If you care about bear hunting......

[scotbradly726]

If you care about your bear hunting in Washington State, you need to listen to this trash and then make your voices heard! We have been out-voiced to this point, we cannot just sit back and allow these tree huggers to take away our rights, and not only that, but allow them to "manage" this into a serious problem of ungulate predation.

https://www.tvw.org/watch/?clientID=9375922947&eventID=2020121047

You can fast forward to 1:41:04 and listen through 2:47:51

We need to stand up and be heard.

You can make public comments in support of Spring Bear Hunting here:
https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/commission/contact

[KFhunter]

Done - message sent.

[scotbradly726]

Done - message sent.

thank you!!!!

[Rainier10]

Done.

I am hopeful that you will expand spring bear hunting this year either with more permits in more GMU's or even with an OTC season in the areas with the highest bear populations.  I think it is long overdue.  Bears today are being harvested by opportunity hunters and often times it is younger age class bears that are taken.  If there were more areas open for spring hunting it would spread out hunters and allow them time to view the bears and make sure they are harvesting mature boars and passing on younger bears or sows.  Spring bear hunting is a way better option for harvesting the age class and sex of bears for a healthy ecosystem.  Opportunity hunting is a poor management tool for the overall health and balance of the population.

[scotbradly726]

Done.

I am hopeful that you will expand spring bear hunting this year either with more permits in more GMU's or even with an OTC season in the areas with the highest bear populations.  I think it is long overdue.  Bears today are being harvested by opportunity hunters and often times it is younger age class bears that are taken.  If there were more areas open for spring hunting it would spread out hunters and allow them time to view the bears and make sure they are harvesting mature boars and passing on younger bears or sows.  Spring bear hunting is a way better option for harvesting the age class and sex of bears for a healthy ecosystem.  Opportunity hunting is a poor management tool for the overall health and balance of the population.

Very well put. These are the types of responses that we need to have!!!!

[cougforester]

Done.

Hello,

I have heard recently there are several groups petitioning WDFW to stop spring bear hunting.

I would like to encourage the Department to recognize the value of spring best hunting as both a management tool and recreational activity. I have drawn just one tag, but thoroughly enjoyed my experience. I hunt fall bear every year and have harvested or assisted in the harvest of several fall bears in the last few years. It will only be a matter of time until those same groups wish to remove fall bear hunting if their wish to axe spring bear hunting is granted.

Please do not entertain attempts to curtail our hunting opportunities by fringe activist groups who offer limited real world management solutions and simply wish to end hunting.

Thank you for your time.

[bullfever]

Statement sent. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

[Ironhead]

Done...

[logola512c]

Done -- here's what I wrote if anybody finds anything they like in what I wrote they are free to borrow. 

I would like to voice my concerns about limitations on bear hunting (and the hunting of other predators) that are being discussed in Washington state.  Washington's ungulate populations (deer, elk, and moose) are under attack by an unchecked population of predators, which includes black bears, cougars, wolves, and coyotes.  All existing predator hunting seasons and tag allowances need to be maintained, and possibly expanded, especially the spring bear season. 

I personally have seen the west side deer and elk populations decline over the years to the extent that this past year I did not see a single legal buck deer on the west side after hunting part of 8 different days.  Nor did I see much sign of bucks or even does.  I did, however, see no less than a dozen bears (I harvested two bears this year), several cougars that were too far away to ethically fire at (one of which was dragging a speckled fawn into thick cover), and two carcasses (one deer and one elk) that had been killed by predators.  I know they were killed by predators because the antlers were still on both carcasses and it was obvious that a knife was not used to process the animals. 

I also spend a fair amount of time in the woods in the spring doing non-hunting activities.  In the last several years, I have seen those nice cuddly bears emerge from their dens and search for food after their long nap.  They are fun to watch, and I greatly admire them.  But while they mostly feed on anything green they can find, I have also come across numerous baby deer and elk carcasses that they have killed and eaten.  Bears are predators and opportunists, and they do not hesitate to kill young ungulates.  They are certainly not the only threat to young ungulates, but they are a significant one.

Please follow the wildlife science when you are making hunting season decisions and do not give credibility to out-of-state and uninformed testimony that is based on uninformed opinions or political agendas.  Hunters like me provide valuable funding to the state to protect and preserve our outdoor spaces and pass down hunting traditions and outdoor experiences to our children that are being lost in today’s techno-centric world. 

In closing, please maintain all existing predator hunting seasons and tag allowances, and if anything, expand them to help our ungulate populations recover before they are lost forever or reach a point from which they cannot fully recover.  Thank you for your consideration and continued support of hunting and outdoor activities. 

