Please comment: Black Bear Timber Damage CR-102

[Special T]

Page 4 section 5 C states that the permitt holder/Hunter must have a bear tag.

 I can only assume that this is further proof of instituting a damage tag to hunters. Combine that with the public access portion and it sounds pretty good.

It also implies that since it requires a tag one person cannot kill more bears than they have tags for, so it incitivizes opening the hunting to more people. It does however give them control since the person has to be named by the landowner. This May change the way spring bear looked where the more local or active hunter has a better chance to increase harvest of trouble bears.

The way I read it.
You can kill more bears than you have tag.
Basically if you wanna keep the bear for hide or consumption then you would be required to use a bear tag.
Otherwise kill as many as you have permits for a leave them to rot.

Please rethink your post and consider deleting.  Big game waste is criminal as it should be.

This is a depredation permit, same as all other depredation hunts with the exception that the 'designated hunters' are allowed to keep the bear if they want to tag it. Normally you are required to leave the animals to rot with these types of permits.

Where are you getting information on depredation hunt? This is absolutely incorrect information and is a representation of why we continue to lose ground.  At a point in history I am sure this happened, I can actually recall some of the permits in the 80s and 90s. I would even say it's not out of the realm of possibly that a carcass is discarded but it's not the norm. Can I ask how many depredation hunts for any species either of you have been a part of since the last court decision limited the designee and tightened the conditions?

It's common knowledge bro.
You tell us what happens to every cougar removal and any animal the department kills that is a predator.
I suppose they fry up coyotes like fried chicken.
What the heck are we talking about.
Where do you think they go?
Don't have to go on a hunt,go look in the county pit.
That where your truth is.

Another thing our commission wants to end all predator hunting.
But you believe they are giving our spring bear back through these permits. 
There is a reason and I'm trying to tell ya why.

There is a difference between depredation harvests by the WDFW  and other depredation hunts. I believe you are referring to the fact that the WDFW killed more cats in depredation than in harvest by hunters like in district 1. Those cats were put in a hole.  I am not savy as to the permit requirements for timber damage, which is the topic. I think we would all be smarter if some one provided that information.

On a side note TBar knows plenty and I dont think you would come up on a winning side of an argument with him if he had the patience to educate you with citations. Unfortunatly he does not, we all could learn a lot from that discussion. I think what he is trying to impress upon people is that the Animal Rights crowd, and certainly the Commission pays attention to comments here an uses ignorant statements against sportsmen. 

[ducks4days]

Page 4 section 5 C states that the permitt holder/Hunter must have a bear tag.

 I can only assume that this is further proof of instituting a damage tag to hunters. Combine that with the public access portion and it sounds pretty good.

It also implies that since it requires a tag one person cannot kill more bears than they have tags for, so it incitivizes opening the hunting to more people. It does however give them control since the person has to be named by the landowner. This May change the way spring bear looked where the more local or active hunter has a better chance to increase harvest of trouble bears.

The way I read it.
You can kill more bears than you have tag.
Basically if you wanna keep the bear for hide or consumption then you would be required to use a bear tag.
Otherwise kill as many as you have permits for a leave them to rot.

Please rethink your post and consider deleting.  Big game waste is criminal as it should be.

This is a depredation permit, same as all other depredation hunts with the exception that the 'designated hunters' are allowed to keep the bear if they want to tag it. Normally you are required to leave the animals to rot with these types of permits.

Where are you getting information on depredation hunt? This is absolutely incorrect information and is a representation of why we continue to lose ground.  At a point in history I am sure this happened, I can actually recall some of the permits in the 80s and 90s. I would even say it's not out of the realm of possibly that a carcass is discarded but it's not the norm. Can I ask how many depredation hunts for any species either of you have been a part of since the last court decision limited the designee and tightened the conditions?

You’re right, this isn’t a depredation hunt. I’m not entirely sure why I thought it was.

[hunter399]

Page 4 section 5 C states that the permitt holder/Hunter must have a bear tag.

 I can only assume that this is further proof of instituting a damage tag to hunters. Combine that with the public access portion and it sounds pretty good.

It also implies that since it requires a tag one person cannot kill more bears than they have tags for, so it incitivizes opening the hunting to more people. It does however give them control since the person has to be named by the landowner. This May change the way spring bear looked where the more local or active hunter has a better chance to increase harvest of trouble bears.

