Another idea for Washington Muley's: Increased spring bear quota

[GoldenRing270]

The verdict is in and it's clear that mule deer hunters would love to see more opportunity to hunt predators and WDFW loves revenue, another idea came to mind that could to be a great compromise. How would everyone feel about increasing the spring bear quota? Lets say the WDFW adds 500 special permits for spring bear tags and spreads them across different east cascade foothills gmu's but in order to get the WDFW on board with this here's the kicker: If drawn residents could purchase the tags for $222.00 (the cost of a non-resident bear tag). Also, if you punch your tag this would count as your eastern Washington bear and you could no longer hunt bear in the fall unless you headed west. The current spring bear tags we have in place would stay the same and still cost the normal $24 for residents. In MeatEater podcast episode 68 Steve talks with Pat Durkin about how a higher percentage of fawns are killed in the spring by bears than coyotes. They are in Wisconsin and I'm unsure if it is the same here in Washington but I'd like to hear some opinions on this.

[boneaddict]

Bear really aren’t your problem and no I wouldn’t be paying that much to hunt one.   I would love to see some extra spring tags though in places there aren’t any.

[h20hunter]

Im all for an increased spring bear program. I would also like to see a bait program. Say 3 sites,  clearly marked with hunter info and clean up requirements.

[boneaddict]

Case in point.  The Colville Rez currently has the best deer herd in the state, though believe it or not it is starting to collapse on them due to another apex predator.   It is crawling with bear.   They really don’t target them.   They do however target cats with hounds!   That’s the quota that needs to be looked at, and hound Hunting.   Thank you King county.

[Buzz2401]

Don't really agree with any of those ideas.  No fee increase no increased quota and don't really believe that hunting more bears is going to make a noticeable difference in Mule deer population.  Mule deer populations are on the decline across all of the west not just Washington.  Only thing that will help is less hunting and more cougars killed.

[boneaddict]

At least Oregon is figuring it out as they thin out their ORs canine pets. Pretty sure the ODFG disagrees though. 

[GoldenRing270]

I hear ya buzz but I am just throwing ideas out there. Bringing hound hunting back is probably the second least likely idea we could try to implement in this state followed closely behind opening hunting to wolves. It's a pipe dream and its just not going to happen. Therefor I am trying to come up with some feasible ideas. They may not be the very best thing we could do for the deer but we've got to start somewhere and there has to be compromise.

[buglebrush]

OTC spring bear, aggressive lion hunting including hounds, and aggressive Wolf hunting and trapping, are absolutely essential to the survival of huntable ungulate populations.  Other factors, but this is something we could easily do that would make the biggest difference.  WDFW is junk!

[7mmfan]

More spring bear permits would certainly not hurt my feelings. Would it be the tipping point that brings the herd back? No probably not, but it wouldn't hurt. The Methow Valley in particular, has no spring bear permits, and there's no reason for it that I can see.

I would not endorse any kind of a fee increase. At $222, that would be more than any special permit in WA except OIL tags. That would effectively eliminate most people from applying for it and nullifying the whole idea behind it.

[boneaddict]

Ideas are good to bounce.  I’m seeing a pattern in your ideas though, and that seems to be increased fees.   Are you trying to make it palatable to the money grubbing WDFW or do you have stock in them. 

[jrebel]

I don't understand why you would expand the GMU's for spring bear to the east cascades in an attempt to reduce the population.....then only allow one bear killed on the east side.      I think you expand the spring bear hunts to these GMU's and remove the east west restriction for those who draw spring bear...or everyone. 

100% against a fee increase. 

100% for targeting cats. 

[bobcat]

Yes, I believe there should be spring bear permits in just about every GMU in the state. There's absolutely no reason why there isn't. I'm not sure how much it would help mule deer, but it certainly wouldn't hurt.

[idahohuntr]

I think all these ideas that really only target single issues potentially causing declines are not that helpful.  A comprehensive plan for managing predators, hunter harvest, and habitat by region is what we need.  Prior to developing this plan we need herd objectives by region or GMU...target population size, buck:doe ratio, proportion of mature bucks in herd etc.

You would think this info (herd objectives) would be included in the mule deer management plan...but its not...its 150 pages of junk, and the only specific numbers or goals provided are when they talk budgets and revenue 

[GoldenRing270]

boneaddict "Ideas are good to bounce.  I’m seeing a pattern in your ideas though, and that seems to be increased fees.   Are you trying to make it palatable to the money grubbing WDFW or do you have stock in them.  "

Haha, I'm just trying to be realistic. I don't see them going for any of our ideas to help the deer unless they see $$$ behind it.

[SkookumHntr]

I seen a bear kill a deer last year in the Okanogan! There is no lack of them that's for sure! I would love to see spring tags in all the 200 units!