2018 Spring Bear Info Up on WDFW Site

[Antlershed]

WDFW WILDLIFE PROGRAM
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
wildthing@dfw.wa.gov

Dear Hunting Enthusiast,

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has identified hunt dates and permit levels for the 2018 spring black bear special permit hunts. This information has been posted on the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/permits/spring_bear/

Interested hunters can apply from Jan. 2 through Feb. 28, 2018. See pages 12-13 of Washington's 2017 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations pamphlet for information on how to apply for special hunt permits.

A valid big game hunting license and tag, which includes black bear as a species option, are required to apply and participate in the spring black bear special permit hunts. See the website for additional restrictions and regulations.

Sincerely,

Wildlife Program
WDFW

[grundy53]

They got rid of the Monroe hunt. 😟😡

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[dune]

No more 448 just take away the hunt and let tree farms send the dogs in. Great way to miss use are natural resources thanks wdfw

[Antlershed]

Yep, that’s been known since the very first proposal.

[sled]

I can’t believe no monroe Hunt!  Ahhhhh!

[Special T]

And they wonder why they arnt winning the hearts and minds of sportsmen...

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[sled]

And they wonder why they arnt winning the hearts and minds of sportsmen...

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yes!,  anyone hear any kind of reason for not having it this year?  Really dissapointing.  Little by little I am loosing interest in hunting.  I did minimal this year.  Maybe it’s time to start looking to a diff state.  Even fishing rules suck now.  Oh well.

[bobcat]

Probably the same reason they don't have the Capitol Peak spring bear hunt anymore - absolutely no reason.   

I think the WDFW has some biologists who don't want any bears killed at all.

[quadrafire]

I'd like to hear their reason for no 113 Spring hunts.

[sled]

Dang it. 

[Limhangerslayer]

I'd like to hear their reason for no 113 Spring hunts.

grizzly encounters

[whackmaster]

No Monroe sucks 

[Boss .300 winmag]

I'd like to hear their reason for no 113 Spring hunts.

grizzly encounters

They have nice hides!

[grundy53]

Yep, that’s been known since the very first proposal.

I was holding out hope that they would change their minds.  Now it's official.

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[emac]

What do you guys expect. The sissys at wdfw are for more predators not less

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[dmoua]

I'd like to hear their reason for no 113 Spring hunts.

It would be my number 1 choice every year if they did have it as an option.

[quadrafire]

I'd like to hear their reason for no 113 Spring hunts.

It would be my number 1 choice every year if they did have it as an option.

mine as well

[steeleywhopper]

I'd like to hear their reason for no 113 Spring hunts.

grizzly encounters

Shooting grizzly in the spring would be fine with me.

[Skyvalhunter]

I am surprised theres no back lash from this news story earlier in the summer
http://www.king5.com/article/tech/science/environment/bear-feeding-program-criticized-for-baiting/446384325

[trophyhunt]

Besides eliminating Monroe, I don't see any changes, I thought they said there would be?  Am I missing something?

[Antlershed]

Besides eliminating Monroe, I don't see any changes, I thought they said there would be?  Am I missing something?

They modified the end dates for some hunts so now they all run thru June 15th.

[Timberstalker]

Besides eliminating Monroe, I don't see any changes, I thought they said there would be?  Am I missing something?

They modified the end dates for some hunts so now they all run thru June 15th.

This.  This will help immensely in some of the units.

[trophyhunt]

Ahh missed that, thanks.

[h20hunter]

Sorry Skagit hunters.....Im bringing my points and applying for up north.

[TMagnum]

New to bear hunting, does it take a lot of points to draw the spring tag?  I cant find that info anywhere online.

Thanks in advance

[bobcat]

Odds depend on which unit you apply for. It can vary from about 1 in 4 to 1 in 100.

You can draw with only 1 point, or NOT draw even if you have several points.

This will give you a general idea of the odds:

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/permits/results/results.php?Species=BLACK+BEAR

[X-Force]

Sorry Skagit hunters.....Im bringing my points and applying for up north.

If you want you can share with me... Im a few points short this year

[Ridgeratt]

Interesting data that even with the amount of folks applying seems like it's around half that pick up the tag and go.   

 http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2016/reports/bear_hunt_name.php

[hunter399]

Interesting data that even with the amount of folks applying seems like it's around half that pick up the tag and go.   

 http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2016/reports/bear_hunt_name.php

Looking at those numbers,what a joke,maybe a negative point -1 for people who don't hunt it,or harvest,the next year ,so people will hunt it harder,or won't put in for draws that they don't intend to hunt.

