WDFW Spring Bear 2022 cancelled!

[pianoman9701]

I’m all for a nuanced perspective on things but when we have a commission that’s not 100% on board with hunting as whole, and will bend the knee to groups like the humane society we have a serious problem.  This is along the same lines of why we can’t hunt bear and cougar with hounds. Emotion based game management as a conservation model is laughable at best. 


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Actually, the hound and bait prohibition happened because of a vote of the people. Being that this wasn't a vote and a decision of the F&W commission, hunting should've been protected, even enhanced. This is what happens when a governor like Inslee, who's power-hungry and Marxist, takes control.

[Odell]

I think we're just screwed to be perfectly honest, and have been for many years.

I only bought WA tags to hunt predators, but as our ungulate species declines in the backwoods that's getting harder, you have to hunt the fringes of ranches and private property that still hold deer.  I can walk through my hayfields of alfalfa and another of orchard grass and not see one track in the snow. 

I can toss out a premium compressed bale of alfalfa, throw a 50lb bag of corn on top of that, and then pour a half gallon of deer cane and only see turkey hitting it.  The record deer count was 100 deer in the late 90's

Now I got none, I can't even put a kid in a blind to get a first deer. Thanks WDFW and Inslee.

I agree 100%. It is over and nothing will change the inevitable outcome. Fishing and hunting in the west is doomed.

[idahohuntr]

I got a canned reply from Lorna Smith...

My reasons for voting against the spring bear hunt were:

(1) The Department failed to incorporate their own science into their recommendations. The published science I refer to is the result of many years of fieldwork which  has been published and peer reviewed in several professional journals. This best available science  on bear densities in GMUs on both sides of the state should be the guiding science on setting black bear seasons, fall AND spring. That research shows us that bear densities are far from uniform across the state and in many cases are far less than the 30 bears per 100 sq kilometers presumed for eastern Washington and the 19 bears presumed for eastern Washington, as is currently the case.

(2) We also know that the state-wide population is much smaller (19-20,000 bears) than the previously believed 30,000 bears that the current hunts are predicated upon.  Science points out that the percent female/percent age of harvested bears approach that we currently use to estimate population and to set seasons is not a reliable indicator of  population health. In fact, the SAME ratios reported currently at end of season could just as easily be indicative of a declining population, according to research. (SEE 2020 Game Status and Trends Report 2020 https://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/02217  ) Of particular concern was the 50% increase in black bear  harvest in 2019-20 documented in the report, following several years of devastating wildfires and drought in eastern Washington when habitat loss and resultant impact of a  food shortage may have led to desperate bears finding themselves more exposed in a wider-ranging search for food during fall hunts. The Commission approved the increased bag limit and season length in 2019 which led to the increased harvest, based on little to no current population data.

So while the argument is strong that spring hunting of bears as they emerge from hibernation when they are thin, starving, lethargic and less able to avoid threats violates the hunting ethics of fair chase, in my opinion,  that is simply the underpinning of my vote against a spring bear hunt which was solidly based on the Department’s own data and failure to use that data in setting seasons and harvests. Why did staff not report what I am reporting to you now, and which is readily available online? Since I have been on the Commission we have not received a briefing on this research and the management implications, and I have had to do my own research, albeit of readily available sources on DFW’s own website.  That apparent lack of transparency should be of concern  to hunters and non-hunters alike who share a common dedication to being informed by the “Best Available Science” and to having that science made available to a well-informed Commission to factor into often difficult decisions.

[Mr Mykiss]

My reasons for voting against the spring bear hunt were:

 (1) The Department failed to incorporate their own science into their recommendations. The published science I refer to is the result of many years of fieldwork which  has been published and peer reviewed in several professional journals. This best available science  on bear densities in GMUs on both sides of the state should be the guiding science on setting black bear seasons, fall AND spring. That research shows us that bear densities are far from uniform across the state and in many cases are far less than the 30 bears per 100 sq kilometers presumed for eastern Washington and the 19 bears presumed for eastern Washington, as is currently the case.

 (2) We also know that the state-wide population is much smaller (19-20,000 bears) than the previously believed 30,000 bears that the current hunts are predicated upon.  Science points out that the percent female/percent age of harvested bears approach that we currently use to estimate population and to set seasons is not a reliable indicator of  population health. In fact, the SAME ratios reported currently at end of season could just as easily be indicative of a declining population, according to research. (SEE 2020 Game Status and Trends Report 2020 https://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/02217  ) Of particular concern was the 50% increase in black bear  harvest in 2019-20 documented in the report, following several years of devastating wildfires and drought in eastern Washington when habitat loss and resultant impact of a  food shortage may have led to desperate bears finding themselves more exposed in a wider-ranging search for food during fall hunts. The Commission approved the increased bag limit and season length in 2019 which led to the increased harvest, based on little to no current population data.

 So while the argument is strong that spring hunting of bears as they emerge from hibernation when they are thin, starving, lethargic and less able to avoid threats violates the hunting ethics of fair chase, in my opinion,  that is simply the underpinning of my vote against a spring bear hunt which was solidly based on the Department’s own data and failure to use that data in setting seasons and harvests. Why did staff not report what I am reporting to you now, and which is readily available online? Since I have been on the Commission we have not received a briefing on this research and the management implications, and I have had to do my own research, albeit of readily available sources on DFW’s own website.  That apparent lack of transparency should be of concern  to hunters and non-hunters alike who share a common dedication to being informed by the “Best Available Science” and to having that science made available to a well-informed Commission to factor into often difficult decisions.

Respectfully,

Lorna Smith

[Lokaybinnity]

What about my 5 years worth of points what the going to do with that. I put 5 more points on moose please it's only fair

[KFhunter]

I got a canned reply from Lorna Smith...

