Take Your Pick Spring Bears

[brineal]

All the bears and no spring tag 

Spring bear should be OTC for residents, this state is broken...



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[D-Rock425]

I kinda like it being a draw.  More tags wouldn't hurt but I think being a draw makes it a better quality hunt.

[brineal]

I kinda like being a draw.  More tags wouldn't hurt but I think being a draw makes it a better quality hunt.

Makes not much sense to me but good to hear the system is working for ya!

[D-Rock425]

I kinda like being a draw.  More tags wouldn't hurt but I think being a draw makes it a better quality hunt.

Makes not much sense to me but good to hear the system is working for ya!

what doesn't make sense to you about it?

[brineal]

I kinda like being a draw.  More tags wouldn't hurt but I think being a draw makes it a better quality hunt.

Makes not much sense to me but good to hear the system is working for ya!

what doesn't make sense to you about it?

You could easily have both draw and OTC if they wanted, this state is not hurting for bears only opportunity.  Just my opinion.

[oldschooltrucks]

they should increase the number of drawn if they're gonna continue to do it as a lottery imo but then again if they change it to otc they lose all that money from the lottery fee so good luck getting that changed.  Places like Kapowsin complain that only a handful of bears are taken every year in spring.  What does that really do to the bear population in there?  Nothing really and bears continue to peel their trees to the point that they start feeding them like this year.

[baker5150]

I kinda like being a draw.  More tags wouldn't hurt but I think being a draw makes it a better quality hunt.

Makes not much sense to me but good to hear the system is working for ya!

what doesn't make sense to you about it?

You could easily have both draw and OTC if they wanted, this state is not hurting for bears only opportunity.  Just my opinion.

I would agree, but there is a ton of opportunity for bear in the fall, much more than the few spring hunt areas offer.

This state does need more opportunity, but that shouldn't be accomplished by sacrificing the "quality" hunts that currently exist.   

[D-Rock425]

I kinda like being a draw.  More tags wouldn't hurt but I think being a draw makes it a better quality hunt.

Makes not much sense to me but good to hear the system is working for ya!

what doesn't make sense to you about it?

You could easily have both draw and OTC if they wanted, this state is not hurting for bears only opportunity.  Just my opinion.

I would agree, but there is a ton of opportunity for bear in the fall, much more than the few spring hunt areas offer.

This state does need more opportunity, but that shouldn't be accomplished by sacrificing the "quality" hunts that currently exist.   

[MtnMuley]

Spring bear needs to be OTC for the County you reside in. Not enough serious interest in spring bear hunting to affect our populations drastically.

[brineal]

I kinda like being a draw.  More tags wouldn't hurt but I think being a draw makes it a better quality hunt.

Makes not much sense to me but good to hear the system is working for ya!

what doesn't make sense to you about it?

You could easily have both draw and OTC if they wanted, this state is not hurting for bears only opportunity.  Just my opinion.

I would agree, but there is a ton of opportunity for bear in the fall, much more than the few spring hunt areas offer.

This state does need more opportunity, but that shouldn't be accomplished by sacrificing the "quality" hunts that currently exist.   

I appreciate the quotes for "quality," there is nothing mind blowing about bear hunting in this state.  We could easily allow OTC spring hunting in expanded GMU's; keep some special draw "quality" hunts.  No shortage of bears out there.  Keep the same bag limit and allow 1 spring / 1 fall or 2 / fall. 

[brineal]

Spring bear needs to be OTC for the County you reside in. Not enough serious interest in spring bear hunting to affect our populations drastically.

Completely agree, bear hunting demand is low in general; combined with no dogs or baiting why not allow spring OTC with retained quality draw hunts as well and the same bag limits? 

[bobcat]

Spring bear needs to be OTC for the County you reside in. Not enough serious interest in spring bear hunting to affect our populations drastically.

No, should be the GMU you live in. 

[Jonathan_S]

I'd say follow the Idaho elk model. Some units OTC, some draw. Make it based on game populations and not where a hunter lives. Would be nice for some but pretty asinine if management is the goal

[baker5150]

I kinda like being a draw.  More tags wouldn't hurt but I think being a draw makes it a better quality hunt.

Makes not much sense to me but good to hear the system is working for ya!

what doesn't make sense to you about it?

