Fish and Wildlife Commission Future Meeting Agendas - *Spring Bear*

[Skyvalhunter]

Do we know who voted for and against it?

[KFhunter]

Ya pretty obvious

[bigtex]

Do we know who voted for and against it?

In favor: Kim Thorburn, who had made the motion to approve the hunt as presented by WDFW staff and strongly supported by Director Kelly Susewind, as well as Molly Linville, who seconded the motion, Jim Anderson and Don McIsaac

Against: Vice Chair Barbara Baker and Commissioners Fred Koontz and Lorna Smith, Chair Larry Carpenter cast the decisive no vote

[KFhunter]

For Immediate Release, November 19, 2021

Contact:

Sophia Ressler, (206) 399-4004, sressler@biologicaldiversity.org

Washington Wildlife Commission Suspends Spring Bear Hunt

OLYMPIA, Wash.— The state of Washington’s Fish and Wildlife Commission voted 4-4 today to suspend a proposed 2022 spring bear-hunting season. The spring hunt, which the commission reviews annually, required a majority to authorize, so the tie vote puts the hunt on hold.

“This vote is a huge win for Washington’s black bears and all our wildlife and ecosystems,” said Sophia Ressler, a staff attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Pausing this hunt to properly analyze the risks will allow for reasoned decision making, and I hope the commission listens to the majority of folks in the state who want these cruel spring hunts to finally come to an end.”

More than 100 people testified on the issue during a Zoom meeting held before the commission Oct. 22. The vast majority — over 90% — asked the commission to ban outright the special-permit spring bear hunt or wait to make a decision until more science and information were provided.

Many experts and members of the public voiced concern over the possibility of bear cubs being orphaned when mother bears are killed during the hunt. Most who testified also expressed concern about the flawed management rationale, lack of transparency during the rulemaking process, and absence of relevant information to support the decision.

Bears emerge from their dens in the spring in a very vulnerable state, struggling to gain weight after winter hibernation. This is particularly challenging for mother bears, who must also feed their cubs. In previous years Washington allowed hunters with a special permit to target black bears during this time.

Prior to today’s vote, Washington was 1 of only 8 states in the country that allowed a spring bear hunt. Black bears are found in 41 states.



This is why we loose

[TriggerMike]

They're reasoning behind their votes is proof to me that there is zero hope for this in the future.

https://nwsportsmanmag.com/tie-vote-on-2022-wa-spring-black-bear-season/

[bigtex]

More than 100 people testified on the issue during a Zoom meeting held before the commission Oct. 22. The vast majority — over 90% — asked the commission to ban outright the special-permit spring bear hunt or wait to make a decision until more science and information were provided.

As many have said before, we (hunters/anglers) never voice our opinion in strong numbers. We bi**h about things amongst our friends, on Hunt-WA, etc. But how many have actually gone to a Commission meeting (or now via Zoom) to testify? The anti's know they have to show up to get their views passed, we on the other side just bi**h and complain.

[TriggerMike]

Lets be real here, hunters testifying or not, the people on this commission now have an agenda and their minds are already made up on virtually every issue before it's even presented, science or not. I don't usually have a defeatist attitude like that, but it's honestly more pragmatic than defeatist at this point.

This section from the article pretty much sums it up.

WDFW staff maintained there are no conservation concerns about the black bear population and that the hunt provides a recreational hunting opportunity with secondary and tertiary benefits to reduce timber damage, elk calf and deer fawn loss and human-bear conflict.

But the season has been in the crosshairs of animal rights groups since last fall when the 8-1 vote to hold the 2021 edition was accompanied by a lawsuit threat that was followed through on but dismissed by a judge before hunting began this April.

This year’s appointment of Koontz and Smith by Governor Inslee always meant it faced a narrower path to approval.

And then there's Koontz who said he doesn't believe that WDFW staff are trained well enough to determine if a bear is a sow or a boar.... so he doesn't believe that only 1 sow was taken in 2021. That is LaLa land reasoning and literally the exact opposite of science based decision making. We're screwed.

[Ridgerunner]

Exactly the commission has an agenda and it is not in the favor of hunters in this state.  Another nail getting pounded into the death of hunting of this state. 

[bearpaw]

The opportunity to hunt should be there for hunters and the commission should be providing that opportunity until science says otherwise! 

[buckfvr]

I dont dare say what I REALLY think.   

[Karl Blanchard]

So we all get refunds for our points right? 

[KFhunter]

Lets be real here, hunters testifying or not, the people on this commission now have an agenda and their minds are already made up on virtually every issue before it's even presented, science or not. I don't usually have a defeatist attitude like that, but it's honestly more pragmatic than defeatist at this point.

This section from the article pretty much sums it up.

WDFW staff maintained there are no conservation concerns about the black bear population and that the hunt provides a recreational hunting opportunity with secondary and tertiary benefits to reduce timber damage, elk calf and deer fawn loss and human-bear conflict.

But the season has been in the crosshairs of animal rights groups since last fall when the 8-1 vote to hold the 2021 edition was accompanied by a lawsuit threat that was followed through on but dismissed by a judge before hunting began this April.

This year’s appointment of Koontz and Smith by Governor Inslee always meant it faced a narrower path to approval.

And then there's Koontz who said he doesn't believe that WDFW staff are trained well enough to determine if a bear is a sow or a boar.... so he doesn't believe that only 1 sow was taken in 2021. That is LaLa land reasoning and literally the exact opposite of science based decision making. We're screwed.

"reduce timber damage, elk calf and deer fawn loss and human-bear conflict"

We had plenty of studies to warrant a scientific bases for reduction of bear and other predators, and more on the way and some ongoing. 

The commission stated this vote was not scientifically based, but one of emotion in this last meeting. 

Well, if we manage our game based on emotion, as this vote was by their own admission, then we'll never have scientific based study again. 

[Mtnwalker]

More than 100 people testified on the issue during a Zoom meeting held before the commission Oct. 22. The vast majority — over 90% — asked the commission to ban outright the special-permit spring bear hunt or wait to make a decision until more science and information were provided.

As many have said before, we (hunters/anglers) never voice our opinion in strong numbers. We bi**h about things amongst our friends, on Hunt-WA, etc. But how many have actually gone to a Commission meeting (or now via Zoom) to testify? The anti's know they have to show up to get their views passed, we on the other side just bi**h and complain.

  The anti's are showing up in droves from all around the country to testify at these things yet most of my friends who hunt were not even aware that this was open for comment, let alone would they ever take the time to show up in person. The other side has a common goal, to stop hunting, whereas we spend more time griping amongst ourselves about trivial crap like "is long range ethical, scopes on muzzleloaders, why ___ yards is too damn far with a bow", etc. etc. to ever organize as a collective and actually fight these things effectively. Not to mention guys will drop $600 on an out of state deer tag no problem but won't donate $100 to pro hunting orgs... the whole thing is pretty sad but not surprising

[hunter399]

Good!!!!!
They voted to not take my 💰.
Will see how that works out for them.
Should of been OTC spring bear hunt anyway.
They can kiss my perineum and lap it up like a dog.

[wannabhntr]

So we all get refunds for our points right? 

I was thinking the same thing 🤔