[pianoman9701]

Done

[Skyvalhunter]

I just listened to the Spring bear comment portion. I really think hunters need to be more involved in these before our rights to hunt get whittled away. All the comments with the exception by the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council were against the Spring Hunts. I also took note that there is a concerted effort via organized e-mail (something like 500+) in hopes they can persuade the commission to end the hunt. While I feel that a more personal e-mail holds more water I want to encourage others to do so. I was also encouraged by some of the comments by the commissioners regarding the hunt. Thanks for posting this Scotbradly726. Lets get involved people..

[mburrows]

The contact section for submitting online comments appears to be missing now, trying to submit my comments..is it just me?

[cougforester]

The contact section for submitting online comments appears to be missing now, trying to submit my comments..is it just me?

I see it no problem. Follow the link at the top of this topic and you should be good!

[hawks33]

Worked for me, comments sent.

[bearhunter99]

Done

[mburrows]

Got it to work on my phone. Comments sent

[ShedHead20]

Submitted. Funny how non-tax paying, non-resident, non-hunting license buying people have voices in our state. Those voices should be thrown out at the door.

[scotbradly726]

Submitted. Funny how non-tax paying, non-resident, non-hunting license buying people have voices in our state. Those voices should be thrown out at the door.

This may be the most intelligent comment I've seen all day. I couldn't agree more!!! Although there's plenty of granola eating, tree huggers here in Washington to worry about as well.

[Ridgerunner]

Done!

[hunterednate]

Done

[harveymarv]

done - thanks for the post

[greenhead_killer]

sent. thanks for heads up

[BreezyBear]

Submitted comment, thanks for the posting this 

[Platensek-po]

Done

[SpurInSpokane]

I haven't watched/listened to the linked content, but I do want to support a spring bear hunt. Could someone who has listened to it provide a quick recap of the discussion?
Also, is this in any way related to the litigation that was mentioned in WDFW's email about spring bear applications that they thought could shut the season down?

[brokentrail]

If you listen long enough, the vote for this agenda item was on December 18th.  So I doubt the comments we are giving over a month later will matter much to the outcome.

[scotbradly726]

If you listen long enough, the vote for this agenda item was on December 18th.  So I doubt the comments we are giving over a month later will matter much to the outcome.

The outcome from that meeting won’t change, but the more we voice our opinions the more we are heard. We need to voice this loudly, respectfully and OPTEN

[brokentrail]

If you listen long enough, the vote for this agenda item was on December 18th.  So I doubt the comments we are giving over a month later will matter much to the outcome.

The outcome from that meeting won’t change, but the more we voice our opinions the more we are heard. We need to voice this loudly, respectfully and OPTEN

I left my comments as others have, I just listened and found out the vote had already occurred and wanted to make that known to everyone who may not listen to the entire meeting.

[elksnout]

I've commented as well. Viewed 941 times? Why aren't there 941 posts on here saying that they sent theirs along too?  We're screwed like house cats guys.

Elksnout

[hunter399]

I've commented as well. Viewed 941 times? Why aren't there 941 posts on here saying that they sent theirs along too?  We're screwed like house cats guys.

Elksnout

Yes I have sent my comments.
Probably the same reason this topic has been viewed about the same amount of times ,and not 1 comment sent.
Hunters just don't care intell they see it in the reg-book.

https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,257314.0.html

[hunter399]

On another note.
You guys do realize that timber company has a hand in this.
Using feed barrels and other means of control tree damage ,not allowing access to spring bear hunters,ECT. Have turned the spring bear hunt from a damage hunt / to a recreation hunt.

[predatormode]

Comment sent!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Alan K]

On another note.
You guys do realize that timber company has a hand in this.
Using feed barrels and other means of control tree damage ,not allowing access to spring bear hunters,ECT. Have turned the spring bear hunt from a damage hunt / to a recreation hunt.

Timber companies utilize bear feed in the spring because it is what is most effective at limiting damage, aside from depredation removals which were able to use hamstrung versions of the banned methods of take. Boot hunting in western Washington has proven ineffective for decades at addressing the massive damage to their property, what do you expect? 

Would a spring bear boot hunt be a great recreation opportunity? Yeah! Help out our struggling deer populations? Heck yeah! Stop private property damage? Not at all... Insinuating that private property owners have done anything to push this is ridiculous. If anyone knows how overpopulated bear populations are in western WA it's the timber companies!

[headshot5]

On another note.
You guys do realize that timber company has a hand in this.
Using feed barrels and other means of control tree damage ,not allowing access to spring bear hunters,ECT. Have turned the spring bear hunt from a damage hunt / to a recreation hunt.

