Hound Hunters in the Toutle

[Dean44]

We were on a family outing this spring and ran into hound hunters hunting for bear in the Toutle Unit, near the Coweeman unit. One fellow was looking for a missing dog and I chatted with him a while. Seems that their season closes on July 15, shortly before the general season. It is a permit only hunt. Reportedly, they have been at it for a few years. They were fully geared up, radio collars, and all.

I had heard about hound hunting for bear in other areas but I did not realize previously that it was happening in the Toutle. I am not sure if this knowledge will effect how I hunt the area, but it is something to think about.

Probably some people know about this already, but I thought that others might find the information useful. There certainly is nothing about it in any WDFW publication that I have seen.

5 Days to go!!!

[Aneoakleaf]

Thanks for the info, The WDFW needs to let us know for just that reason. It must be a Wearhouser thing. Did he say if they got any bears?

[bobcat]

It is going on anywhere there is private timberland and bears. I see hound hunters out there all the time, in the spring and the summer. They are doing it with depredation permits issued to the private companies such as Weyerhaeuser. If you want to hunt bears that haven't been chased by hounds, hunt on state or National Forest land.

[bucklucky]

Not nescesarily Bobcat, we can run on state land also if it is within 5 miles of the start point (property) . But the bear does have to be started on the said property also. With that said , just because there have been hounds in there during the spring doesnt mean you wont find bears. Ive seem a bunch in clearcuts that dont even pay attention to the dogs that are running by screamin a couple hundred yards away. 

[bobcat]

Yes, you're right, I've talked to hound hunters up in Capitol Forest a couple years ago. They had started a bear on private land, about 3 or 4 miles away.

[billythekidrock]

With that said , just because there have been hounds in there during the spring doesnt mean you wont find bears. Ive seem a bunch in clearcuts that dont even pay attention to the dogs that are running by screamin a couple hundred yards away. 

We used to see a lot more bears when they ran hounds. Kept them on the move.

[Huntboy]

Private Timber Co. depredation permits, I used to hunt on the coast for a timber co.

[Dean44]

Did he say if they got any bears?

Yes, he had multiple kill stories for the last several years. The kind of stories that are fun to listen to.