Decision on proposed hunting safety related changes in Washington

[Dmanmastertracker]

 There has been a lot of talk on this and a lot of letters sent off, the only thing that seems clear is everyone has a different opinion.

[boneaddict]

Can you be more specific D-man....do you mean age requirements llike 14 or 16, or what

[Dmanmastertracker]

 Right, I would define new regulations as the proposed age restriction bill that would become part of the WAC. Non -regulatory would be thing's like posted info at trail heads.

[boneaddict]

Thanks.  I voted

[bowhuntin]

I think the proposal by the WDFW to close bearing hunting during august is a bad move and there is no reason to do so. The change in the age for a hunter now must be supervised under the age of 14 doesn't bother me, but I think it is just a move to appease the public because of what happened was highly publicized. A responsible parent that is taking their kid hunting is going to be near by and others will do what they want to do regardless of what the law says. They should just leave the safety related changes alone IMO. Hunting is already proven to be one of the safest sports out there and will continue to be regardless of any changes made to regulations to try and make it safer.

[PacificNWhunter]

Voted

[Dmanmastertracker]

Guess we know where you stand.  New regulations and education..........1vote

They already know what they are going to do.  You're letters are going directly to a shredder.

 As far as no decision being made, clearly one has not been made yet, but the decision to make a change has been made, you need only read up on the GOV's and Legislature's latest comment's, as well as the DFW's.

 It would be good to see also for those voting for any kind of change, what that change would be.

[Dmanmastertracker]

 Sorry Sisu, had to add that one....

[Dmanmastertracker]

 For the record also, my proposed changes are:

 1. Keep all highly used areas open to archery bear hunting 7 days per week during archery season and rifle hunting during the week/ hiking weekends only during rifle season.

 2. Require proof af vision exam off WSDL, or exam certificate for all hunter's purchasing a license.

 3. trail head information on season's and safety practices.

[FrankDown]

Someone one another board suggested that on the back of or in addition to the hunting license there be an agreement about safety that several safety issues be checked off and then that is signed as a refresher every year to the safety code.  And the license wouldnt be valid unless it was signed and initialed in the safety rules area.

I think that the actions of one person shouldnt change everything for everyone.

We will lose this I will say.  We as hunters will lose because we arent pro active, and we dont stand together. 

We wont have August bear because of one persons actions.  At this rate if the antis just shot someone every month we'd have nothing to do.

[Dmanmastertracker]

"We wont have August bear because of one persons actions"

 I really believe the only reason for that the "all or nothing" attitude. I think there is room for and an open ear to proposed compromise, unfortunately too many hunter's refuse to do that. They'd rather risk losing it all by insisting there be no change, for me, I'd rather work out a compromise and keep hunting going.....

 I would also add that one fatality is nothing to take lightly, whether it seems "unfair" or not, to the masses. Two fatalities in 2008 and other folks shot (hunter on hunter) are just indicative of greater interaction issues, this I can tell you not just from all my previous hunting seasons, but in this year alone, I had a hiker literally follow me into the woods to scare away game and additionally, I was shot at again, for about the 4th-5th time in my life by an irresponsible target shooter. I am getting tired of it, I had no idea if someone was shooting at me intentionally or not this year and with all the illegal grows going on, well I feel like I constantly have to defend myself out there. It doesn't have to be that way and anyone who is not bothered by those types of thing's I can't relate to. If folks haven't had the misfortune in experiencing those negatives, they are truly lucky, they are becoming too common. It seems other more quality big-game States have more sound regulations than we do here, regarding different types of users.

[boneaddict]

You are niave to think the other side feels the way you do.   They have their agenda, we have ours.  Compromise an inch, they will take a mile.  Thats alot of the reason the NRA fights the fight that they do.

[dreamingbig]

Here is my compromise.  Require all hikers in August to wear Hunter's Orange on public land where bear season is open!  Simple and easy solution.  There aren't any orange bears and it seems to work during hunting season, off trail.

[Dmanmastertracker]

 "the other side"

 What side is that? Nearly all polls show most non-hunters are indifferent to hunting and aren't bothered by it. Now, on the other hand, failing to regulate ourselves is the biggest danger to negatively influencing others opinions.

[Dmanmastertracker]

 Here is an article from BC on the increasing public support on bear hunting. Keep in mind only 12-18% of BC resident's hunt bear.

 



"BRITISH COLUMBIANS SAY HUNTING OF BLACK BEARS
SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE

Survey Question No. 1          Survey Question No. 2


The most recent public opinion research conducted province-wide in British Columbia shows that a majority of British Columbians believe black bear hunting should be allowed to continue.

In specific questions about black bear hunting, the research shows that more British Columbians believe that black bear hunting should be allowed to continue than those that don't, and the acceptability level increases to an even higher level when they realize all the regulations that are in place that must be followed by hunters. It increases again when they are provided with information about the number of bear/human complaints.

When asked directly, 56% of British Columbians surveyed across the province support black bear hunting versus 40% who said they did not (4% had no opinion). Support for bear hunting ranges from 48% in the Vancouver area to 57% on Vancouver Island to 76% in the north central part of the province where people live in close proximity to the bears.

The level of support for hunting black bears has continued to increase in every public opinion survey conducted since 1997. The expressed level of support of black bear hunting increases with the amount of information provided"