Public Land Open to Bear Hunting in August?

[yelp]

Yeah no kidding. 

[rasbo]

I hope it opens..Im gonna get drawn for the spring bear.I hope I hope

[billythekidrock]

This is good news, but you can bet they will revamp for next year with "low population" data and they will say that it will take a year to let everyone know. I don't trust them. We will have to fight this again for sure.

Here is a quote from a thread I started on another board. Anyone know if this is true?

From what I understand the state can't "close" federal public lands to activities that are cleared by the govt to occur on that land.
 

[PWN Kurt]

They have their ways around use laws.  I'm sure they could control it by closing all GMU's that have a high% of public land, and only open those with a high % of private land.

They also can use the firearm restrictions to contol it: Shotgun, muzzleloader, archery only.

[billythekidrock]

They also can use the firearm restrictions to contol it: Shotgun, muzzleloader, archery only.

The fact that they aren't using the above methods to control harvest (along with permits/quotas/AHE) leads me to believe that the population isn't the real issue.

[WDFW-SUX]

I still can't believe that they came up with this as an option.

[PWN Kurt]

We will always be faced with concerns regarding the multiple uses of the land.  I think its best that we all do our part to be good stewards and neighbors.

I've only writen a few letters to the government in my life.  All of them have been regarding responsible stewardship of the land and recreational use.  The government was ready to shut down all access because of the actions of a few knuckleheads.

[saylean]

wow...some marginal good news in an otherwise "please shut off the evening news, I cant take it anymore" daily episode...