The way I read it.
You can kill more bears than you have tag.
Basically if you wanna keep the bear for hide or consumption then you would be required to use a bear tag.
Otherwise kill as many as you have permits for a leave them to rot.

Please rethink your post and consider deleting.  Big game waste is criminal as it should be.

This is a depredation permit, same as all other depredation hunts with the exception that the 'designated hunters' are allowed to keep the bear if they want to tag it. Normally you are required to leave the animals to rot with these types of permits.

Where are you getting information on depredation hunt? This is absolutely incorrect information and is a representation of why we continue to lose ground.  At a point in history I am sure this happened, I can actually recall some of the permits in the 80s and 90s. I would even say it's not out of the realm of possibly that a carcass is discarded but it's not the norm. Can I ask how many depredation hunts for any species either of you have been a part of since the last court decision limited the designee and tightened the conditions?

It's common knowledge bro.
You tell us what happens to every cougar removal and any animal the department kills that is a predator.
I suppose they fry up coyotes like fried chicken.
What the heck are we talking about.
Where do you think they go?
Don't have to go on a hunt,go look in the county pit.
That where your truth is.

Another thing our commission wants to end all predator hunting.
But you believe they are giving our spring bear back through these permits. 
There is a reason and I'm trying to tell ya why.

There is a difference between depredation harvests by the WDFW  and other depredation hunts. I believe you are referring to the fact that the WDFW killed more cats in depredation than in harvest by hunters like in district 1. Those cats were put in a hole.  I am not savy as to the permit requirements for timber damage, which is the topic. I think we would all be smarter if some one provided that information.

On a side note TBar knows plenty and I dont think you would come up on a winning side of an argument with him if he had the patience to educate you with citations. Unfortunatly he does not, we all could learn a lot from that discussion. I think what he is trying to impress upon people is that the Animal Rights crowd, and certainly the Commission pays attention to comments here an uses ignorant statements against sportsmen. 

So I'm ignorant for wanting spring bear season back.
With a fair draw,point system,and game laws that will ensure every bear is tagged,and not wasted.
Ok ,whatever you guys say.
If you support this hunt,it will always separate "recreational" and damage hunt of spring black bear.
It's like the final nail in the coffin for a traditional spring bear hunt.
Is what it is.
If you believe I'm hurting our hunting rights in any way feel free to have one of the moderator delete it.
I'm ok with that. And clean up the topic.

Just because I won't follow you and Tbar like a herd of sheep.
Doesn't exactly make me ignorant.

Stubborn as a mule I might agree with.

[fireweed]

Page 4 section 5 C states that the permitt holder/Hunter must have a bear tag.

 I can only assume that this is further proof of instituting a damage tag to hunters. Combine that with the public access portion and it sounds pretty good.

It also implies that since it requires a tag one person cannot kill more bears than they have tags for, so it incitivizes opening the hunting to more people. It does however give them control since the person has to be named by the landowner. This May change the way spring bear looked where the more local or active hunter has a better chance to increase harvest of trouble bears.

The way I read it.
You can kill more bears than you have tag.
Basically if you wanna keep the bear for hide or consumption then you would be required to use a bear tag.
Otherwise kill as many as you have permits for a leave them to rot.

In the past timber companies turned in the bears for donation and pay for processing.  Tribes often ended up with the meat.

[fireweed]

No amount of hunters would make a meaningful difference boot hunting on these permits.

If a company did give it a try I'd imagine they'd want a resume of sorts that shows a person actually knows how to hunt bear, and are an honest person that is going to treat the permit and property with respect etc. It's not, and would never be just wide open to allowing any Joe Blow to operate under a permit in the company's name without a thorough vetting process.

The industry suffers mllions in damages annually.

Few units on the west side actually had a spring bear hunt. Damage was controlled, or at least mitigated in part historically with effective means - hounds.  Many timber owners didn't pursue depredation, and instead fed though the spring months.  Probably an ESG thing when investment groups started buying timberlands.  Boot hunting is a virtual waste of time on a depredation permit with such tiny hunt area.  Damaged areas are generally 10-25 year old reprod that you can't see 10 feet in.

