Bear Trapping

[WAPatriot]

I would like to see the state allow bear trapping. They are a legal to harvest big game animal and are often in excess of the desired caring capacity of the land often causing dangerous human bear encounters. The large cage traps the Wdfw uses are not only affective at catching bears but also in releasing bears. This could allow for harvesting select target bears such as large boars and releasing sows and cubs. What do we need to do to be able to trap bears?

[Bigshooter]

I would like to see the state allow bear trapping. They are a legal to harvest big game animal and are often in excess of the desired caring capacity of the land often causing dangerous human bear encounters. The large cage traps the Wdfw uses are not only affective at catching bears but also in releasing bears. This could allow for harvesting select target bears such as large boars and releasing sows and cubs. What do we need to do to be able to trap bears?

Be alive 100 years ago.

[WAPatriot]

The spring tree damage permits where they allow hunting over bait should be replaced by trappers.  Also no need to waste tax dollars let private NWCO s come in when some one has a problem bear in their backyard. This would allow game wardens to be in the field more and less dealing with problem bears.  I bet the state spends close to 500,000 on problem bears.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

The spring tree damage permits where they allow hunting over bait

[X-Force]

The spring tree damage permits where they allow hunting over bait

 

[WAPatriot]

Timber companies hire guns is what I have heard in past

[HighCountryHunter88]

alot of timber companies use houndsmen since its a pretty precise way to target specific areas with bear damage, these are not hired guns by any means, they are not payed and must adhere to strict guidelines made by the state. they also have to run all over kingdom come to get the hide, gal, and meat to designated places to be turned in all on their own dime

[jackelope]

Timber companies hire guns is what I have heard in past

Pretty sure they bait bears to lure them away from specified areas and they use hounds to hunt them when applicable. Don't think anyone is trapping bears anywhere aside from WDFW's nuisance bear trapping and relocating program.

[WAPatriot]

Ya I should have known they didn't get paid. Still making me think I am in wrong career tho that sounds awesome.

I know but we should be able to trap um. Look at the money the state wastes on problem bears let the NWCO s deal with them and have a recreational season.

[winslow]

I think the reason you can't trap bears is the same as why you can't bait them or hunt them at night - it's consistently effective. Basically, the state wants to collect money for tags and keep all their bears so they can keep selling tags. (Not different than any other game species, really.)

If you could sell the same thing over and over you would, right? Well, that's what's happening. They're selling the dream of a successful hunt while cleverly reducing your odds to near zero at every chance they get. Limits on technique, place, time, and tools are getting ridiculous. Trapping in general in WA is a great example of this, too.

Possibly the most egregious example, though, is wolf hunting in ID. In 2011, ID sold 43,280 wolf tags (at $11.75 each for resident, $186 for non-residents, I believe) and only 375 wolves were harvested by hunting. Not very good odds...a 0.86% chance on average. (Not even one in a thousand!)

Sure, hunter skill and time investment have a lot to do with it, but if there isn't anything to hunt or you can't hunt when and where the animals are active, it doesn't matter how good you are or how much time you spend.

Just my thoughts.

[WAPatriot]

If anything the state would generate more revenue via making it a limited draw and participates would have to buy trapping licenses. Plus the money they would save by not having to have biologists and wardens deal with problem bears.

[Humptulips]

Right now there are a very few WCOs permitted to snare bear. It is just a handful. I don't know the exact numbers. They were certified for this work quite a few years ago like in the 70s. They are gradually disappearing through attrition due to age. USDA also snares bear.

I recently was talking to people in WDFW and they are in the beginning of coming up with a new certification program to trap bear. Likely it will take a while but they might come up with something in the next year.
Right now bears taken by trapping or hound hunting or baiting must be turned in. HighCountryHunter88 eluded to this.

The Department is getting pressure from Small Forest Land Owners and Washington State Forest Protection Association. They have also made mention they would like to see permit holders be able to keep bears taken. I think they would like this opened to a wider segment of the public in order to reduce cost.

I have made some initial inquiries about opening a cougar trapping season. Both bear and cougar are a tough sell but just so you know you are not the only one talking about it.

I'll let you know if their are any developments.

[WAPatriot]

Thank you for everything you do.  I am very interested in getting the required certification to become a licensed bear trapper. What can I do to help with this process.  Let's say I know a timber land owner who has suffered from bear damage. Who would be a good person for him to write a convincing letter to?

[Humptulips]

Thank you for everything you do.  I am very interested in getting the required certification to become a licensed bear trapper. What can I do to help with this process.  Let's say I know a timber land owner who has suffered from bear damage. Who would be a good person for him to write a convincing letter to?

Right now I would say Stephine Simek. E-mail at Stephine.Simek@dfw.wa.gov

I should mention this is right now not being considered for anything but WCOs. A general trapping season would be a much harder sell and I think not in the cards for now. Maybe you could emphasize the point about keeping the bears to reduce cost to landowners in your letter.
Then I guess we would all have to become WCOs.

[TeacherMan]

Its legal in Alaska