around the area hunting would adversely affect breeding. Hence it is closed in the spring and open in the fall.

i have not seen any shortage of bear in 113. It may not have the numbers 117 has but there are plenty of bear IMO.  I also don't see a spring bear season being pressured enough to upset the breeding season since they control how many tags are issued.
To be fair I only hunt the kings lake /skookum's area of 113

[Expedition Scout]

Not that I'm going to side one way or the other... but bear breeding season is from May to June/July (spring bear season). You have a species with a low population density that, according to species conservation, needs all the help it an get to increase the population, which is what they (WDFW) desire. It was most likely considered that the number of people running around the area hunting would adversely affect breeding. Hence it is closed in the spring and open in the fall.

i have not seen any shortage of bear in 113. It may not have the numbers 117 has but there are plenty of bear IMO.  I also don't see a spring bear season being pressured enough to upset the breeding season since they control how many tags are issued.
To be fair I only hunt the kings lake /skookum's area of 113

I would agree as long as we are talking black bears, however we were discussing grizzly bears. So the response is to say that a spring bear season (for black bears) maybe enough disruption during the bear breeding season (taking into account grizzlies are breeding also) to cause WDFW to not offer any tags for that unit, but still offer OTC bear fall tags during a time when the breeding season is completed.

This has nothing to do with the black bear population which I agree is very high, only to provide an answer for (huntnnw) why there is a OTC fall hunt and no spring tag in 113.

117 and 111 both have been known to have grizzlies through the area, but not a population or listed as a grizzly recovery area.

[buglebrush]

Not that I'm going to side one way or the other... but bear breeding season is from May to June/July (spring bear season). You have a species with a low population density that, according to species conservation, needs all the help it an get to increase the population, which is what they (WDFW) desire. It was most likely considered that the number of people running around the area hunting would adversely affect breeding. Hence it is closed in the spring and open in the fall.

What possible effect could a spring bear season have on Grizzly Breeding?  I cannot fathom this.  Doesn't hurt it any in Idaho.  Just more moronic management from our state.   

[Expedition Scout]

Simply trying to provide an answer where one wasn't readily available. Didn't claim it wasn't moronic or bad management. 

[jasnt]

Not that I'm going to side one way or the other... but bear breeding season is from May to June/July (spring bear season). You have a species with a low population density that, according to species conservation, needs all the help it an get to increase the population, which is what they (WDFW) desire. It was most likely considered that the number of people running around the area hunting would adversely affect breeding. Hence it is closed in the spring and open in the fall.

i have not seen any shortage of bear in 113. It may not have the numbers 117 has but there are plenty of bear IMO.  I also don't see a spring bear season being pressured enough to upset the breeding season since they control how many tags are issued.
To be fair I only hunt the kings lake /skookum's area of 113

I would agree as long as we are talking black bears, however we were discussing grizzly bears. So the response is to say that a spring bear season (for black bears) maybe enough disruption during the bear breeding season (taking into account grizzlies are breeding also) to cause WDFW to not offer any tags for that unit, but still offer OTC bear fall tags during a time when the breeding season is completed.

This has nothing to do with the black bear population which I agree is very high, only to provide an answer for (huntnnw) why there is a OTC fall hunt and no spring tag in 113.

117 and 111 both have been known to have grizzlies through the area, but not a population or listed as a grizzly recovery area.

i see what your saying.  I hope your wrong.  I hope wdfw is not taking away opertunitys away from hunters just to maybe not interrupt the growth of one more apex predator in NE.  113 has way too many predators. One of the reasons I spend so much time there, hunting predators.

[huntnnw]

Better close it to all the hikers in the salmo priest wilderness and turkey season with that logic

[huntnnw]

Not that I'm going to side one way or the other... but bear breeding season is from May to June/July (spring bear season). You have a species with a low population density that, according to species conservation, needs all the help it an get to increase the population, which is what they (WDFW) desire. It was most likely considered that the number of people running around the area hunting would adversely affect breeding. Hence it is closed in the spring and open in the fall.

What possible effect could a spring bear season have on Grizzly Breeding?  I cannot fathom this.  Doesn't hurt it any in Idaho.  Just more moronic management from our state.   

 

not to include that giant rugged wilderness area that so many spring bear tag holders would venture into

[Expedition Scout]

Not that I'm going to side one way or the other... but bear breeding season is from May to June/July (spring bear season). You have a species with a low population density that, according to species conservation, needs all the help it an get to increase the population, which is what they (WDFW) desire. It was most likely considered that the number of people running around the area hunting would adversely affect breeding. Hence it is closed in the spring and open in the fall.

i have not seen any shortage of bear in 113. It may not have the numbers 117 has but there are plenty of bear IMO.  I also don't see a spring bear season being pressured enough to upset the breeding season since they control how many tags are issued.
To be fair I only hunt the kings lake /skookum's area of 113

I would agree as long as we are talking black bears, however we were discussing grizzly bears. So the response is to say that a spring bear season (for black bears) maybe enough disruption during the bear breeding season (taking into account grizzlies are breeding also) to cause WDFW to not offer any tags for that unit, but still offer OTC bear fall tags during a time when the breeding season is completed.

This has nothing to do with the black bear population which I agree is very high, only to provide an answer for (huntnnw) why there is a OTC fall hunt and no spring tag in 113.

117 and 111 both have been known to have grizzlies through the area, but not a population or listed as a grizzly recovery area.

i see what your saying.  I hope your wrong.  I hope wdfw is not taking away opertunitys away from hunters just to maybe not interrupt the growth of one more apex predator in NE.  113 has way too many predators. One of the reasons I spend so much time there, hunting predators.

I hope I'm wrong as well, but they have increasing road closures, no spring bear tag, most of the area is listed grizzly recovery area, and no one (Forest Service / WDFW) has provided a better response to the situation. Attached is the endangered species list for Washington State on the grizzly bear; read the third page under limiting factors and you will see the reasons decisions are made; one being human disturbances.

I have to deal with the National Environmental Policy Act on a daily basis and can almost guarantee that under the NEPA study for grizzly bears, spring hunting was discussed, because that is the law to engage all aspects. Once an aspect is listed under NEPA as "may affect" it needs to be studied to find out if that is true and to what extent. Most of the time the study is not completed elsewhere to reference and there is no budget to complete a study and/or its except able to avoid the situation all together that would cause the need for a study.... or no spring bear hunting.

[huntnnw]

yet every state with grizzly population has a spring season and fall