Timber companies utilize bear feed in the spring because it is what is most effective at limiting damage, aside from depredation removals which were able to use hamstrung versions of the banned methods of take. Boot hunting in western Washington has proven ineffective for decades at addressing the massive damage to their property, what do you expect? 

Would a spring bear boot hunt be a great recreation opportunity? Yeah! Help out our struggling deer populations? Heck yeah! Stop private property damage? Not at all... Insinuating that private property owners have done anything to push this is ridiculous. If anyone knows how overpopulated bear populations are in western WA it's the timber companies!

 

[Fatherof5]

Comment sent!

[hunter399]

On another note.
You guys do realize that timber company has a hand in this.
Using feed barrels and other means of control tree damage ,not allowing access to spring bear hunters,ECT. Have turned the spring bear hunt from a damage hunt / to a recreation hunt.

Timber companies utilize bear feed in the spring because it is what is most effective at limiting damage, aside from depredation removals which were able to use hamstrung versions of the banned methods of take. Boot hunting in western Washington has proven ineffective for decades at addressing the massive damage to their property, what do you expect? 

Would a spring bear boot hunt be a great recreation opportunity? Yeah! Help out our struggling deer populations? Heck yeah! Stop private property damage? Not at all... Insinuating that private property owners have done anything to push this is ridiculous. If anyone knows how overpopulated bear populations are in western WA it's the timber companies!

 

Stop private property damage? Not at all.....
Has a timber company ever pushed for an OTC Spring Bear hunt? Not at all......🤔

I will say.......
Keep charging access fees to spring bear hunters
Keep your feed barrels.
Keep snare trapping and killing bears.

Hay I will ask you a question since it seems to me you work for said timber company.
Is that snare trapping done through the department of agriculture? At least the permit processs.
Do they come out and acess your damage first or do they just hand out permits like candy.

I don't really see the trapping lasting very long much like hound hunting did.
Not at all............

[Alan K]

Initially after the banning of baiting, trapping, and hound use for recreational hunting I believe it was the timber industry that did allow for spring bear hunting to see if it could help with damage. Was it over the counter they were pushing for, I have no idea, but I know they wouldn't have objected if that were the option presented. After some time now though, spring boot hunting has proven ineffective in limiting timber damage in any meaningful way. The bottom line is western WA is too thick. These bears live in reprod where visibility is about 3 feet... It's not a knock on boot hunters for lack of effort, it's just a reality that the bears doing the damage live in those jungles and require hounds to chase them out, bait to draw them out, or snares left in there in order to remove them.

On damage permits, they were issued through WDFW. I know landowners had to submit photos of damage with GPS coordinates for later verification by WDFW folks. The damage was NOT always verified prior to permit issuance, but I also know that that was in acknowledgment to the fact that speed is necessary in removing the damaging bear(s) before they potentially left the area.  The permits were designed to target the damage causing bears, and were not a just a free for all across  a tree farm that folks seem to think they were. I'm sure a landowner (industrial anyway) would not be looking to risk their name or relationship with the agency over falsifying a permit application. There could also be legal ramifications for falsifying info on a government application?

Timber damage and recreational bear hunting are two separate issues and should be viewed as such. We all know that our out of control bear populations hurt our ungulate populations, but they don't necessarily lead to an increase in timber damage.  I don't know of any timberland owners, large or small, who care about a high bear population, it's high bear damage they're concerned about.

I am personally all for a spring bear season, even selling unlimited bear tags. The more tags we can get in the hands of the guys who know how to bear hunt the better. Unfortunately I don't believe the number of guys hunting specifically for bear is very high. I suspect most are incidental, glassing one up during deer season etc.  Anything we can do to reduce the out of control predators in this state is vital to help out the ungulates.

I don't mean to divert this thread, it was the ridiculous assertion that timber companies had something to do with this that prompted me to speak up.  I encourage everyone to send in their comments!

[Skyvalhunter]

The more tags we can get in the hands of the guys who know how to bear hunt the better. Unfortunately I don't believe the number of guys hunting specifically for bear is very high. I suspect most are incidental, glassing one up during deer season etc.  Anything we can do to reduce the out of control predators in this state is vital to help out the ungulates.

The bold is the key!!! Putting it in the hands of hunters who will not shoot a sow with cub or cubs. If you listened to the WDFW commission meeting you would have heard that pretty much everyone that was against it brought up orphaned cubs. This is the subject that pulls at every ones heart strings. It was surprising to hear it was such a high percentage of sow bears taken during the Spring hunt. I want to say it was in the 30's% area. If they think just one cub is orphaned they want it shut down.

