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.

[bankwalker]

ok i got a big question about this...well maybe its not to big.

but does this included tree farms as public lands? like say hancock tree farm.

i have not read the proposals, frankly i dont understand them to clearly. at least the ones that i have read...

[bobcat]

No, private land is private. Weyerhaeuser, Hancock, Green Diamond, whatever...would be open August 1st for bear hunting. But the problem is with all that public land NOT open, everybody who wants to hunt bear in August will be concentrated into much smaller areas. Not to mention the fact that much of that private timberland is closed to public entry in August due to fire danger. So yeah, even though I know a couple good spots on private land that I could hunt bears, I do not want to see public land shut down. Like I said in my letter to the WDFW, if it's shut down in August there's just as much reason to shut it down in September as well.   

[bankwalker]

No, private land is private. Weyerhaeuser, Hancock, Green Diamond, whatever...would be open August 1st for bear hunting. But the problem is with all that public land NOT open, everybody who wants to hunt bear in August will be concentrated into much smaller areas. Not to mention the fact that much of that private timberland is closed to public entry in August due to fire danger. So yeah, even though I know a couple good spots on private land that I could hunt bears, I do not want to see public land shut down. Like I said in my letter to the WDFW, if it's shut down in August there's just as much reason to shut it down in September as well.   

ok cool. i was worried for a second...

but i still am due the those reasons you posted. closing public land to hunting is just down right stupid. and the reasonings behind it are rediculous.

[markts]

If someone walks into a busy street and is killed by a hunter driving a pickup, will they ban hunters from driving? If you are hiking in the woods during hunting season, you should know it and dress in blaze orange just like us. It was unfortunate that someone died but hell-o. Markts

[klickriverchromer]

I HATE LIVING IN WASHINGTON, BUT CAN'T AFFORD TO MOVE.  WDFW ARE R-TARDS THERE IS NO QUESTION.  OBVIOUSLY CAN'T HIRE GOOD HELP.  MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST LET THE NATIVES RUN IT.  OH WAIT, THEY ALREADY DO...............

[billythekidrock]

If someone walks into a busy street and is killed by a hunter driving a pickup, will they ban hunters from driving? If you are hiking in the woods during hunting season, you should know it and dress in blaze orange just like us. It was unfortunate that someone died but hell-o. Markts

You totally get it. Here is a quote from my letter to F&W about this very issue.

This is a knee jerk reaction to a very unfortunate situation that should not have happened. That hunter should have never been out there unsupervised and he broke a major rule in not positively identifying his target. I am not trying to minimize the situation, but more people in Washington die every week by drunk drivers then in year’s worth of hunting accidents. When that happens do you blame the individual driver or do you blame all the other people that had a drink that week? The blame for this unfortunate incident rests solely on the shoulders of the individual hunter and the rest of us should not have to shoulder that blame. More importantly, our children should not have to suffer the consequences.

[bobcat]

Well, I agree, except I don't feel everybody hiking in the woods should feel like they need to wear orange or they will be shot. It is a good idea to wear bright colors so as to not look like a deer/elk/bear, but I don't think a victim of a hunting accident should be blamed for not having worn orange that day.

[actionshooter]

Well, I agree, except I don't feel everybody hiking in the woods should feel like they need to wear orange or they will be shot. It is a good idea to wear bright colors so as to not look like a deer/elk/bear, but I don't think a victim of a hunting accident should be blamed for not having worn orange that day.

I agree, its not a hikers responsibility to wear orange, its the hunters responsibility to identify the target.

Well said on your letter Willie. Its been about 3 days, I need to send another 

[PWN Kurt]

I don't think anyone is blaming the victim of the hunting accident.  I was just suggesting that other parts of the country it is not uncommon to 'recommend bright colors' during deer season.  It's not required.  If somebody wants to run around the woods with antlers tied to their head, I'm sure they could.

If nothing else, if they become lost or injured, it makes it easy for rescue crews to spot them.

...with the bright colors...not the antlers!

[markts]

I am in no way blaming the hiker for being shot, But if we are required to where orange while in the woods hunting, why shouldnt everyone in the woods. Seems like a no brainer. Markts

[bobcat]

So archery hunters should wear orange too, you're saying

Have you ever thought a person was a deer/elk/bear because they weren't wearing orange?

The WDFW can require us to wear orange as hunters because we need a license to hunt but the state can't require everybody who leaves their house to wear any particular color. Sounds Communist to me.

[markts]

I dont remember saying anything about archers but in case you havent noticed, there are more and more people in the woods these days. It is my opinion that everyone should do his or her part to be safe. I have been told about you and your archer elite way of thinking, and it is showing now with the name calling. I thought this was a friendly discussion. For your comment you can kiss gun toteing a$$. Markts

[billythekidrock]

I dont remember saying anything about archers but in case you havent noticed, there are more and more people in the woods these days. It is my opinion that everyone should do his or her part to be safe. I have been told about you and your archer elite way of thinking, and it is showing now with the name calling. I thought this was a friendly discussion. For your comment you can kiss gun toteing a$$. Markts

Archer elite way? WTF?

Markts - Basically you did state that archers (and ml, hikers, etc) should be forced to wear orange since "we (rifle hunters) are required".

I think it is ridiculous to force non-hunters to wear anything similar to hunter orange. The next hunter who shoots a non-hunter person will use the excuse of "I though they were an animal, they weren't wearing orange". It is the hunters responsibility to identify his target.

[PWN Kurt]

I hope we don't have to force anyone to wear anything.  Cyclists don't have to wear day-glo colors, but they make an educated decision to do so...

[markts]

My apoligies to all. I shouldnt have even got on here this morning. It was decided this morn that my marriage is done, and I guess I was looking for a fight.  I believe there are hunters out there way over 20 or 30 that have no business with a gun and would hope hikers and bird watchers and such would not wander the woods during bear season in dark clothing, or crawl around picking salal or berries in tan jump suits during cougar season, ect ect ect. Again my apoligies Markts

[billythekidrock]

My apoligies to all. I shouldnt have even got on here this morning. It was decided this morn that my marriage is done, and I guess I was looking for a fight.  I believe there are hunters out there way over 20 or 30 that have no business with a gun and would hope hikers and bird watchers and such would not wander the woods during bear season in dark clothing, or crawl around picking salal or berries in tan jump suits during cougar season, ect ect ect. Again my apoligies Markts

Accepted.
I thought it was an odd post from you and now I understand why.

I hope things work out for you.

[oneshotkill]

If this rule goes into effect, then I will not be able to hunt bear this year because school starts for me in September and I work weekends so I cannot hunt then.  I do not think that as a kid I should have to suffer because of another kids mistake.

[markts]

To whom it may concern. It seems as though my marriage will last another chapter after all. Markts Again my apoligies for earlier post

[billythekidrock]

To whom it may concern. It seems as though my marriage will last another chapter after all. Markts Again my apoligies for earlier post

Great news.