Spring bear public comment is open

[Wunderlich33]

Glad I was able to comment but as I sat down waiting I couldn't find what I written down so had to freestyle it.   

[Rainier10]

205 signed up to speak, 50 something spoke, 30 something were called on but unavailable I think is the numbers they gave at the end.

[bullfever]

After hearing Lemkhul(?) speak I'm afraid this is going to be lost...I had hopes he would be the pivotal 5th vote, but I fear after what he said he is going to vote to cancel this hunt.

Same. I really hope we're wrong.

[Wunderlich33]

 When will we find out about their decision?

[pickardjw]

After hearing Lemkhul(?) speak I'm afraid this is going to be lost...I had hopes he would be the pivotal 5th vote, but I fear after what he said he is going to vote to cancel this hunt.

That was the feeling I got from his final comment as well. Missed some of the post-public input comments but it sounded like there was some information out there that Ragan was requesting that they were going to provide to answer some of his questions on population trends?

[Platensek-po]

When will we find out about their decision?

Next week is the vote

[Platensek-po]

I’m expecting the worst and hoping for the best

[Bullkllr]

After hearing Lemkhul(?) speak I'm afraid this is going to be lost...I had hopes he would be the pivotal 5th vote, but I fear after what he said he is going to vote to cancel this hunt.

That was the feeling I got from his final comment as well. Missed some of the post-public input comments but it sounded like there was some information out there that Ragan was requesting that they were going to provide to answer some of his questions on population trends?

I believe Lemkuhl asked, "Why do we hunt bears in the spring and not other species?" and he added, "It seems like a double-standard."

I know how I would answer that question, but I'd be interested in hearing others' opinions. It's still possible to get some directed emails in before the cut-off, fwiw.

[Stein]

Double-standards apply to people.

Every species has specific hunting dates based on a multitude of factors and hunting occurs 12 months a year for some species.  Why would we think that bear seasons and duck seasons should be the exact same?

[Platensek-po]

After hearing Lemkhul(?) speak I'm afraid this is going to be lost...I had hopes he would be the pivotal 5th vote, but I fear after what he said he is going to vote to cancel this hunt.

That was the feeling I got from his final comment as well. Missed some of the post-public input comments but it sounded like there was some information out there that Ragan was requesting that they were going to provide to answer some of his questions on population trends?

I believe Lemkuhl asked, "Why do we hunt bears in the spring and not other species?" and he added, "It seems like a double-standard."

I know how I would answer that question, but I'd be interested in hearing others' opinions. It's still possible to get some directed emails in before the cut-off, fwiw.

We hunt plenty of other animals in the spring. Raccoon, rabbit cougar etc are hunted through March. We don’t hunt ungulates in the spring because of how we determine take. Pretty hard to harvest a 3pt buck I’m when it doesn’t have its antlers yet. We also hunt bears in the spring to increase pressure on them and to up the possibility of take. Bears also rut in the spring while ungulates rut in the fall.

[Bullkllr]

Those are good ideas. I'd like to read more.

I have a busy afternoon, but I'll fire off an email tonight to Lehmkuhl and the others using some of those ideas.

I'd encourage others to do the same.

Timothy.Ragen@dfw.wa.gov Molly.Linville@dfw.wa.gov Kim.Thorburn@dfw.wa.gov Barbara.Baker@dfw.wa.gov Melanie.Rowland@dfw.wa.gov Donald.Mcisaac@dfw.wa.gov Lorna.Smith@dfw.wa.gov John.Lehmkuhl@dfw.wa.gov

Another point I haven't heard a lot about in this process is how if sport harvest has gone up, at the same time the depredation hunt numbers have gone way down since 2019 I believe since the timber companies can no longer use bait/hounds.

[Rainier10]

My letter I just sent to the commission.

So the spring bear webinar just ended.  I was signed up to speak but you didn't get to me.

 

I am a master hunter, a hunter education instructor and a large land owner.

 

I think it is important to note that the spring bear hunt was not voted down at the last meeting.  It was left undecided because a tie vote.

 

I also believe the reason there has been a spring bear hunt in the past is because the population can sustain the hunt.  Commissioner Lehmkuhl had asked that question and questioned why we don't hunt other animals in the spring.   We don't hunt deer and elk in the spring because their population can't sustain that hunt.  Seasons for ungulates get adjusted shorter and longer, permits raised and lowered as the population allows.  Since banning baiting in 1996 bear populations have increased allowing more hunting of bears, two tags are now authorized in this state because of the increased number of bears.  Taking away the spring bear hunt will just have the population increase again and create more human/bear conflicts.  Allowing the spring hunt will help manage the number of bears at a sustainable level that provides recreation while keeping a balanced ecosystem.

 

I mentioned that I teach hunter education.  We have 10-20 students a month, 8 months out of the year take our class where I teach.  There are many other classes throughout the state but just at the facility I teach at we teach up to 160 students a year every year.  At that class on our field course we discuss at length bear hunting and the importance of taking your time to verify that there are no cubs in the area.  Number for safety, you don't want to find yourself in between a mother and her cubs.  Number two for the ethics of it.  A cub stays with it's mother for two years it is important to not shoot a mother with cubs.  Most of our hunters won't be spring bear hunting, they will be hunting August to November and cubs are still dependent on their mothers for that entire season.

 

It was mentioned in the meeting that spring bear hunting only benefits a very small number of hunters.  If you listened to the comments many of the hunters put in for 8 years prior to drawing a permit.  That means that there are far more hunters getting benefit out of the spring hunt.  It's a hope and a dream for thousands of applicants each year waiting to hear if they are one of the lucky 600 permit winners.

 

I will say that spring is a great time to see multiple bears and ensure that you are taking a mature boar and not a sow or a sow with cubs.  Hunters want to see a healthy sustainable bear population, harvesting a sow with cubs is detrimental to their hunting future.

 

One should note that more cubs are actually killed by mature boars looking to maintain territory and bring a sow back into heat.  As humans continue to encroach on our wild spaces that leaves less habitat for bears.  That means bears are left to take out their young or the younger immature bears end up in suburban areas causing human conflict.  None of this is good for the bears or a pleasant ending at all.

 

Our deer and elk populations are hurting do to predation by bears and cougars.  I own two square miles of deer and elk winter range.   That range becomes spring nursery range for deer and elk.  It is sage brush and every spring I end with 5-8 different bears on game camera in that sage brush because that is where the elk are calving.  It is decimating the elk herd.  Bears need to be kept in check to maintain a healthy sustainable amount of ALL wildlife.

 

The number one obstacle facing our wildlife populations today is loss of habitat.  It is important to manage our game animal numbers so that they don't damage the habitat that is left or cause human conflict.

 

I strongly urge you to bring back the spring bear season.

[hunter399]

When will we find out about their decision?

Next week is the vote

They dragging there feet or what.
This is an ongoing topic that all info should be in.
Make a decision so we can move on ,if we are not bear hunting or what.

[saylean]

Thanks to all who took the time to speak. It’s appreciated. We can continue to email them about this until tomorrow night.

[Special T]

Lots of great well thought out statements to the commission.

I was kind of thinking Lehmkuhl might be leaning our direction until the statements after the public testimony.