2017 spring bear harvest results

[hunter399]

Just wanted to throw some numbers at everybody.
781 Spring tags
139 tags filled
The next numbers I just can't believe.
487 people said they hunted there spring tag.
That leaves 294 people that draw a spring bear tag and didn't even hunt the tag one day .
Also 101 people did not report .
That may of hunted but didn't harvest it's just unknown.
So if anybody wanted to know why spring harvest numbers are so low .Cause 1/3 to 1/2 of people are not hunting there tag and or not reporting.

I urge anybody with a tag to please at least hunt one day of there hunt and to report when hunt is over.

Link to where I got info.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/management/game-harvest/2017/black-bear-spring#

[h20hunter]

I think part of it is folks assume the tag is easy to fill....it is not. I wonder how many bear tags are filled as the primary quary or are filled as a bycatch if you will. I think bears are under hunted in wa  .

[Dan-o]

It's always interesting to see how many people bought a tag and then didn't even hunt.

It would be interesting to know how many hunter days per bear.....   And then if you took the top 10% out, how many hunter days per bear.

I have some hunts pretty dialed in but not bear.

I drew a spring tag last year and never saw a bear.
I'm sure who really knew what they were doing and put in the number of days /i did would get a bear.

[Bango skank]

Hey, h20hunter, thats my second post youve deleted that didnt violate tos.  If youre just going to follow me around deleting everything i post why not make it easy on yourself and ban me?

[h20hunter]

I think lots of bear tags are purchased without ever being primary target.  Could be an interesting poll.

[bearpaw]

When we could still hound hunt a quarter to a half the cougar tags went to people who didn't hunt, in a lot of cases I think it was anti-hunters drawing tags to keep hunters from getting them!

Often times agencies use a formula to establish tag numbers based on knowing some hunters won't hunt or be successful. Remember spring tags were doubled a few years ago due to low success. I think they could open up a general spring season just like Idaho without harming the population, especially since we can't use bait or hounds.

[Skyvalhunter]

Remember your governor over turned the increase in cougar quota.

[Rob]

Always easier to catch a trout when you have your fly in the water...  Also easier to shoot a bear if you spend time in the woods...

I have been guilty of buying a multi-season tag (2 times now) and not taking advantage of it.  Too many conflicting hobbies make it hard to get in the woods.  I suspect that is part of the problem.  I put in for points for OIL tags on years that I know it will be a challenge to get out in the field.

I wonder if the "non-participation rate" is higher or lower for the 2017 spring bear than it is for tags in general?  I.E. How many people buy an over the counter elk tag and don't hunt it...

[hunter399]

Always easier to catch a trout when you have your fly in the water...  Also easier to shoot a bear if you spend time in the woods...

I have been guilty of buying a multi-season tag (2 times now) and not taking advantage of it.  Too many conflicting hobbies make it hard to get in the woods.  I suspect that is part of the problem.  I put in for points for OIL tags on years that I know it will be a challenge to get out in the field.

I wonder if the "non-participation rate" is higher or lower for the 2017 spring bear than it is for tags in general?  I.E. How many people buy an over the counter elk tag and don't hunt it...

I am guilty of buying elk tag and not hunting elk.
Sometimes I'm so tired after early deer season that I use elk in between to map search ,check game cam,and get ready for late buck

[Bango skank]

Always easier to catch a trout when you have your fly in the water...  Also easier to shoot a bear if you spend time in the woods...

I have been guilty of buying a multi-season tag (2 times now) and not taking advantage of it.  Too many conflicting hobbies make it hard to get in the woods.  I suspect that is part of the problem.  I put in for points for OIL tags on years that I know it will be a challenge to get out in the field.

I wonder if the "non-participation rate" is higher or lower for the 2017 spring bear than it is for tags in general?  I.E. How many people buy an over the counter elk tag and don't hunt it...

I am guilty of buying elk tag and not hunting elk.
Sometimes I'm so tired after early deer season that I use elk in between to map search ,check game cam,and get ready for late buck

Yeah, but if you waste your elk tag, thats your problem, nobody cares.  In fact id say most people are glad to have less elk hunters and deer hunters getting out there.  Its not like wasting a spring bear permit, we need those getting filled.  We dont need your elk tag getting filled.

[Stein]

My guess is that if the tag holder success jumped up, there would be fewer spring tags as they have a targeted harvest goal.

If they didn't want to limit the amount of bears shot, they would issue a ton of tags or even a general season and collect more money on license sales.

[BULLBLASTER]

Always easier to catch a trout when you have your fly in the water...  Also easier to shoot a bear if you spend time in the woods...

I have been guilty of buying a multi-season tag (2 times now) and not taking advantage of it.  Too many conflicting hobbies make it hard to get in the woods.  I suspect that is part of the problem.  I put in for points for OIL tags on years that I know it will be a challenge to get out in the field.

I wonder if the "non-participation rate" is higher or lower for the 2017 spring bear than it is for tags in general?  I.E. How many people buy an over the counter elk tag and don't hunt it...

I am guilty of buying elk tag and not hunting elk.
Sometimes I'm so tired after early deer season that I use elk in between to map search ,check game cam,and get ready for late buck

Yeah, but if you waste your elk tag, thats your problem, nobody cares.  In fact id say most people are glad to have less elk hunters and deer hunters getting out there.  Its not like wasting a spring bear permit, we need those getting filled.  We dont need your elk tag getting filled.

Since that same bear can’t be killed in the fall on a general tag?

[Bango skank]

Always easier to catch a trout when you have your fly in the water...  Also easier to shoot a bear if you spend time in the woods...

I have been guilty of buying a multi-season tag (2 times now) and not taking advantage of it.  Too many conflicting hobbies make it hard to get in the woods.  I suspect that is part of the problem.  I put in for points for OIL tags on years that I know it will be a challenge to get out in the field.

I wonder if the "non-participation rate" is higher or lower for the 2017 spring bear than it is for tags in general?  I.E. How many people buy an over the counter elk tag and don't hunt it...

I am guilty of buying elk tag and not hunting elk.
Sometimes I'm so tired after early deer season that I use elk in between to map search ,check game cam,and get ready for late buck

Yeah, but if you waste your elk tag, thats your problem, nobody cares.  In fact id say most people are glad to have less elk hunters and deer hunters getting out there.  Its not like wasting a spring bear permit, we need those getting filled.  We dont need your elk tag getting filled.

Since that same bear can’t be killed in the fall on a general tag?

Sure it can, but by then its already had its impact on our fawns and calfs for the year.  Plus its a lot less likely to be killed in the fall.  Much easier to fill a bear tag in may up here than it is in september

[HoofsandWings]

Each year I check the all species box when purchasing my license. That does not mean I actively hunt all 4 species, but it is handy to have should I come across one.
You can't shoot first and buy the tag later. Plus I put in for the points option for each permit I am qualified for. It is nice to have should I decide to actually choose to put in for a hunt.

[buckfvr]

You guys are giving wdfw way too much credit.......Sitting way over there, your guesses and other comments are so far off base its funny.....you have not a clue whats going on over here.  Thinking theyre doing the right thing over here or waiting for them to do it is a lost cause, we need aggressive predator control now, as in more predators removed from the mix, and that can only be cats and bears since the wolves are still safe, and have pushed the balance of nature past the tipping point.  If you guys are unwilling to listen to guys that live here in these woods,  so be it, but dont try and tell us we are wrong or stupid, because we arent.  You guys just arent here enough or at all to see for yourselves.