Just got this email- it sounds like our comments made a difference!
Dear Wildlife Enthusiast:
Thank you for your comment on Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s fall bear hunting season recommendation. The Department has received numerous comments on this recommendation and all of the comments do not support the change to the August portion of bear season. Because we’re “on the bubble” in terms of the biological justification for reducing bear harvest, the Department has altered our recommendation to open the 2009 fall bear season August 1 rather than September 1 (for the subset of Bear Management Units) with no private land designation. The revised recommendation tries to balance the emerging biological concern, provide early fall hunting opportunity, and address public input. After a thorough review of bear harvest trends and biological information, the Department will provide the Fish and Wildlife Commission with a recommendation for the 2010-2011 fall bear hunting season in March 2010.
While reviewing the public input I also noticed several folks indicated they planned on attending the March 6-7 Commission meeting in Ellensburg to testify on this agenda item. I want to inform you of this change in case your trip to Ellensburg hinged on the Departments bear hunting season recommendation. I’ve attached the revised fall bear season recommendation for your convenience.