[PastorJoel]

Copalis dropped from 100 to 50 tags.

[Bob33]

Interesting data that even with the amount of folks applying seems like it's around half that pick up the tag and go.   

 http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2016/reports/bear_hunt_name.php

Looking at those numbers,what a joke,maybe a negative point -1 for people who don't hunt it,or harvest,the next year ,so people will hunt it harder,or won't put in for draws that they don't intend to hunt.

I suspect that is accounted for in tag numbers. WDFW knows that only a portion of all permit holders will hunt, and only a portion of those who hunt will harvest. If they knew 100% of pernits would hunt, they would reduce the number of permits.

[Antlershed]

Odds depend on which unit you apply for. It can vary from about 1 in 4 to 1 in 100.

You can draw with only 1 point, or NOT draw even if you have several points.

This will give you a general idea of the odds:

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/permits/results/results.php?Species=BLACK+BEAR

I’ll have 8 points going into this year’s draw, but I don’t apply for any Westside units.

[hunter399]

Interesting data that even with the amount of folks applying seems like it's around half that pick up the tag and go.   

 http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2016/reports/bear_hunt_name.php

Looking at those numbers,what a joke,maybe a negative point -1 for people who don't hunt it,or harvest,the next year ,so people will hunt it harder,or won't put in for draws that they don't intend to hunt.

I suspect that is accounted for in tag numbers. WDFW knows that only a portion of all permit holders will hunt, and only a portion of those who hunt will harvest. If they knew 100% of pernits would hunt, they would reduce the number of permits.

I do agree with ya on they would reduce numbers ,maybe only eastern wa residents can put in for east side permits,west siders put in for west side permits ,seems like the opportunity to hunt a gmu may be higher if you live in the area .or extra points for a draw that you live in.This might slow down the guy that hunts the permit  one weekend and says I'm done.

[Special T]

I miss WDFWinsider... he was the kind of guy that could have told us all kinds of great info about the statics in the draw system...

I hope he finally found a job after the WDFW made life hard on him after he left.

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[JM]

I don't know why they can't offer at least one or two spring bear permits for almost every mountainous GMU on the east slope of the cascades? It seems to me that there are plenty of bears from goldendale to twisp.

[boneaddict]

I’m sitting here with 10 points waiting for a Methow hunt

[Skyvalhunter]

You don't want that tag, the bears only eat grass and skunk cabbage since theres no deer left.

[boneaddict]

I’m just a trophy hunter, I don’t care for the meat anyway 

[Timberstalker]

I’m sitting here with 10 points waiting for a Methow hunt

You’ll have a long wait. 

[X-Force]

Anyone want to pool points together I'm in... and pointless 

[saylean]

Anyone want to pool points together I'm in... and pointless 

There's my bro, begging to scam off other peoples points!

No Monroe unit sucks for sure. I don't know their reasoning, but I do know they have logged an absolute ton in the area that was the spring bear unit, so there might not be the amount of trees grown up big enough to interest the bears for spring. I mean, I know there are some in there, but not like there used to be.

Regardless, its too bad. It was a fun unit. Hopefully they will add it back again in a few years.

[Stickerbush]

did any of the units increase tags?

[dmoua]

New to bear hunting, does it take a lot of points to draw the spring tag?  I cant find that info anywhere online.

Thanks in advance

I drew a tag the first year I applied.

[X-Force]

Anyone want to pool points together I'm in... and pointless 

There's my bro, begging to scam off other peoples points!

I’m desperate enough to teach someone everything you tough me.... as long as it’s a party draw and I have a permit 

Shameless? Sure. 

[Skyvalhunter]

New to bear hunting, does it take a lot of points to draw the spring tag?  I cant find that info anywhere online.

Thanks in advance

I drew a tag the first year I applied.

Did u tag out

[dmoua]

New to bear hunting, does it take a lot of points to draw the spring tag?  I cant find that info anywhere online.

Thanks in advance

I drew a tag the first year I applied.

Did u tag out

Yep, sure did.

[Stein]

I have one point, average draw is almost 5, so I'm not rushing out to buy more freezer paper and tape.  30 tags for over 600 people last year, probably double the number of applicants this year the way things have been going.

[Calvin Rayborn]

8 points - Gonna Git Er Dun this year!