Spring Bear Pelt Submission

[pickardjw]

Noticed this new requirement for Spring Bear hunters for 2021 in the regs. Didn't see any other thread/discusson on it.

The unfrozen raw pelt, with evidence of sex attached, and the first premolar must be presented to an authorized department employee for inspection within 5 days of notification of kill. All permit hunters must comply with harvest reporting and submission of biological samples as described above. Failure to comply with the submission of biological samples is a misdemeanor pursuant to RCW 77.15.280.

Still new to researching and participating in reg changes. All I could find was the CES on it which states that part of the rule change was to, "Clarify language associated with spring bear check-in to gather biological
information on harvested bear."

Anyone with more info on why they are now requiring a check-in of the entire pelt? And, as far as I can tell, this is only for spring bear right? Looking at the 2021 proposed changes I see some bear changes listed but no real info. Is it just not out for public review/comment yet?

Seems like a major pain in the ass for backcountry hunters with no interest in keeping the pelt.

[BULLBLASTER]

I was law starting in the 2020 season but covid made them push it off a year.

[cougforester]

I was law starting in the 2020 season but covid made them push it off a year.

it was discussed pretty heavily last year around this time.

[brokentrail]

Unfortunately I think this came about because at every meeting I've attended about spring bear hunting, there are those that state most of the harvest is sows with cubs and it is cruel.  The department has little data to dispute that claim and I'll guess this is to have that data accessible but I've been wrong before.

[trophyhunt]

Notification within 5 days notice of kill, does that mean you can wait to notify of the kill later?

[dilleytech]

Was there ever any clarification on how much of the hide you need to be considered a “pelt”?

[cougforester]

Was there ever any clarification on how much of the hide you need to be considered a “pelt”?

This is the crux of the issue and I don't think any clarification was reached

[Stein]

Yeah, if the goal is to determine whether it's a boar or dry sow or sow with cubs, why can't they just come out and say that and state the minimum required for a boar and sow?  It's not like they don't have a barn full of biologists over there.  Evidence of sex is pretty easy, add a sentence for sows to include the udders and put a picture or drawing in the regs or online or send a paper copy with the tags - who knows maybe they do.

If it's for some other reason, then explain that.  As it sits, me thinks bears won't be reported because someone doesn't want to haul a heavy pack of bear hide out from a nasty spot downhill from the truck.

[hunter399]

I don't care , give me a tag I'll drag it out makes no difference to me .

[Ghost Hunter]

Well, it doesn't say a portion of the pelt.

[Stein]

Do you have to skin out the skull and paws?   

They shouldn't be surprised when someone drags it home, puts it in a black contractor bag, leaves it in the sun for a day or three and drops it off.  I'm glad it isn't me doing the inspection on those.

[trophyhunt]

Well the way I read it you don't have to report it within 5 days of kill, but within 5 days of notifying them you killed it.  Which is better, if you have a partner with you and he/she still is hunting you can store it in a cooler till the hunts done.  Still a ridiculous rule, not all hunters take a bears hide out, two spring bear tags ago I talked to a guy who killed a pig of a bear and left the hide and skull, only wanted the meat.  If I kill a bear and the hide is crap, I guess I won't be reporting that bear or cutting off the part of the hide with balls or teets.

[MooseZ25]

I think some of this has to do with our NE Washington grizzly units too.  I will bring them a pelt and they can keep it.  I know they wont want it but neither will I.  If I actually thought that WDFW was using this as a management tool I would be all for it.  But since it's just for spring bears, it just another way to say we as sportsman are doing something wrong.   

[Skyvalhunter]

From listening to the spring bear commission meetings its all tied to the number of sows taken and those that might have cubs.

[dilleytech]

Well the way I read it you don't have to report it within 5 days of kill, but within 5 days of notifying them you killed it.  Which is better, if you have a partner with you and he/she still is hunting you can store it in a cooler till the hunts done.  Still a ridiculous rule, not all hunters take a bears hide out, two spring bear tags ago I talked to a guy who killed a pig of a bear and left the hide and skull, only wanted the meat.  If I kill a bear and the hide is crap, I guess I won't be reporting that bear or cutting off the part of the hide with balls or teets.

Agreed. If it’s a nice hide then they will get there info.