As a forester, the current iteration of damage permits are a joke in terms of actually getting problem animals removed.  A traditional spring bear hunt is also a joke for damage control.  A spring bear hunt would be fine to try and help with overall population control, but wouldn't do much for damage reduction. 

Depredation permits are not a recreation hunt and should not be confused as such.  The most effective methods of stopping the damage as soon as possible should be allowed, but WDFW continually tightens the screws on permits to the point that they are even more restrictive than standard recreation hunts.

 

Bear feeding has been used for decades, way before ESG and was started by a commercial bear hunter to provide an alternative food source in the spring to defer peeling.  If boot hunting doesn't work for damage (of which I disagree because walking logging roads in the spring in damage areas works) and these permits cant use hounds, how are these damage permits any more effective in the brush of reprod?  The brush is still there.  Is it only because it is in the spring?  Then this is a boot hunt in the spring by special permit.  If no amount of boot hunting makes a difference, and no hounds can be used, how are these permits special?  Can they hunt over bait?  Use snares?  What is the caveat that makes these permits more lethal?

[Special T]

Page 4 section 5 C states that the permitt holder/Hunter must have a bear tag.

 I can only assume that this is further proof of instituting a damage tag to hunters. Combine that with the public access portion and it sounds pretty good.

It also implies that since it requires a tag one person cannot kill more bears than they have tags for, so it incitivizes opening the hunting to more people. It does however give them control since the person has to be named by the landowner. This May change the way spring bear looked where the more local or active hunter has a better chance to increase harvest of trouble bears.

The way I read it.
You can kill more bears than you have tag.
Basically if you wanna keep the bear for hide or consumption then you would be required to use a bear tag.
Otherwise kill as many as you have permits for a leave them to rot.

Please rethink your post and consider deleting.  Big game waste is criminal as it should be.

This is a depredation permit, same as all other depredation hunts with the exception that the 'designated hunters' are allowed to keep the bear if they want to tag it. Normally you are required to leave the animals to rot with these types of permits.

Where are you getting information on depredation hunt? This is absolutely incorrect information and is a representation of why we continue to lose ground.  At a point in history I am sure this happened, I can actually recall some of the permits in the 80s and 90s. I would even say it's not out of the realm of possibly that a carcass is discarded but it's not the norm. Can I ask how many depredation hunts for any species either of you have been a part of since the last court decision limited the designee and tightened the conditions?

It's common knowledge bro.
You tell us what happens to every cougar removal and any animal the department kills that is a predator.
I suppose they fry up coyotes like fried chicken.
What the heck are we talking about.
Where do you think they go?
Don't have to go on a hunt,go look in the county pit.
That where your truth is.

Another thing our commission wants to end all predator hunting.
But you believe they are giving our spring bear back through these permits. 
There is a reason and I'm trying to tell ya why.

There is a difference between depredation harvests by the WDFW  and other depredation hunts. I believe you are referring to the fact that the WDFW killed more cats in depredation than in harvest by hunters like in district 1. Those cats were put in a hole.  I am not savy as to the permit requirements for timber damage, which is the topic. I think we would all be smarter if some one provided that information.

On a side note TBar knows plenty and I dont think you would come up on a winning side of an argument with him if he had the patience to educate you with citations. Unfortunatly he does not, we all could learn a lot from that discussion. I think what he is trying to impress upon people is that the Animal Rights crowd, and certainly the Commission pays attention to comments here an uses ignorant statements against sportsmen. 

So I'm ignorant for wanting spring bear season back.
With a fair draw,point system,and game laws that will ensure every bear is tagged,and not wasted.
Ok ,whatever you guys say.
If you support this hunt,it will always separate "recreational" and damage hunt of spring black bear.
It's like the final nail in the coffin for a traditional spring bear hunt.
Is what it is.
If you believe I'm hurting our hunting rights in any way feel free to have one of the moderator delete it.
I'm ok with that. And clean up the topic.

Just because I won't follow you and Tbar like a herd of sheep.
Doesn't exactly make me ignorant.

Stubborn as a mule I might agree with.

The Commission has stated that they wont support a recreational hunt. Our old spring bear hunt is gone unless a clearing the seats of several of these bad commissioners happens. Forcing the issue wont make it any more likely to happen.

