Spring bear survey

[Bango skank]

And kapowsin had 367 applicants last year.  Thats going to be more names in the hat for other hunts next year, with 111 less tags to go around.

[cougforester]

I’m getting 38 tags added, so net loss of 112. Not a huge deal, but worth noting if folks want to use the math when making comments.
+3, +3, +15, +9, +3, +5 = 38
150-38=112

[Bango skank]

Thanks for the correction there

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I took the survey in neutral, stated that I thought that if a private timber company wanted to use lethal control practices then the WDFW's first priority should be to the sportsmen/women of Washington state.
I advocated a general spring season like were historically offered in Washington, in select units that showed high tree damage, low calf/fawn recruitment and increased bear/human conflicts.

[ibuyre]

I opposed. There should be a general spring season and that's what I told them. Along with the fact that they should be adding opportunity not reducing it, and not everyone recovers the hide, some are in bad shape and some of this is in really steep country. Plus as someone that has drawn and hunted the Copalis tag and hunted mostly in GMU 648 makes me a little ticked to learn now that the forest service lands where open there, when the way I read there regs my tag was only good for private timber land..... If drawn for that tag again, I am going to phone them for clarification on that, since to me it still isn't clear. Shame, saw a really nice bear on forest service land in 648 and would have shot it.... BUT my tag went unfilled because I couldn't find anything bigger than a yearling on private timber land. Well... I found there tracks and other signs, but couldn't call them out in the day, seemed like they where strictly nocturnal on private land if they had any size to them.

[justyhntr]

And kapowsin had 367 applicants last year.  Thats going to be more names in the hat for other hunts next year, with 111 less tags to go around.

If the WDFW and Hancock had retained the Kapowsin tags this next season you would not have 367 applicants put in for it this year based on all the BS Hancock pulled last year. I doubt that they would have gotten 150 applicants if the season was retained, Hancock turned that hunt into a total joke.


I took the survey opposing the rule changes, the pelt sealing is total BS. I hunt bear for their delicious flesh and do not retain the hide so why would I need to have the hide sealed.

[dilleytech]

I took the survey and did not support it. It’s a step in the wrong direction as I see it. I told them we need a open spring season and bear baiting again.

[Special T]

I wanted to share this Status and trend report with you all. It essentially covered 2006-2017. From asking around i have heard that 2 areas of concern are at play. To small of a sample size. The Department wants 30% or more of folks to submit teeth for study. The 10 year average is 24%. Statically this sample difference is not large, however the larger the sample the better data they get.  The second area of concern is the havest % of females over 40%. the long term average is good in every unit. that said there are spikes above in 3 units. the worst offender is BBMU 2 which is all of GMU407 and wraps around the Puget Sound.  This also happens to be where there is the most population density.

I would suggest you read this WDFW document and make your comment.  It appears to me that the mandatory hide sealing requirement is overkill.

I also think it is imperative, if we want to keep those that want to reduce predator control at bay, to submit harvest data. I know every year we have friendly reminders on here about hunter reporting, but also the Tooth on bears is important.

I hope this information helps you make a more informed comment for this survey.

[dilleytech]

Me and the wife were looking into getting the envelope for bear tooth submitting and we found it would be about a 2 hour drive to our nearest office. They need to make this a bit more convenient.

[Special T]

Me and the wife were looking into getting the envelope for bear tooth submitting and we found it would be about a 2 hour drive to our nearest office. They need to make this a bit more convenient.

You need a special envelope?  why?

[dilleytech]

Me and the wife were looking into getting the envelope for bear tooth submitting and we found it would be about a 2 hour drive to our nearest office. They need to make this a bit more convenient.

You need a special envelope?  why?

Good question, I would post a picture of the reg rules but hunt Washington won’t let me post pics anymore for some reason.

[Bango skank]

Me and the wife were looking into getting the envelope for bear tooth submitting and we found it would be about a 2 hour drive to our nearest office. They need to make this a bit more convenient.

