My email to the WDFW regarding the closure of public lands to bear hunting

[bobcat]

This is my note to the WDFW objecting to the closure of public lands to bear hunting in August. I tried to keep it fairly short and to the point. I think the longer letters most likely don't get read beyond the first or second paragraphs. If anybody wants to copy it or plagiarize parts of it, feel free!

I’m just writing a quick note to make the WDFW aware that I am strongly opposed to the closure of public lands to bear hunting during the month of August. This proposal makes absolutely no sense. I realize it is being proposed due to the terrible accident in which the 14 year old bear hunter shot and killed an innocent hiker on a popular hiking trail. But closing ALL public lands in the month of August is not the answer. I would rather see a minimum age to hunt without adult supervision of 16 or even 18 years old, for big game animals. I have been hunting here in Washington for 30 years and I started at the age of 11. I wouldn’t necessarily call myself an avid bear hunter but I do enjoy having the opportunity to get out in the woods in the month of August before other hunting seasons begin just on the chance that I may see a bear. I hunt many different areas in the state and almost all are public lands, including state lands managed by the WDFW and the DNR, and also National Forest lands. There is very little bear hunting opportunity in August on private lands. Much of the private timberlands will be closed to public entry that time of year due to high fire danger. Anyway I don’t want to waste your time but just want to let you know this proposal is definitely the wrong way to try to prevent accidents like this from happening again. I find it hard to believe that if this proposal goes through that it will not eventually be extended into the month of September and then possibly October. You may as well shut down hunting season completely then, if the feeling is that hikers and hunters cannot coexist in the same areas at the same times. I know when I go looking for a bear in August I avoid all popular hiking areas. There are millions of acres of public lands that get little to no use from hikers throughout the entire summer. These are the places I hunt, and most other hunters I know. Please come up with some other solution to the “problem” that in my mind doesn’t even exist. Like I said a minimum age to hunt big game without adult supervision would be the most logical to me. Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope you will take my thoughts on this matter into consideration.

[actionshooter]

Thanks for writing a letter.

 I went to the Portland Sports show tonight and saw the WDFW booth. I asked if this is where I could bitch about this very subject and they claimed they didn't even know what I was talking about!!   

[Kain]

Good letter.  I hope others do the same.  I have a good feeling about getting this changed and sending a message that hunters are finally going to stand up for their rights.

[billythekidrock]

Great letter Bob.

[winston2789]

good letter bob, i have never seen a hiker where i bear hunt.

[Ridgerunner]

I went to the Portland Sports show tonight and saw the WDFW booth. I asked if this is where I could bitch about this very subject and they claimed they didn't even know what I was talking about!!  

Amazing that they would even say that.  How far in the sand are their heads?

[DOUBLELUNG]

I went to the Portland Sports show tonight and saw the WDFW booth. I asked if this is where I could bitch about this very subject and they claimed they didn't even know what I was talking about!!  

Amazing that they would even say that.  How far in the sand are their heads?

Ridge, you are forgetting this is the Washington Department of FISH and wildlife.  Over half of the outfit don't even have a clue what the hunting regulations are.

[boneaddict]

Good Bobcat, just don't give them any ideas about closing all of hunting.   

[bobcat]

Nah, they wouldn't do THAT, would they?   

If they did there'd be a lot of poachers in this state, either that or we'd all just have to move to another state, and the WDFW would have to get their funding from some other source.

[Branden]

I know I'm not the smartest but isn't Labor Day Weekend the biggest hiking weekend of the year? And if bear hunting opens the first of September won't there be more hunters and hikers sharing the same areas then if it opened in august? Seams like there would be a higher chance another accident might happen. Nice letter btw.

[bobcat]

Yes, good point. It's stupid that August is closed but September is open. If it's unsafe to have bear hunters in the woods in August, then why would it be different in September?   

[Branden]

Yes, good point. It's stupid that August is closed but September is open. If it's unsafe to have bear hunters in the woods in August, then why would it be different in September?  

Thats pretty much my thought. The closure won't affect my bear hunting but I just thought it was a pretty dumb idea if its actually about safety.

[Shannon]

Another thing we need to complain about is not being able to hunt cougar with a rifle in September. If you set up to call in bear in September and a cougar comes in you will have to let it walk. Fat chance.

[bobcat]

Thanks for reminding me of that. I will send off another note on the cougar issue.

[PWN Kurt]

I sent them an e-mail too.

I mentioned that when I've been backpacking in other states, in areas open to hunting, they posted the trailheads and recommended bright colors or hunter orange to all hikers, and staying on trails.  I think it was a good example of what public awareness can do.

The unfortunate accident could have been prevented if they followed the rule of 'identify your target and what lies beyond'...it could have easily been a fellow hunter, regardless of season, or private or public land.