Is this what I would want in a rule change? No its not perfect. I recognize what I want wont get past them. Folks should also recognize WHO sets and approves permit levels, the commission. So they could pass our dream Spring bear hunt and not give us any allocated tags, or just allow professional hunters to do it.

Hunt Wa is very fortunate to have a wide variety of professionals that chime in. Foresters, Leos, Bios, Mechanics, politicians and such. We might not know their names but an observant person can pick it up by the way they write and respond. "You get out what you put in" is a favorite saying of mine. Assumptions, assertions, and Ignorance dont get you answers. Doing the work reading, and being honest enough to ask for explanation or proof when confronted with opposing statements.

[Humptulips]

Page 4 section 5 C states that the permitt holder/Hunter must have a bear tag.

 I can only assume that this is further proof of instituting a damage tag to hunters. Combine that with the public access portion and it sounds pretty good.

It also implies that since it requires a tag one person cannot kill more bears than they have tags for, so it incitivizes opening the hunting to more people. It does however give them control since the person has to be named by the landowner. This May change the way spring bear looked where the more local or active hunter has a better chance to increase harvest of trouble bears.

The way I read it.
You can kill more bears than you have tag.
Basically if you wanna keep the bear for hide or consumption then you would be required to use a bear tag.
Otherwise kill as many as you have permits for a leave them to rot.

Please rethink your post and consider deleting.  Big game waste is criminal as it should be.

This is a depredation permit, same as all other depredation hunts with the exception that the 'designated hunters' are allowed to keep the bear if they want to tag it. Normally you are required to leave the animals to rot with these types of permits.

Where are you getting information on depredation hunt? This is absolutely incorrect information and is a representation of why we continue to lose ground.  At a point in history I am sure this happened, I can actually recall some of the permits in the 80s and 90s. I would even say it's not out of the realm of possibly that a carcass is discarded but it's not the norm. Can I ask how many depredation hunts for any species either of you have been a part of since the last court decision limited the designee and tightened the conditions?

It's common knowledge bro.
You tell us what happens to every cougar removal and any animal the department kills that is a predator.
I suppose they fry up coyotes like fried chicken.
What the heck are we talking about.
Where do you think they go?
Don't have to go on a hunt,go look in the county pit.
That where your truth is.

Another thing our commission wants to end all predator hunting.
But you believe they are giving our spring bear back through these permits. 
There is a reason and I'm trying to tell ya why.

Cougar and coyotes are different than Bear. To my knowledge the depredation permits that were issued to use hounds and bear snares all required the bear be delivered to a meat cutter for processing and donated for consumption unless it was not salvageable.

[Alan K]

Bear feeding has been used for decades, way before ESG and was started by a commercial bear hunter to provide an alternative food source in the spring to defer peeling.  If boot hunting doesn't work for damage (of which I disagree because walking logging roads in the spring in damage areas works) and these permits cant use hounds, how are these damage permits any more effective in the brush of reprod?  The brush is still there.  Is it only because it is in the spring?  Then this is a boot hunt in the spring by special permit.  If no amount of boot hunting makes a difference, and no hounds can be used, how are these permits special?  Can they hunt over bait?  Use snares?  What is the caveat that makes these permits more lethal?

No doubt feeding was used pre-ESG, but it was also used in conjunction with hounds. Areas that guys could not easily recover their dogs, near urban areas, etc.  Bear feeding does limit damage, but doesn't eliminate it.  And sometimes there are bears that just aren't satisfied with bear feed.  The reason I think it could be ESG related, is it will be a landowner's entire damage mitigation strategy, regardless of how 'huntable' the ground is.  Hounds would have the problem taken care of the day after a permit was issued.  Now landowners are alright with damaging bears if the feed satisfies 2/3 of them because they don't have to tell BlackRock investors that they take lethal action on animals.  And now we as hunters get to deal with the side effects of a bear population at or even above carrying capacity thanks to the free meals they receive through the spring when food alternatives are slim.

One troubling thing I saw in the rule making, is that a landowner cannot feed at all in that calendar year.  So WDFW is telling landowners not to attempt non-lethal mitigation first, because it will prevent them from using lethal options if it ends up being necessary later.  If hounds could still be used, landowners would almost certainly just say to heck with feeding.  Now though, given there is a near zero success rate with these boot hunt permits, all the while the damage continues, landowners will just opt to feed - which is exactly what WDFW and the commission would prefer.  No bears taken.