[emac]

So everyone should just report the they shot boars

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[trophyhunt]

Reporting just boars would be good, but now we have to take the bear in to get sealed. When people ask me for advice on spring bear, I always tell them to take the time and look for Cubs when they see a bear.  The Cubs are very small that time of year, I’ve been lucky so far and haven’t made the mistake of killing a sow w Cubs, that would really be hard.  Seeing a cub covering its eyes and crying would prob get me to quit hunting bears!!  But the reality is, even if mama doesn’t get shot, that cub has a high chance of not making it to adult age.

[hunter399]

So.............
@Alan K

Help me understand.
The animal activist that sued to get timber company's spring hound permits taken away. Now they are are trying to stop the spring recreational hunt .No connection there,even though the hound permits have left a bad taste in everyone's month that doesn't hunt.
The feed barrel ,I have no idea how long timber company been feeding bears.Its a short term solution causing themselves more problems.Its like putting a bandaid on a gunshot wound.
You feed bears-they don't eat tress,but at the same time bears population increase through feeding.Then snare them to a tree and shoot them.Sounds like a plan,that's a winner.
Basically.........
Spring hunt started as a damage hunt.And it didn't work like timber company's wanted ,So they went more to hound permits issued by WDFW .Now recreation permits in certain tree farms are decreasing for recreational hunts ,but that's the place where this damage occurs.Ohh ya that's right I don't think they want the public to see what's going on in them woods.

I believe......
Our wildlife is held in a public trust of management where hunters should be used to manage wildlife with opportunities to hunt,through fair chase,and not wasted meat,ECT. Snare a bear to tree and shoot it and leave it is not proper management.
I think we just have a different of opinion that we will never see eye to eye on .
I'm done posting on it.

[GWP]

I remember when this all started with the public getting a vote to ban hound hunting. Have a friend in WDFW that told me they basically panicked when that got voted in. The hound hunters did all the work and the system pretty well took care of itself.
There was a LOT of voices raised against the ban, but the majority of the voters do not hunt and do not understand that once you encroach in wildlife area’s and you start to manage wildlife, you have to keep managing it.

[Alan K]

So.............
@Alan K

Help me understand.
The animal activist that sued to get timber company's spring hound permits taken away. Now they are are trying to stop the spring recreational hunt .No connection there,even though the hound permits have left a bad taste in everyone's month that doesn't hunt.
The feed barrel ,I have no idea how long timber company been feeding bears.Its a short term solution causing themselves more problems.Its like putting a bandaid on a gunshot wound.
You feed bears-they don't eat tress,but at the same time bears population increase through feeding.Then snare them to a tree and shoot them.Sounds like a plan,that's a winner.
Basically.........
Spring hunt started as a damage hunt.And it didn't work like timber company's wanted ,So they went more to hound permits issued by WDFW .Now recreation permits in certain tree farms are decreasing for recreational hunts ,but that's the place where this damage occurs.Ohh ya that's right I don't think they want the public to see what's going on in them woods.

I believe......
Our wildlife is held in a public trust of management where hunters should be used to manage wildlife with opportunities to hunt,through fair chase,and not wasted meat,ECT. Snare a bear to tree and shoot it and leave it is not proper management.
I think we just have a different of opinion that we will never see eye to eye on .
I'm done posting on it.

Of course anti-hunting groups are emboldened after a small victory and will keep pushing. We've seen that with virtually issue they have ever litigated.

I don't necessarily disagree with you that feeding them is more of a bandaid. Landowners are encouraged to try non-lethal methods before resorting to lethal, and feeding has proven the most effective at that. If problems persist, lethal means were an option.

As far as fair chase goes... Regardless of whether you believe hounds, baiting, or sharing is fair chase, it doesn't and shouldn't matter in instances of damage to life or property. Those removals are not recreational. The problem animal should be taken care of as quickly and efficiently as possible.

The animals weren't wasted. Those taking care of the problem couldn't keep anything. The meat and hides were donated specifically to do away with any perception that the animals were wasted, or that the hunters were in it for the animal parts themselves.

I can't speak to anything on permit levels, other than I'd suspect it has to do with overcrowding if anything. Why would any landowner sell themselves short? And actually I believe they've been increasing permit levels across the board, at least in the case of Weyerhaeuser. That's actually something that bothers me as a permit purchaser... I can go to Capital Forest and see the crowds if I want. The reason I purchase a permit is to get away from them! And if anything, the access windows have been increasing. Originally Weyerhaeuser was just the fall months. Whether having folks in the woods through the late winter and early spring is a good idea for animals is another thing...

We can agree to disagree, but I believe a lot of your thoughts are based on assumptions and misperceptions about how damage removals were actually done. The line between recreation and depredation is pretty black and white for me, but it's obviously a gray area for you.  I'm not sure we can close the gap on that one.