Did you notice the new bear hunting rules?

[buglebuster]

I happend to see that they changed the rule from shooting a sow with cubs is discouraged to making it illegal. Also made it where shooting cubs is illegal(30-50lb bears) one alarming thing about this rule change is it wasn’t highlighted in red in the regs! Be careful out there guys! I’ve attached a copy of 2024 and 2025 regs to show the difference.

[Bob33]

https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/law/wsrpdf/2025/09/25-09-098.pdf

[vandeman17]

How are they going to know she had cubs unless they are there when you shoot her and see the little suckers? Also, what if you watch the sow for a while, see no cubs, shoot her, and they appear?

Seems like another rule slipped in there and pushed by the anti's to try and make hunters appear like we are out targeting sows with cubs attached to their teet.

[Bearhunter308]

I noticed the change wasn’t highlighted in red also.
I hunt a lot of woods, overgrown trails and logging roads. Basically areas where it’s not easy to watch a bear for a long time. Furthermore, as I am watching videos and looking at my own trail camera footage, trying to be able to distinguish between boars and sows better, I’m feeling increasingly frustrated. There seems to be exceptions to head size/shape, not all bears fall into the body shape category. I’m thinking the most sure-fire way of ensuring it’s not a female with cubs is to be able to watch it for an extended period of time to confirm no cubs are around. As mentioned, not easy to do where I like to hunt

[avidnwoutdoorsman]

This is a rule in ID and MT .... its been talked about and was brought to the table to curb the restrictions on bear hunting. We got the restrictions (loss of spring hunting) and this rule. None the less I support it as it takes away a big talking point for anti-bear hunting.

Considering the most common claim by the "anti-hunting" crowd is orphaning cubs this kills that claim. The argument is now mute as it would be illegal to do so. Going a step further this rule would likely help re-instate spring bear hunting (I understand probably less than a 5% chance of that ever happening) as again the talking point has been taken away that Hunter now have to legally only hunt Boars in the spring leaving the Sows alone to raise their cubs.

From previous discussions the biggest thing they are going to use to check this I presume will be if the sow is lactating. IF the sow is not lactating I would have no worries. If the sow is lactating but no longer has cub(s) for whatever reason. I would probably stay right where I am and get a gamey to verify before taking out of the field.

[buglebuster]

Here it says illegal to possess sows accompanied by cubs… loophole if she’s in my pack/cooler/truck she’s not accompanied by cubs anymore… yes I understand it says shoot too.

[Stein]

This is a rule in ID and MT .... its been talked about and was brought to the table to curb the restrictions on bear hunting. We got the restrictions (loss of spring hunting) and this rule. None the less I support it as it takes away a big talking point for anti-bear hunting.

Considering the most common claim by the "anti-hunting" crowd is orphaning cubs this kills that claim. The argument is now mute as it would be illegal to do so. Going a step further this rule would likely help re-instate spring bear hunting (I understand probably less than a 5% chance of that ever happening) as again the talking point has been taken away that Hunter now have to legally only hunt Boars in the spring leaving the Sows alone to raise their cubs.

From previous discussions the biggest thing they are going to use to check this I presume will be if the sow is lactating. IF the sow is not lactating I would have no worries. If the sow is lactating but no longer has cub(s) for whatever reason. I would probably stay right where I am and get a gamey to verify before taking out of the field.

I get your reasoning, but the goal is not to stop shooting sows, their goal is to stop shooting everything so this is simply a step towards the next step.

[vandeman17]

This is a rule in ID and MT .... its been talked about and was brought to the table to curb the restrictions on bear hunting. We got the restrictions (loss of spring hunting) and this rule. None the less I support it as it takes away a big talking point for anti-bear hunting.

Considering the most common claim by the "anti-hunting" crowd is orphaning cubs this kills that claim. The argument is now mute as it would be illegal to do so. Going a step further this rule would likely help re-instate spring bear hunting (I understand probably less than a 5% chance of that ever happening) as again the talking point has been taken away that Hunter now have to legally only hunt Boars in the spring leaving the Sows alone to raise their cubs.

From previous discussions the biggest thing they are going to use to check this I presume will be if the sow is lactating. IF the sow is not lactating I would have no worries. If the sow is lactating but no longer has cub(s) for whatever reason. I would probably stay right where I am and get a gamey to verify before taking out of the field.

I get your reasoning, but the goal is not to stop shooting sows, their goal is to stop shooting everything so this is simply a step towards the next step.

 

[ghosthunter]

This is a rule in ID and MT .... its been talked about and was brought to the table to curb the restrictions on bear hunting. We got the restrictions (loss of spring hunting) and this rule. None the less I support it as it takes away a big talking point for anti-bear hunting.