These permits are no more effective than the old spring bear season.  Less so, and I said as much. More restrictive meaning less effective. 

Depredation permits are not a recreation hunt and should not be confused as such.  The most effective methods of stopping the damage as soon as possible should be allowed, but WDFW continually tightens the screws on permits to the point that they are even more restrictive than standard recreation hunts.

The permits are not special as they are today, they are a joke, as I also said.  If anyone doubts it, I'd encourage them to FOIA the data on how many permits were issued and what the success rate was.  If it was even 10% of historical permits I'd gladly insert my foot into my mouth.  Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once and a while, but there  is no convincing me that walking a road through reprod is going to have any more than as 1% chance at success in a stand being peeled.  Say a landowner gets a 30 day permit and signs Joe Hunter up after a vetting process that already took up a half a day of a company employee's time.  Joe Hunter makes it out there 8 times and walks 1.5 miles of road each time.  Joe hunter saw about 7 acres of that 80 acre stand that is being damaged and the surrounding ones (only the roadway plus 10' or so either side), and saw it for about an hour each time. The odds of Joe Hunter being in the right place at the right time is very low, and even lower yet if considering the bear may wind him, hear him, etc.  Then even lower yet if Joe Hunter isn't presented a shot. That, while I agree could happen, is not effective for depredation removal.  At least not in my book.  That whole 30 day period while Joe Hunter is giving it his best but coming up empty, the damage continues.

[Alan K]

So I'm ignorant for wanting spring bear season back.
With a fair draw,point system,and game laws that will ensure every bear is tagged,and not wasted.
Ok ,whatever you guys say.
If you support this hunt,it will always separate "recreational" and damage hunt of spring black bear.
It's like the final nail in the coffin for a traditional spring bear hunt.
Is what it is.
If you believe I'm hurting our hunting rights in any way feel free to have one of the moderator delete it.
I'm ok with that. And clean up the topic.

Just because I won't follow you and Tbar like a herd of sheep.
Doesn't exactly make me ignorant.

Stubborn as a mule I might agree with.

No, you are ignorant for having no idea what you're talking about and making wild assumptions that spread falsehoods, all without taking the 5 minutes to email WDFW requesting depredation permit info and educating yourself.

Obviously you are passionate about a spring bear hunt, which is great. I think any hunter that is worth half his or her salt can see what is going on with our ungulate populations and wants a spring bear hunt. Everyone fully understands that this state's bear populations could sustain a general statewide spring bear hunt without making a mark on the sustainability - WDFW's biologists included.  Depredation hunts are not and have never been recreation hunts, and there is no reason that they cannot co-exist.  You'd be better served to point this out in your rule making comments than spreading BS while railing against it in fear that depredation somehow replaces recreational hunting.

[hunter399]

So I'm ignorant for wanting spring bear season back.
With a fair draw,point system,and game laws that will ensure every bear is tagged,and not wasted.
Ok ,whatever you guys say.
If you support this hunt,it will always separate "recreational" and damage hunt of spring black bear.
It's like the final nail in the coffin for a traditional spring bear hunt.
Is what it is.
If you believe I'm hurting our hunting rights in any way feel free to have one of the moderator delete it.
I'm ok with that. And clean up the topic.

Just because I won't follow you and Tbar like a herd of sheep.
Doesn't exactly make me ignorant.

Stubborn as a mule I might agree with.

No, you are ignorant for having no idea what you're talking about and making wild assumptions that spread falsehoods, all without taking the 5 minutes to email WDFW requesting depredation permit info and educating yourself.

Obviously you are passionate about a spring bear hunt, which is great. I think any hunter that is worth half his or her salt can see what is going on with our ungulate populations and wants a spring bear hunt. Everyone fully understands that this state's bear populations could sustain a general statewide spring bear hunt without making a mark on the sustainability - WDFW's biologists included.  Depredation hunts are not and have never been recreation hunts, and there is no reason that they cannot co-exist.  You'd be better served to point this out in your rule making comments than spreading BS while railing against it in fear that depredation somehow replaces recreational hunting.

