Spring Bear Apps

[Michelle_Nelson]

Not sure. Ive got 6 points this year and am thinking about cashing them in.......Skagit or Monroe

If I lived a bit farther North those would be the two I apply for. Good Luck!

 

[TeacherMan]

I think all the special hunt applications are earlier this year.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I have been checking the harvest reports and Copalis on the west-side has the largest harvest, do you think there is that many bear in the unit, or is it just an easier hunt? I am probably going to pick CF as my first choice and Copalis as my second. I know a guy who got 2 bear from Monroe last fall so I think that will be my 3rd I dont know about 4th.....Probably Skagit...Deadline is March 13th

[Jerome]

Is there link anywhere to see how many applied in the units last year?

[bobcat]

http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/hunter/specperm/bear.htm

[Jerome]

Thanks

[Michelle_Nelson]

Look at the number of permits that they are handing out for the area.  The larger the number of permits the fewer # of bears.  They need to hand out more permits to remove the number of bears they want.

[Houndhunter]

well i always thought it was a waste of time, because i dont think it makes it any easier to get a bear but..... i would like to be able to hunt some biggame as soon as possible so i may

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Look at the number of permits that they are handing out for the area.  The larger the number of permits the fewer # of bears.  They need to hand out more permits to remove the number of bears they want.

? I know that logic works somehow but wouldn't more permits mean they want more pressure for less bears? a large population would be the result of fewer harvested and less pressure. I know the season was instituted to reduce spring damage to trees. You will only encounter a small percentage of bears in an area, most you will never see. If there is less bear in an area why would they hand out more permits? Also Copalis has a lot of permits and a resonable success rate. Kapowsin I know has a lot of bear but a very small success rate. Are you saying that they give out more permits because the odds of success are low and they need more hunters to actually harvest a few? does the longer season and more permits reflect ability to find a bear in an area with lower densities?

[Michelle_Nelson]

Also Copalis has a lot of permits and a resonable success rate. Kapowsin I know has a lot of bear but a very small success rate. Are you saying that they give out more permits because the odds of success are low and they need more hunters to actually harvest a few?

Yes

[Michelle_Nelson]

A lot of things are taken into consideration before issuing permits.  How many bear are in the area, how hard the area is to hunt (accessibility, clear cuts, etc), what kind of hunters success they are looking for, past sucess rates, etc. 

Just because they issue a bunch of permits doesn't mean their are a lot of bear. 

[billythekidrock]

The way it was explained to me by F&G and DNR was they want a 12-15 percent success rate even in the spring bear permits. That way they don't kill too many too fast and hurt the population even in damage areas. I was also told that they don't necessarily want all the bears killed but actually just want them pressured away from the damage areas.
I have hunted the Copalis unit the last two springs and I spent a ton of time up there. I only saw a couple bears and everyone I spoke with said the same.

Here are a couple sticking points from the unit.
1. The engineers of the timber company said they didn't have a large damage problem.
2. Timber company employees talked of rampant baiting in some portions of the unit.
3. A lot of the bears killed were in the Copalis GMU, but NOT within the permit boundaries.
4. Hound hunting was going on.

But yes, typically the more permits, the fewer critters. More hunters are needed to harvest the the amount they deem right.

[WDFW-SUX]

I miss baiting

[WDFW-SUX]

Anyone ever draw the grande Ronde unit?

[elkaholic_74]

I'll be applying for Copalis #1 and Capital Forest #2 since I live next to both units.