Considering the most common claim by the "anti-hunting" crowd is orphaning cubs this kills that claim. The argument is now mute as it would be illegal to do so. Going a step further this rule would likely help re-instate spring bear hunting (I understand probably less than a 5% chance of that ever happening) as again the talking point has been taken away that Hunter now have to legally only hunt Boars in the spring leaving the Sows alone to raise their cubs.

From previous discussions the biggest thing they are going to use to check this I presume will be if the sow is lactating. IF the sow is not lactating I would have no worries. If the sow is lactating but no longer has cub(s) for whatever reason. I would probably stay right where I am and get a gamey to verify before taking out of the field.

I get your reasoning, but the goal is not to stop shooting sows, their goal is to stop shooting everything so this is simply a step towards the next step.

 

Listen I can tell you right now if someone accidentally shoots a lactating sow. No one is calling a game agent. They will simply leave it lay. There is no rule to bring the hide out so who’s going to know.

I am not saying that’s good. But that’s what will happen just like it happens with 3 point restrictions.
At least before they put the word illegal in, if someone accidentally shot a sow that had cubs they would report. No penalty, now it’s a different story.

I believe they had made it worse.

[Stein]

I wouldn't be surprised if mandatory pelt inspections for fall bear wasn't considered in the future.

[Bearhunter308]

I was watching a YouTube video yesterday on judging bear gender, he must’ve been in Idaho or somewhere that bating is legal... talking about sitting in a tree stand, watching the bears for extended periods of time at a bait site, judging their height off the feed barrel, watching for cubs etc.
It would be easier to avoid females with cubs if we had that luxury. Just makes it increasingly difficult for the Washington bear hunter to be successful, while staying within the law.

Out of curiosity, does this change how any of you are going to hunt? Since I do want to stay within the law, I’ll be pretty hesitant to pull the trigger on a bear that I can only see for a short period of time. I’m thinking finding wider open spaces, glassing, and calling hillsides may be what I need to adapt to more. Terrain that I can watch a bear for a much longer period of time before shooting.
Are any of you guys feeling this way, or planning on switching up your method of bear hunting?

[Stein]

I'm the same, wouldn't risk it unless I had a long time to watch it in the open and even then I would be nervous.  Not a good answer admittedly.

[ghosthunter]

I have always watched for cubs and will continue. I am a sitter so I usually get a chance.

[GeoSwan]

This is a rule in ID and MT .... its been talked about and was brought to the table to curb the restrictions on bear hunting. We got the restrictions (loss of spring hunting) and this rule. None the less I support it as it takes away a big talking point for anti-bear hunting.

Considering the most common claim by the "anti-hunting" crowd is orphaning cubs this kills that claim. The argument is now mute as it would be illegal to do so. Going a step further this rule would likely help re-instate spring bear hunting (I understand probably less than a 5% chance of that ever happening) as again the talking point has been taken away that Hunter now have to legally only hunt Boars in the spring leaving the Sows alone to raise their cubs.

From previous discussions the biggest thing they are going to use to check this I presume will be if the sow is lactating. IF the sow is not lactating I would have no worries. If the sow is lactating but no longer has cub(s) for whatever reason. I would probably stay right where I am and get a gamey to verify before taking out of the field.

This is like saying you support banning "assault" rifles so that the gun lobby doesn't have to work to ban them anymore. That's not how it works, and the anti hunting crowd isn't going to stop until you're posting cute videos of bear cubs in a flower patch to Facebook. One uninformed, politically charged mismanagement rule at a time and you'll be pretending beef brisket is bear meat. This is serious. They're coming for your past time activities like it's their business, and they wont stop until they win. Don't give them an inch. It's up to us to actively resist their obnoxious attempts to tell us what to do.

[dreadi]

This is a rule in ID and MT .... its been talked about and was brought to the table to curb the restrictions on bear hunting. We got the restrictions (loss of spring hunting) and this rule. None the less I support it as it takes away a big talking point for anti-bear hunting.

Considering the most common claim by the "anti-hunting" crowd is orphaning cubs this kills that claim. The argument is now mute as it would be illegal to do so. Going a step further this rule would likely help re-instate spring bear hunting (I understand probably less than a 5% chance of that ever happening) as again the talking point has been taken away that Hunter now have to legally only hunt Boars in the spring leaving the Sows alone to raise their cubs.

From previous discussions the biggest thing they are going to use to check this I presume will be if the sow is lactating. IF the sow is not lactating I would have no worries. If the sow is lactating but no longer has cub(s) for whatever reason. I would probably stay right where I am and get a gamey to verify before taking out of the field.

I've read this multiple times, took a break, came back to read it again and I still understand how this helps anyone that hunts bears.


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