You could easily have both draw and OTC if they wanted, this state is not hurting for bears only opportunity.  Just my opinion.

I would agree, but there is a ton of opportunity for bear in the fall, much more than the few spring hunt areas offer.

This state does need more opportunity, but that shouldn't be accomplished by sacrificing the "quality" hunts that currently exist.   

I appreciate the quotes for "quality," there is nothing mind blowing about bear hunting in this state.  We could easily allow OTC spring hunting in expanded GMU's; keep some special draw "quality" hunts.  No shortage of bears out there.  Keep the same bag limit and allow 1 spring / 1 fall or 2 / fall.

Keep in mind that this time of year much of the high country that is open in the fall is still under feet of snow, limiting access and available area to hunt. 
We also have to consider other species using these same areas to raise their newly born offspring.  We know what added pressure and stress can do.

It's not just about bear population and opportunity is my point.  There are a lot more pieces to the pie that need to be considered.

[brineal]

I kinda like being a draw.  More tags wouldn't hurt but I think being a draw makes it a better quality hunt.

Makes not much sense to me but good to hear the system is working for ya!

what doesn't make sense to you about it?

You could easily have both draw and OTC if they wanted, this state is not hurting for bears only opportunity.  Just my opinion.

I would agree, but there is a ton of opportunity for bear in the fall, much more than the few spring hunt areas offer.

This state does need more opportunity, but that shouldn't be accomplished by sacrificing the "quality" hunts that currently exist.   

I appreciate the quotes for "quality," there is nothing mind blowing about bear hunting in this state.  We could easily allow OTC spring hunting in expanded GMU's; keep some special draw "quality" hunts.  No shortage of bears out there.  Keep the same bag limit and allow 1 spring / 1 fall or 2 / fall.

Keep in mind that this time of year much of the high country that is open in the fall is still under feet of snow, limiting access and available area to hunt. 
We also have to consider other species using these same areas to raise their newly born offspring.  We know what added pressure and stress can do.

It's not just about bear population and opportunity is my point.  There are a lot more pieces to the pie that need to be considered.

All fair points.  I don't think bear hunting is popular enough to be a major factor, I don't see many active bear hunters even in the open fall seasons.

[JakeLand]

Or adjust the spring hunt opener by a month when they are actually getting active 

[Karl Blanchard]

Or adjust the spring hunt opener by a month when they are actually getting active 

one of the reasons success rates are so low on spring tags is guys get all amped up and go to early and burn out before it even gets good. Run em till the end of june

[Alan K]

Running them clear up until the general opener couldn't hurt. 

[grundy53]

I kinda like being a draw.  More tags wouldn't hurt but I think being a draw makes it a better quality hunt.

Makes not much sense to me but good to hear the system is working for ya!

what doesn't make sense to you about it?

You could easily have both draw and OTC if they wanted, this state is not hurting for bears only opportunity.  Just my opinion.

I would agree, but there is a ton of opportunity for bear in the fall, much more than the few spring hunt areas offer.

This state does need more opportunity, but that shouldn't be accomplished by sacrificing the "quality" hunts that currently exist.   

I appreciate the quotes for "quality," there is nothing mind blowing about bear hunting in this state.  We could easily allow OTC spring hunting in expanded GMU's; keep some special draw "quality" hunts.  No shortage of bears out there.  Keep the same bag limit and allow 1 spring / 1 fall or 2 / fall.

Keep in mind that this time of year much of the high country that is open in the fall is still under feet of snow, limiting access and available area to hunt. 
We also have to consider other species using these same areas to raise their newly born offspring.  We know what added pressure and stress can do.

It's not just about bear population and opportunity is my point.  There are a lot more pieces to the pie that need to be considered.

I'm sure those other species raising their newborns would appreciate less bears eating their newborns...

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[grundy53]

I think it should be OTC. The bear population is out of control and needs to be reduced. Plus it would add opportunity. I doubt it would actually effect the quality too much.

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[MtnMuley]

Spring bear needs to be OTC for the County you reside in. Not enough serious interest in spring bear hunting to affect our populations drastically.

No, should be the GMU you live in. 

Fair enough. I'd compromise with that.

[Utah]

For those not paying attention.  Wash and Idaho have serious predator problems.  Year round.  $5 tags unlimited.