Spring bear public comment is open

[mburrows]

some of the comments are incredible how ignorant they are to science and wildlife management. I hope everybody is commenting and sharing with friends, even if they or their friends dont hunt bears because it wont end here with spring bears, anti's wont stop until all hunting is shut down.

[mburrows]

posting the link again for those new to the thread

https://publicinput.com/SpringBearPetition102

[7mmfan]

I agree, we need to step up our commenting. The way the different demographics work is interesting to watch. The anti hunters definitely have a strategy and a coordinated plan of attack. In general it seems that we as hunters fall into a group that feels that once we've commented, our position has been established, and there is no further need to expand on it. The Anti hunting group has figured out that the squeaky wheel gets the attention. They comment over and over and in large amounts. If we aren't careful, they will outnumber us again. We need to take some ques from their playbook and be the squeaky wheel. If we want more opportunity, we need to start making ourselves heard and in overwhelming volumes. I have been guilty of not commenting in the past when I had the opportunity, or only commenting once. I'll be commenting daily until this closes with a well thought out, respectful, fact based comment. I don't know if the comments such as, "I support the hunt", or simply, "support", carry any weight. Here is my comment from earlier today.

"I strongly support the continuation of the spring bear hunt. Washington State has one of the most robust black bear populations in the lower 48 states. The science and data has shown that the frequency of incidental kills of lactating sows with cubs is virtually zero, so is not a reason to hold this hunt up. Our big game species need to be scientifically managed to the benefit of all species, not just the ones we see fit. Managing black bear populations benefits struggling ungulate populations in many of the hunt areas. Man has been a keystone to the natural food chain since we came on the landscape. If we "leave nature alone" we are effectively removing an apex predator from the landscape, the only predator that some of these animals have. The hunt and management of these animals needs to continue."

I see a lot of opposing comments referencing killing cubs and trophy hunting. My next comment will address the food value of bears and that we want strong bear populations to continue to hunt, so killing sows with cubs not only doesn't happen, but makes no sense.

[saylean]

Don’t forget you can call too.

855.925.2801 code 6453

[hunter399]

Just reading the comments ,
Make me very upset.
You can tell most are against all hunting,and have very little to do with the "spring bear hunt" .
Where do they think the money comes from that support wildlife conservation.
I don't stop them from eating there organic round up salad .
Why are they trying to stop me from eating bear meat.
It's so frustrated.
I bet a good portion of these anti-hunters ,don't even live in Washington.

[bornhunter]

I agree, we need to step up our commenting. The way the different demographics work is interesting to watch. The anti hunters definitely have a strategy and a coordinated plan of attack. In general it seems that we as hunters fall into a group that feels that once we've commented, our position has been established, and there is no further need to expand on it. The Anti hunting group has figured out that the squeaky wheel gets the attention. They comment over and over and in large amounts. If we aren't careful, they will outnumber us again. We need to take some ques from their playbook and be the squeaky wheel. If we want more opportunity, we need to start making ourselves heard and in overwhelming volumes. I have been guilty of not commenting in the past when I had the opportunity, or only commenting once. I'll be commenting daily until this closes with a well thought out, respectful, fact based comment. I don't know if the comments such as, "I support the hunt", or simply, "support", carry any weight. Here is my comment from earlier today.

"I strongly support the continuation of the spring bear hunt. Washington State has one of the most robust black bear populations in the lower 48 states. The science and data has shown that the frequency of incidental kills of lactating sows with cubs is virtually zero, so is not a reason to hold this hunt up. Our big game species need to be scientifically managed to the benefit of all species, not just the ones we see fit. Managing black bear populations benefits struggling ungulate populations in many of the hunt areas. Man has been a keystone to the natural food chain since we came on the landscape. If we "leave nature alone" we are effectively removing an apex predator from the landscape, the only predator that some of these animals have. The hunt and management of these animals needs to continue."

I see a lot of opposing comments referencing killing cubs and trophy hunting. My next comment will address the food value of bears and that we want strong bear populations to continue to hunt, so killing sows with cubs not only doesn't happen, but makes no sense.

Well done! 

[vandeman17]

I just commented. Funny how most of the comments against are likely from the same people who preach about following the science in terms of Covid.

[Weatherby92]

Just reading the comments ,
Make me very upset.
You can tell most are against all hunting,and have very little to do with the "spring bear hunt" .
Where do they think the money comes from that support wildlife conservation.
I don't stop them from eating there organic round up salad .
Why are they trying to stop me from eating bear meat.
It's so frustrated.
I bet a good portion of these anti-hunters ,don't even live in Washington.

I agree, its really tough to see the kinds of comments that they're throwing out there. The sad thing is they think they are true and won't listen to any science but their own. I must be more sheltered than I thought.

[Karl Blanchard]

Whats really sad is I bet a large portion of them, I'd say 95% or better consume animal products of some form. Pot meet kettle.

[7mmfan]

Whats really sad is I bet a large portion of them, I'd say 95% or better consume animal products of some form. Pot meet kettle.

   This. When it comes to bears though, there is an enormous segment of the population that believes that bears have no food value, or that as hunters we do not keep the meat. It seems to be an accepted truth. Frankly, I believed that as a kid growing up as well. It took people I knew killing bears and eating the meat to realize what I was missing. Education on the food value is important. The general population despises trophy hunting. Most of them feel that population management is even a thin vail. Tying food value to something makes a big difference.

[Bullkllr]

Whats really sad is I bet a large portion of them, I'd say 95% or better consume animal products of some form. Pot meet kettle.

Not to mention even if they don't  the most "organic" farming displaces and kills untold numbers of various animal species; then shipping it (and anything), driving to the store to get veggies, living and breathing, etc., etc.

Whole lotta Disney-based ideas regarding wildlife going on there.

[johnbmyersii]

Lots of pro comments starting to show up in the past 3 hours....lets keep it up we're drowning out the anti's, man of which sound like they are out of state/out of county.

[Weatherby92]

I can't find when the comment period ends. Anyone know?

[Skyvalhunter]

I don't know how many of you follow that change.org petition group but I keep an eye on it. There is a continuous assault there on getting people to oppose the spring bear hunt along with things like Under Amour dropping Cameron Haynes. They post links to the WDFW website for Spring Bear hunt comments. So you can bet every anti hunting, anti cruelty to animals, etc. group sees that and makes a comment. Its a trick the Anti's use well.

[johnbmyersii]

I can't find when the comment period ends. Anyone know?

It doesn't say but we shouldn't back down until they announce the date of the commission meeting that they will vote on spring bear