Free: Contests & Raffles.
I would pay a lot more than 10.....I'd go 50 bucks.
If its strictly a money thing they could easily offset that by offering an add on tag for the spring. Buy your normal fall bear tag, but for $10 extra you can also use it during the spring. If people are willing to pay $6 for a chance at being able to hunt in the spring they would certainly spend $10 to be guaranteed to be able to hunt them.
Quote from: gallion_t on July 25, 2018, 08:06:09 AMIf its strictly a money thing they could easily offset that by offering an add on tag for the spring. Buy your normal fall bear tag, but for $10 extra you can also use it during the spring. If people are willing to pay $6 for a chance at being able to hunt in the spring they would certainly spend $10 to be guaranteed to be able to hunt them.That's a good way to do it but like h20hunter says bump the price $30-$50 and it could be done like an unlimited permit even an unlimited permit with a quota like cougars. If the state has concerns about over harvest in a particular GMU just have a quota system setup and a 24 hotline or webpage to call.Id be game.
Even just a spring special draw for any, and every GMU with bears could be a starting point, we will pay if the opportunity is there
1000 dollar predator package(tag)......good for two of the following, cougar, bear or wolf
Make the spring season general April 15-June 30. Double the permits but move them to a shortened fall season - baiting allowed -Sept 1-October 10. More bears dead in the spring, more dead bears in the fall but not interfering with the zoo of modern firearm season.
I don't think it is a money thing, as I would guess there would be more in sales of OTC tags than the small amount of permits available now. If opened, spring bear would be the only thing other than turkey and maybe some fish for that time of year.My guess is that WDFW is trying to protect the bears. In the spring, I see so many more bears and they are down low in more accessible areas. They're eating new shoots, skunk cabbage and peeling trees (and fawns) low in valleys and along rivers. Once the plants up high sprout and then berries start coming in, the bears are really spread out...so much so they aren't found nearly as easily.
Quote from: Jonathan_S on July 25, 2018, 08:15:22 AMMake the spring season general April 15-June 30. Double the permits but move them to a shortened fall season - baiting allowed -Sept 1-October 10. More bears dead in the spring, more dead bears in the fall but not interfering with the zoo of modern firearm season.While I agree a lot of areas could support an otc spring hunt, and would happily pay more $$ ($50 seems reasonable)for a spring tag, I would not support These changes.
Only a few of us remember the days when not only was there a general spring bear season, but bait and hounds were legal.Resource allocation, private timber companies, and non-hunting voters have been tirelessly reducing opportunities for the average hunter.It is easier for private timber companies to pay individuals to control bears (using hounds AND "feeding") behind locked gates than it is to allow access to the general public.
According to the game deptment the reason for ending the spring season years ago was public perception. Meaning the anti hunters convinced them to end it.So if a lot of hunters pushed very hard during the season setting meetings it may not get a general season but perhaps more permit units as a start. Problem is lots of people complain on forums like this but few show up to meetings where it counts.
Some hunters contribute to the company’s feeding behind gates. I here grumbles every year that hunters who draw spring bear tags are trying to cherry pick the bears they shoot as far as trophy quality and passing on average bears.It is a damage hunt, they want bears killed. Not to pass on legal bears. There also is number of Hunters who apply and draw but don’t get out and hunt.We are our own worse enemy. Don’t scout for tags we apply,don’t secure time for the hunts,don’t put in the range time to make the clean shot, etc.
QuoteSome hunters contribute to the company’s feeding behind gates. I here grumbles every year that hunters who draw spring bear tags are trying to cherry pick the bears they shoot as far as trophy quality and passing on average bears.It is a damage hunt, they want bears killed. Not to pass on legal bears. There also is number of Hunters who apply and draw but don’t get out and hunt.We are our own worse enemy. Don’t scout for tags we apply,don’t secure time for the hunts,don’t put in the range time to make the clean shot, etc.Then when I was drawn why did WH restrict access, and only relay information on bears OUTSIDE the permit area?And "cherry pick" bears w/o being able to bait?Sure a few might not purchase tags, or otherwise not put 100% into the hunt, but success rates should be better for those that do.I know a guy that feeds for WH, and have talked to guys with hounds in their trucks.No shortage of bears, just access...
I think that's the gist.If this state is truly in financial need, they should concentrate on their abundance of predators. Think how much money they could make selling wolf raffle tickets.
I think it has to stay permit only in spring, they are just too easy to find that time of year. That said they should open most if not all gmus to permit hunting. I have never heard a good reason why there is no spring season on the east slopes of the cascades.Since they don't announce spring bear until the previous years season is over they could really target harvest in areas where not enough bears were harvested the previous season. Spring seasons on the edge of winter ranges would really save a lot of fawns / calves as well.
I'm not really interested in the quality of bear hunting anyway, I'm interested in the management of predators in general and spring bear in particular.I'm not going to prioritize the 1/7 years that I have a Sherman bear tag over the mule deer, whitetail, elk, moose, and caribou
I have no idea why certain areas do not have spring bear opportunities (Monroe comes to mind as well as many others). A statewide spring season with different quotas in specific areas seems to make sense, as does a combination of a spring general season in some areas and a draw in others. Either of these would generate some quality revenue. All I know is that we seem to have too many bears ( and cougars & wolves) and not enough harvesting to control their numbers.
