WDFW Season Setting for bear

[WAcoyotehunter]

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. 

[mossback91]

also sounds like they dont want alot of ppl showing up to their meeting  

[WAcoyotehunter]

  could be that too! 

[saylean]

Who is to say, that after they meeting, they decide to go back the other way, shutting down the hunt for August..

I mean, whats stopping them? I think it was nice of them to send out this email to save some people the time/effort/gas, but it draws suspect on how it was written.

[hunt4]

Take it for what it is worth this is how archery hunters feel about the changes for our seasons

The Washington Archery Coalition doesn’t see this as a win-win scenario. This whole process could have been handled differently and better. It needs to be recognized that the WDFW is very unhappy with having to make adjustments to their recommendations under duress. Archery season-protection measures appear to be forthcoming but only because of your demands as citizens and the work done by members of the organized archery community. It can’t be stressed enough that until we get to Ellensburg and see these recommendations in writing and until the gavel then drops we don’t know where this will all end up. To quote Yogi Berra, “The game isn’t over ‘til it’s over

[billythekidrock]

I agree. The first step is bear in August, then archery in September. We need to keep up the pressure.

Though I can not for the life of me, find a stance on the bear/pulic land issue. Is this archery group so wrapped up in their little nitch to not see the bigger picture?

[hunt4]

Though I can not for the life of me, find a stance on the bear/pulic land issue. Is this archery group so wrapped up in their little nitch to not see the bigger picture?

Not sure what you mean by this, all i was pointing out is what ever the WDFG has said they will change is not into print yet, and is still subject to change...and with them sending out these letters discouraging you from attendening the meeting is 
That is just a quote about the deer hunting changes nothing to do with the bear issues.....NOTHING IS SET INTO STONE AS OF YET is my point

[billythekidrock]

I agree with your interpretation of the F&W email.

After reading your post I was unsure of the Archery Coalition's stance on the public land/bear proposal. I googled them and the only thing I could find was postings an opinions on their deer and elk proposals. Unless I missed something, I think their scope is too narrow. That is all.