Just call the nearest regional office, theyll mail the envelopes to you

[pianoman9701]

From the Human Society of the US to Director Susewind. PDF attached:

September 19, 2019
Kelly Susewind, Director
Larry Carpenter, Fish and Wildlife Commission Chair
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
P.O. Box 43200
Olympia, WA 98504-3200
Re: Spring black bear (Ursus americanus) permits for 2019-2020
Dear Chairman Carpenter and Director Susewind:
On behalf of the Humane Society of the United States and our supporters in
Washington, we submit the following comments on Washington Department of Fish
and Wildlife’s (WDFW’s) Proposed Rule on the spring black bear hunting season for
2020. Fig. 1. We oppose the proposed increases because of the risk of killing even more
female bears with newborn and dependent yearling young. According to multiple bear
biologists, spring hunts put females at risk, and also orphan cubs and occur when bears
are physically distressed after months of starvation; hunting vulnerable bears is not
only cruel, it is not in keeping with Washingtonians’ values.
1. Springtime bear hunts are cruel and should be abandoned
Springtime black bear hunts are problem plagued. Despite WDFW’s best intentions,
hunters kill nursing mothers, which orphans cubs leaving them to suffer from
starvation, predation, or exposure.1 Also, spring hunts occur when bears are physically
stressed from months of not eating—when they are literally in a starving state. In
springtime, bears are in “declining physical condition” and are especially vulnerable to
hunter “harassment,”2 which Washington permits to forestall tree damage. Springtime
hunting may cause damage to roads, including causing siltation in streams, or harm to
vulnerable ungulate and other wildlife populations.3 Most Americans do not want
wildlife cruelly treated, and most want black bears protected, and surprisingly, even if
they have attacked someone.4... (continued, see PDF attached)

[pianoman9701]

I see an initiative in our future.

[TheStovePipeKid]

From the Human Society of the US to Director Susewind. PDF attached:

September 19, 2019
Kelly Susewind, Director
Larry Carpenter, Fish and Wildlife Commission Chair
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
P.O. Box 43200
Olympia, WA 98504-3200
Re: Spring black bear (Ursus americanus) permits for 2019-2020
Dear Chairman Carpenter and Director Susewind:
On behalf of the Humane Society of the United States and our supporters in
Washington, we submit the following comments on Washington Department of Fish
and Wildlife’s (WDFW’s) Proposed Rule on the spring black bear hunting season for
2020. Fig. 1. We oppose the proposed increases because of the risk of killing even more
female bears with newborn and dependent yearling young. According to multiple bear
biologists, spring hunts put females at risk, and also orphan cubs and occur when bears
are physically distressed after months of starvation; hunting vulnerable bears is not
only cruel, it is not in keeping with Washingtonians’ values.
1. Springtime bear hunts are cruel and should be abandoned
Springtime black bear hunts are problem plagued. Despite WDFW’s best intentions,
hunters kill nursing mothers, which orphans cubs leaving them to suffer from
starvation, predation, or exposure.1 Also, spring hunts occur when bears are physically
stressed from months of not eating—when they are literally in a starving state. In
springtime, bears are in “declining physical condition” and are especially vulnerable to
hunter “harassment,”2 which Washington permits to forestall tree damage. Springtime
hunting may cause damage to roads, including causing siltation in streams, or harm to
vulnerable ungulate and other wildlife populations.3 Most Americans do not want
wildlife cruelly treated, and most want black bears protected, and surprisingly, even if
they have attacked someone.4... (continued, see PDF attached)

Have people entirely lost the ability to make factual statements and back them up with legitimate proof? According to multiple biologist, who are these people and what are their credentials? Most Americans want to protect dangerous black bears who've attacked people? Where is the proof to back that ridiculous statement? They might as well have written, "Dear WDFW, stop being big meanies to bears cause we don't like it".