My reasons for voting against the spring bear hunt were:

(1) The Department failed to incorporate their own science into their recommendations. The published science I refer to is the result of many years of fieldwork which  has been published and peer reviewed in several professional journals. This best available science  on bear densities in GMUs on both sides of the state should be the guiding science on setting black bear seasons, fall AND spring. That research shows us that bear densities are far from uniform across the state and in many cases are far less than the 30 bears per 100 sq kilometers presumed for eastern Washington and the 19 bears presumed for eastern Washington, as is currently the case.

(2) We also know that the state-wide population is much smaller (19-20,000 bears) than the previously believed 30,000 bears that the current hunts are predicated upon.  Science points out that the percent female/percent age of harvested bears approach that we currently use to estimate population and to set seasons is not a reliable indicator of  population health. In fact, the SAME ratios reported currently at end of season could just as easily be indicative of a declining population, according to research. (SEE 2020 Game Status and Trends Report 2020 https://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/02217  ) Of particular concern was the 50% increase in black bear  harvest in 2019-20 documented in the report, following several years of devastating wildfires and drought in eastern Washington when habitat loss and resultant impact of a  food shortage may have led to desperate bears finding themselves more exposed in a wider-ranging search for food during fall hunts. The Commission approved the increased bag limit and season length in 2019 which led to the increased harvest, based on little to no current population data.

So while the argument is strong that spring hunting of bears as they emerge from hibernation when they are thin, starving, lethargic and less able to avoid threats violates the hunting ethics of fair chase, in my opinion,  that is simply the underpinning of my vote against a spring bear hunt which was solidly based on the Department’s own data and failure to use that data in setting seasons and harvests. Why did staff not report what I am reporting to you now, and which is readily available online? Since I have been on the Commission we have not received a briefing on this research and the management implications, and I have had to do my own research, albeit of readily available sources on DFW’s own website.  That apparent lack of transparency should be of concern  to hunters and non-hunters alike who share a common dedication to being informed by the “Best Available Science” and to having that science made available to a well-informed Commission to factor into often difficult decisions.

Wonder who wrote that for her,  center for biological diversity? 

[KFhunter]

lotta wrong in that response, clearly an envirowacko blowing smoke up your shirehole. 

[skagitsteel]

My reasons for voting against the spring bear hunt were:

 (1) The Department failed to incorporate their own science into their recommendations. The published science I refer to is the result of many years of fieldwork which  has been published and peer reviewed in several professional journals. This best available science  on bear densities in GMUs on both sides of the state should be the guiding science on setting black bear seasons, fall AND spring. That research shows us that bear densities are far from uniform across the state and in many cases are far less than the 30 bears per 100 sq kilometers presumed for eastern Washington and the 19 bears presumed for eastern Washington, as is currently the case.

 (2) We also know that the state-wide population is much smaller (19-20,000 bears) than the previously believed 30,000 bears that the current hunts are predicated upon.  Science points out that the percent female/percent age of harvested bears approach that we currently use to estimate population and to set seasons is not a reliable indicator of  population health. In fact, the SAME ratios reported currently at end of season could just as easily be indicative of a declining population, according to research. (SEE 2020 Game Status and Trends Report 2020 https://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/02217  ) Of particular concern was the 50% increase in black bear  harvest in 2019-20 documented in the report, following several years of devastating wildfires and drought in eastern Washington when habitat loss and resultant impact of a  food shortage may have led to desperate bears finding themselves more exposed in a wider-ranging search for food during fall hunts. The Commission approved the increased bag limit and season length in 2019 which led to the increased harvest, based on little to no current population data.

 So while the argument is strong that spring hunting of bears as they emerge from hibernation when they are thin, starving, lethargic and less able to avoid threats violates the hunting ethics of fair chase, in my opinion,  that is simply the underpinning of my vote against a spring bear hunt which was solidly based on the Department’s own data and failure to use that data in setting seasons and harvests. Why did staff not report what I am reporting to you now, and which is readily available online? Since I have been on the Commission we have not received a briefing on this research and the management implications, and I have had to do my own research, albeit of readily available sources on DFW’s own website.  That apparent lack of transparency should be of concern  to hunters and non-hunters alike who share a common dedication to being informed by the “Best Available Science” and to having that science made available to a well-informed Commission to factor into often difficult decisions.

Respectfully,

Lorna Smith

Maybe we should ask her how many days she spent in the field to verify the info?   it doesn't take a genius to figure out that the increased harvest was because we have a growing bear population

[trophyhunt]

Well after reading that, I take back my thoughts on spring bear coming back soon, it's not. 

[pickardjw]

So the WDFW biologists collect all that data, look at it wholistically, and present their recommendations to the Commission right? So Lorna, with her degree in Environmental Studies from Evergreen, has decided she knows more than the professional biologists and can interpret their data better than they can...what a joke.

[mburrows]

Wow is all I can say. That is an opinion that is way out of touch with reality.

[pickardjw]

Posted this in the other thread but it sounds like she thinks she's smarter than the WDFW bios and can interpret their data better than they can. Ya know, with her Environmental Studies degree from Evergreen State of all places. Enviro-whacko confirmed.

[millerwheeler]

Spring bear will never come
Back period anyone that thinks other wise should look at the take take take the department has been doing over the years

[salt n sage90]

Jeez,
Increasing bear numbers and a huge jump in the number of new hunting license holders with the onset of the "pandemic". Pretty easy dots to connect in my opinion.
I knew they would use the pandemic to hit hunters somewhere.
So what do I do with my 5 Spring Bear points? Do they let us allocate those toward other hunts? refund the fees? doubt it.

[KNOPHISH]

She wrote all that jibber jabber when all she had to say is my feelings are butt hurt you guys kill bears.