2020 spring bear apps

[MHWASH]

Just ordered my new .444 marlin for the upcoming bear season.  Going to cerakote it, already have an RPP synthetic stock set for it, and ill be getting the ball rolling on a suppressor for it.  With any luck ill have the suppressor in hand before august first.  This thing will be a hideous abomination of a lever gun.  Its going to be perfect.  Ill be taking it out this spring.

I have some brass I'll send you if you want it.

[Bango skank]

Appreciate the offer, but i dont handload.  Its all box ammo for me

[trophyhunt]

I shot a bear one time w my .444 lever action, flipped it over. I love that gun.

[Bango skank]

I shot a bear one time w my .444 lever action, flipped it over. I love that gun.

  my first bear was with a .44 mag revolver, flipped it ass over tea kettle.  8 ft frontal shot, right in the throat.  Incidental kill, had a tag just because.
 Then i found out how good bear meat is.  But man, that .44 cal chunk of lead sent him tumbling, it was a pretty impressive event.  Dont think ill ever forget it.

[slowhand]

So I'm planning to put in for spring bear for the first time this year.
When in past years did they announce the areas chosen?
I've been checking often
Also what changes are anticipated?

[Bango skank]

So I'm planning to put in for spring bear for the first time this year.
When in past years did they announce the areas chosen?
I've been checking often
Also what changes are anticipated?

In past years they were right in the regs.  Theyll be announced by january 2nd im sure, thats when the apps go on sale.  Changes should be that the kapowsin hunt (150 permits) is gone entirely, they added another gmu in the southeast (peola, with 5 permits,) and added a few more permits to the existing southeast hunts.  An overall reduction of i believe 112 available permits.  Oh, and mandatory 72 hour pelt sealing requirement for spring bears, like with lions.

[snake]

Pelt sealing! Thats a crock. I did not see that one.

[Bango skank]

Pelt sealing! Thats a crock. I did not see that one.

Yup.  Lame.  So far it seems to be only for spring bear at least, not fall. 

[slowhand]

Ok
Rookie question
What exactly is pelt sealing?

[Bango skank]

You have to bring the hide (with evidence of sex attached) and skull in to a wdfw officer within 72 hours of kill.  They pull a tooth and put a plastic tag in the hide.

[Go Blue]

Bango skank
In past years they were right in the regs.  Theyll be announced by january 2nd im sure, thats when the apps go on sale.  Changes should be that the kapowsin hunt (150 permits) is gone entirely, they added another gmu in the southeast (peola, with 5 permits,) and added a few more permits to the existing southeast hunts.  An overall reduction of i believe 112 available permits.  Oh, and mandatory 72 hour pelt sealing requirement for spring bears, like with lions.



So this year Hancock will not be allowing spring bear hunting?

[Bango skank]

If the proposal is approved, which im sure it will be, there will be no kapowsin spring permits available.

Saying hancock will not allow spring bear hunting is far too broad of a statement.  If a guy draws a huckleberry spring bear permit, he can still spring bear hunt on hancock lands in unit 121.  Sherman permit can still hunt hancock lands in 101.  Etc etc.  Its specifically the kapowsin permits that are going away.

[Big6bull]

What if the hide is not something you want to keep? Will you still have to pack it out?

[Bango skank]

What if the hide is not something you want to keep? Will you still have to pack it out?

Yup.  Mandatory hide sealing.  You can chuck it in the trash after getting it sealed i guess.  But youre packing it out if you want to stay legal.  The other option is just to not do your hunter report, or i guess lie and say did not hsrvest.  But people not doing their reports is the reason we are now stuck with this crap.
  Im sure they realize a majority of successful hunters will want to keep the hide, so with the mandatory hide sealing a taxidermist wont accept an unsealed spring bear now.  So this will give them a much more accurate count on spring harvest, and sex / age of bears harvested.  The main concern preventing more liberal spring seasons seems to be excessive female / nursing female harvest.  If we can get a few years of spring bear seasons in showing 30%>female harvest, then we would have some ammunition to push for otc spring bear.  So kill boars in the spring, at least until we can get otc and lose the pelt sealing requirement.

[trophyhunt]

Pelt sealing ??  That is a pain, hope they have offices all over!