Numbers Down?!?!?!

[Machias]

I'd be interested to see what the age and sex of harvested bears has done, I bet it's quite a few more sows and young bears are taken now then in the past.  I wonder how many cubs are left on their own now.

[Abolt338]

Statewide harvest rates eventually returned to their pre-ban levels,

In over ten years it has not returned to preban levels. We are killing nearly 1/3 more now then when we could use dogs and bait.

I should have said "returned and then surpassed" pre-ban levels.  You're right, we actually harvest more bears now than before the ban; but a greater percent of those harvests occur in more open country as incidental kills as a direct result of liberal (meaning loose) policies set due to the ban and the likely decline in harvests that resulted from it.

RW

[billythekidrock]

Statewide harvest rates eventually returned to their pre-ban levels,

In over ten years it has not returned to preban levels. We are killing nearly 1/3 more now then when we could use dogs and bait.

I should have said "returned and then surpassed" pre-ban levels.  You're right, we actually harvest more bears now than before the ban; but a greater percent of those harvests occur in more open country as incidental kills as a direct result of liberal (meaning loose) policies set due to the ban and the likely decline in harvests that resulted from it.

RW

I thought you meant that, but wasn't sure.

I agree that there are too many incidentals as a result of the cheap tags and longer season.

[Abolt338]

Statewide harvest rates eventually returned to their pre-ban levels,

In over ten years it has not returned to preban levels. We are killing nearly 1/3 more now then when we could use dogs and bait.

I should have said "returned and then surpassed" pre-ban levels.  You're right, we actually harvest more bears now than before the ban; but a greater percent of those harvests occur in more open country as incidental kills as a direct result of liberal (meaning loose) policies set due to the ban and the likely decline in harvests that resulted from it.

RW

I thought you meant that, but wasn't sure.

I agree that there are too many incidentals as a result of the cheap tags and longer season.

And don't forget the few of us (you included) who choose to chase more than one ...

RW

[rasbo]

Statewide harvest rates eventually returned to their pre-ban levels,

In over ten years it has not returned to preban levels. We are killing nearly 1/3 more now then when we could use dogs and bait.

I should have said "returned and then surpassed" pre-ban levels.  You're right, we actually harvest more bears now than before the ban; but a greater percent of those harvests occur in more open country as incidental kills as a direct result of liberal (meaning loose) policies set due to the ban and the likely decline in harvests that resulted from it.

RW

I thought you meant that, but wasn't sure.

I agree that there are too many incidentals as a result of the cheap tags and longer season.

And don't forget the few of us (you included) who choose to chase more than one ...

RW

yeah you dirty rotten killers

[billythekidrock]

C'mon now...
I have only filled both tags 4 times and all of them on the Westside. Only one was an incidental. Actually I have only killed one ever as an incidental. All the others were targeted.

[hogsniper]

I dont believe it for a minute...I saw bears absolutly everywhere last year from 10 one day 6 another, in all elevations and times of year...I saw a total of 34 last year...33 of em in washington...But like said before I doubt the game department knows whats going on either...Too many of the damn things in my opinion, keep on killin em!!!

[rasbo]

I get one per year when I hunt the early hunt,now only the spring hunt and havent been drawn.season used to open july 15 in old hancock then a few days later they would close it down.There is no shortage of bears in there,its just that they dont all sit on the road and wait.the girdling in hancock is quite much.

[billythekidrock]

I'd be interested to see what the age and sex of harvested bears has done, I bet it's quite a few more sows and young bears are taken now then in the past.  I wonder how many cubs are left on their own now.

I also agree and wonder about that.

[lokidog]

I dont believe it for a minute...I saw bears absolutly everywhere last year from 10 one day 6 another, in all elevations and times of year...I saw a total of 34 last year...33 of em in washington...But like said before I doubt the game department knows whats going on either...Too many of the damn things in my opinion, keep on killin em!!!

Anytime you want help reducing their numbers, feel free to call!