Maybe Im ignorant,I'm not stupid.
This is the first depredation hunt that a person will be allowed to tag an animal and keep it.
That I know of.
I don't know facts ,you are correct on that.
But depredation hunts of the past.
These hunters ,gut,skin,deboned,and packed the entire animal out ,so it could be donated.
I wouldn't do that,there are bear hunters,that hunt the general fall season that won't pack a hide out,unless it's a really nice one.

Yet you and others know for a fact that depredation hunts of the past,the whole animal was donated. Ok I believe ya.

Yes I'm very passionate about the spring bear season.
As a permit or OTC hunt. It always said in the reg book that the hunt was for tree damage. Your welcome to Google old reg books and look for yourself.
It turned into a recreational hunt,when the commission said it was a recreational hunt.

Also I want to agree with you .This damage hunt will not mitigate damage in a way you like. Boot hunter or your average joe hunter will not harvest enough bears to impact damage.
I've been in forestry work before,you and I know which kind of stands this damage takes place. Spot and stalking a bear in these tree farms is pointless.

I also want to say....
I don't blame anybody that wants to support it.
Something is better than nothing,take what you can get I suppose.
This hunt will pass anyway,So being angry with me is pointless.
Wdfw has an obligation to mitigate damage.

Maybe this will make you happy...
I've never been on one of these hunts. I have no facts.
Anything I wrote is just my opinion, Whether it is fact or not.
I'm intitled to my own,don't care if you like it,or not.

I have better things to do than sit here and argue with you all.
Like hunting my own fall tags ,while we still have a fall bear and cougar seasons.

[hunter399]

I have the reg book for the last spring black bear hunt.
Here I'll post a pic of two.
Show me where it says recreational hunt.
It says the opposite.
Our spring bear hunt was and is a damage hunt.
I'm not gonna trade it for this hunt.

Why should I support this,when as we speak the commission is plotting to take away our fall bear,cougar,and Coyote seasons,and turn elk into a permit season.
Give me one good reason?

You all like to call me names and say I'm ignorant.
But I see it the other way around
How long are you gonna let them piss down your back and call it rain.
I'm done here in this topic,hope you all get your damage hunt.
Like said....
I have better things to do,like hunt the fall season,we still have.

[mcrawfordaf]

The "distribute harvest" portion. That's aimed at spreading the fall "recreation" hunt between both season.

From the GMP:  "Spring hunts are designed to address emerging management needs, such as bear damage to trees in commercial timberlands, bear-human conflict, or to more evenly distribute harvest compared to fall seasons."

Either way, the public comment section has portions to comment on any part of the rule you may see unfit. I suggest commenting to those rules in the appropriate section.

Alan K. thank you for your insight. It sounds like these permits won't do much in the way of actually mitigating damage with boot hunters but I'll continue to push for any opportunity we can get.

[fireweed]

The bears in the spring do not just eat tree cambium, they also eat grass and other vegetation that sprouts first along logging roads.  The bears use these roads for feeding and for moving from place to place, even the peelers.  There is really no way to target a specific peeling bear unless hounds are used.  The next best and allowed way is to glass clearcuts and catch them eating grass along a road.  Is it the exact peeler bear--who knows, but its likely.  Heck, foresters driving the roads in the spring run into bears all the time.

[hunter399]

I just wanted to add.
That some of my comments in this topic are not facts and more of my opinion. I'm truly sorry.

Even though I'm extremely butthurt over our current spring bear situation. I would like to let everyone know that my comments on the comments page will always stand with hunters. I will always comment in favor of hunter opportunities even in a situation as this one. I have commented,I do wish that it does pass. Which I believe it will.

My comment as follows.

Reinstate the spring bear hunt. Which has always been in place to decrease tree damage. Which will fairly give opportunity to all hunters through a draw system hunt.
I support this hunt
I support our traditional spring hunt more.


If any of my actions or comments in this topic on the forum has hurt the effort in any way , I'm sorry for that.
Mike L

Please leave a comment in support.

https://publicinput.com/black-bear-timber-damage

[GASoline71]

I think what he is trying to impress upon people is that the Animal Rights crowd, and certainly the Commission pays attention to comments here an uses ignorant statements against sportsmen. 

The WWF group did that exact thing at the last commission meeting.  Taking off color comments made by sportsmen on Facebook and other online forums and quoting them in their testimony.

Gary