Did you notice the new bear hunting rules?

[furbearer365]

Anyone else see the irony of people arguing that gender doesn't matter in the human world, but using gender as their only argument in the wildlife world.  We should just argue that male bears can have cubs also, so why specify that we can't shoot sows.  If both genders can carry babies, then the bear population will explode

[MADMAX]

Anyone else see the irony of people arguing that gender doesn't matter in the human world, but using gender as their only argument in the wildlife world.  We should just argue that male bears can have cubs also, so why specify that we can't shoot sows.  If both genders can carry babies, then the bear population will explode

Next thing you know will be looking for purple hair and piercings

[dreadi]

That's why bear hunting in Seattle isn't allowed.


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[High Climber]

Pretty sure I’ve killed a 50lb bear before in the spring. By itself in a wide open clear cut… I knew it was small but bears can have more ground shrinkage than most critters!

[Boss .300 winmag]

Pretty sure I’ve killed a 50lb bear before in the spring. By itself in a wide open clear cut… I knew it was small but bears can have more ground shrinkage than most critters!

I bet that was tasty.👍

[MADMAX]

Boar or sow ?
You make the call



I’m shootin

[EnglishSetter]

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.

There's no shortage of "reasons" to reduce hunting opportunity.

[D-Rock425]

This law really changes nothing for me. We try not to shoot small bears and we let several walk every year.  As far as shooting a sow with cubs that's never been an option for me. 

[bearhunter99]

It is much harder with this law in WA than it is in Idaho or Montana.  When you can hunt over bait it is much easier to be selective.  Back when baiting was legal the majority of bears that were killed were mature boars as the smaller bears and females were largely passed on (I understand that there are exceptions to this).  In eastern WA the shot opportunity is usually pretty quick where most of us hunt as they are busting out of a thicket or timber and aren't dallying around to give you a chance to judge accurately.....

[Bearhunter308]

It is much harder with this law in WA than it is in Idaho or Montana.  When you can hunt over bait it is much easier to be selective.  Back when baiting was legal the majority of bears that were killed were mature boars as the smaller bears and females were largely passed on (I understand that there are exceptions to this).  In eastern WA the shot opportunity is usually pretty quick where most of us hunt as they are busting out of a thicket or timber and aren't dallying around to give you a chance to judge accurately.....

That’s my feeling too. I wasn’t targeting sows with cubs before, but when a shot opportunity presents itself, there’s not always much time to watch the bear.

[HighGrouseHunt]

I know it’s legal in Idaho, but is it legal to bear hunt over bait in Montana?

[avidnwoutdoorsman]

@MADMAX I am shooting all day long

I know it’s legal in Idaho, but is it legal to bear hunt over bait in Montana?

No you cannot hunt bears over bait in Montana but you can hunt with Dogs in both ID and MT.

Its a blow there is no doubt. I know there is a lot of grieve about the new rule. Trust me I'm not excited about it and maybe my message earlier was a little miss read.

What I have seen is a consensus is that no one seams to go out trying to kill a sow with cubs. And if you truly arent then this rule shouldnt effect you. The numbers back it up too... I think in 2022 out off all the bears killed only like 16 where lactating and less than 3 were confirmed with cubs in the spring bear hunt. So yes you almost didnt even need this rule.

My new question would be if the rule didnt get changed. And you happened to shoot a sow with cubs... what would you have done?

I guess the answer is that's nature and there is no reason something else couldnt have killed the sow and left the cubs orphaned but thats what has me real curious. If we were all not already trying to our best abilities not shoot a sow with cubs why does this rule really effect us? Or does it effect us soooo much more than the possible positive that can come out of us hunters standing up for conservation and being vocal that we do support this because it was never our goal before and we dont support "orphan" cubs as much as the anti-bear crowd. And again we can strip a huge huge argument away from them and preserve bear hunting.

[avidnwoutdoorsman]

As an aside I am heading upto (over to...down to?) the Fields Spring SP this weekend with my 3 daughters to "camp" in one of their teepees, wife is at the coast with a GF. Planning mornings out looking for hucks and bear and evening too. If any of you care to send a DM on better bear draws in the area I am all ears and would gladly appreciate the PM. Maybe I'll see one of you up there.

Was told there are good hucks by the Wenatchee Guard Station and I have the late cow tag for Couse so checking in with landowner over in Cloverland too.

[ghosthunter]

avidnwoutdoorsman


The difference is under the new law 16 hunters who shot a lactating sow by mistake could have been charged and fined for no real fault of their own.

The rule has been reframe from shooting sows with cubs for years. And there is little evidence that most hunters violated that. Now you have the possibility of a fine if you make a mistake.

Do you really think a hunter is going to turn himself in? Nope those sows will lay and rot. With the old rule maybe the cubs had a chance, not with the new rule.

It’s not about conservation any longer with the present commission. It’s about tightening the screws on bear hunters.

[avidnwoutdoorsman]

avidnwoutdoorsman


The difference is under the new law 16 hunters who shot a lactating sow by mistake could have been charged and fined for no real fault of their own.

The rule has been reframe from shooting sows with cubs for years. And there is little evidence that most hunters violated that. Now you have the possibility of a fine if you make a mistake.

Do you really think a hunter is going to turn himself in? Nope those sows will lay and rot. With the old rule maybe the cubs had a chance, not with the new rule.

It’s not about conservation any longer with the present commission. It’s about tightening the screws on bear hunters.

Agree with everything you say here. I do. I'm not advocating for this rule completely. Its real hard with out dogs or bait to kill confidently a sow without cubs in most of our state without be able to watch them for a really really long time. I've never had the luxury of hunting with dogs or bait.... hence why I am going to find huckleberry patches this weekend. I'm ok to change how I hunt for this rule but it impacts others opportunity and I dont like that.

I recant much after I reflect. We have plenty of bears and how the rule was and how the majority of our ethics where things were ok. I dont like to restrict others ways of hunting. Many of us including myself intentionally hunt bears in close quarters where they are going to be sub 50yds and you have as much time as it takes to shoulder you rifle to make the shot... judge if you should take the shot. That way of hunting is likely gone or with significant risk.

Heck I know we could loose a couple more bears and this rule really puts me in a fun spot. I have sow on my property jrebel probably knows her because we are near country neighbors that I swear is the most fertile girl ever and the best thing for our valley(s) is that she goes away. And now that will present a big big challenge. Jrebel if you know the girl I'm talking about she drops triplets every other year and twins on the off years. She is a bear making machine and this year she had twins... likely the best year for her to have none this fall but now gotta be real sure about it. Its ok, the bruin knocking her up is a tank called Hank... Hank the Tank. Has a belly like he carrying a keg between his legs.