New Black Bear Season

[winston2789]

If it was due to a decline in bear pop, why not make a bag limit of 1 instead of two?

You think that would be the logical thing to do! Seems like their reasoning never makes any sense 

[bigtex]

Because there are some parts of the state that have healthy or even a surplus of bears. It would be like saying lets lower the limit of trout in lakes from 5 to 3 because Moses Lake is seeing a decline in trout population. You don't change the entire "system" just because of a few certain areas...

[boonerboy]

which areas are they changing?

[bobcat]

Black Bear    Season    Hunt Area    
Management Unit          
Coastal    Aug. 1 -Nov. 15, 2010    GMUs 501, 504, 506, 530, 601, 602, 603,    
   Aug. 1 - Nov. 15, 2011    607-621, 636-651, 658-663, 672-684    
Puget Sound    Aug. 1 -Nov. 15, 2010    GMUs 407, 410, 454, 624, 627, 633, 652,    
   Aug. 1 - Nov. 15, 2011    666, 667    
North Cascades    Aug. 1 -Nov. 15, 2010    GMUs 418-450, 460    
   Aug. 1 - Nov. 15, 2011       
South Cascades    Aug. 14 - Nov. 15, 2010    GMUs 466, 485, 503, 505, 510-520, 524,    
   Aug. 13 - Nov. 15, 2011    550-574, 653, 654    
Okanogan    Aug. 14 - Nov. 15, 2010    GMUs 203, 209-243    
   Aug. 13 - Nov. 15, 2011       
East Cascades    Aug. 1 -Nov. 15, 2010    GMUs 244-247, 249-251, 328, 329-368,    
   Aug. 1 - Nov. 15, 2011    382, 388, 578    
Northeastern A    Sept. 1 - Nov. 15, 2010    GMUs 101-121, 204    
   Sept. 1 - Nov. 15, 2011       
Northeastern B    Aug. 14 - Nov. 15, 2010    GMUs 124-130    
   Aug. 13 - Nov. 15, 2011       
Blue Mountains    Sept. 1 - Nov. 15, 2010    GMUs 145-154, 162-186    
   Sept. 1 - Nov. 15, 2011       
Columbia Basin    Aug. 1 -Nov. 15, 2010    GMUs 133, 136, 139, 142, 248, 254,    
   Aug. 1 - Nov. 15, 2011    260-290, 371-381    
Long Island    Sept. 1 - Nov. 15, 2010    GMU 699    
   Sept. 1 - Nov. 15, 2011       

[Houndhunter]

Because there are some parts of the state that have healthy or even a surplus of bears. It would be like saying lets lower the limit of trout in lakes from 5 to 3 because Moses Lake is seeing a decline in trout population. You don't change the entire "system" just because of a few certain areas...

than what about allowing to harvest only one bear in these units? if they cared about the sportsman they wouldnt be taking away from us

i can kill two bears just the same without having those two weeks so it dosent help the bear population at all, best time to hunt them is sept imo. just sucks cause i really like hunting those areas and even though it will not stop me from killing a bear(s), it takes away from my opportunitys which they shouldnt be doing without reason

[boonerboy]

Thanks Bobcat, I guess it doesn't affect me either....yet.

[Wenatcheejay]

Don't they already have that? You can only take one bear from the Eastside. (No?) So, they already limit where 2 bears come from. They offer no scientific data to support their limiting hunting oportunity, but according to some we should, "trust them." R I G H T

[Houndhunter]

thanks for the link bob33

[winshooter88]

The change isn't because of low total population, it is because to many female bears are taken in the spring in those areas. Data shows that more females are taken early in the spring season than at any other time. So they want to shorten the season in those areas that are affected instead of the whole state. This wouldn't be as much of a concern if baiting was still allowed so you could have a chance to see if the bear was male or female.

[Houndhunter]

The change isn't because of low total population, it is because to many female bears are taken in the spring in those areas. Data shows that more females are taken early in the spring season than at any other time. So they want to shorten the season in those areas that are affected instead of the whole state. This wouldn't be as much of a concern if baiting was still allowed so you could have a chance to see if the bear was male or female.

the south cascades doesnt have a spring permit

[Wenatcheejay]

The change isn't because of low total population, it is because to many female bears are taken in the spring in those areas. Data shows that more females are taken early in the spring season than at any other time. So they want to shorten the season in those areas that are affected instead of the whole state. This wouldn't be as much of a concern if baiting was still allowed so you could have a chance to see if the bear was male or female.

the south cascades doesnt have a spring permit

I agree with the bait issue. But, baiting was another slice in this. I don't hunt in Aug so, I don't care. I don't hunt bait so, I don't care. I don't hound hunt so, I don't care. I don't archery, muzzy, rifle, well sooner or later you will care. These tactics are going on all around us. Just please, fire off a letter guys, care for once.


Thanks in advance to those who will care.

[Antlerking]

I would love to be able to bait again and shoot 1 with a bow. My dad and i did it the last year it was open and he shot it openeing morning at 7 olclock in the morn, 2 months of hard work of packing 5 gallon buckets of food and grease pits and trail timers and everything else for a 20 min. hunt was worth it 2 see dad hime by 9 in the morning with his bear. I wish i could experience that someday.

[Alan K]

the south cascades doesnt have a spring permit

Kapowsin does.

And this change does affect me, as thats the area that I was planning to hunt this August.  School starts around the 20th of August here at the U of I, so I'll likely only get a day, maybe two to hunt now, rather than the first two weekends.  

[billythekidrock]

The original reason for closing August bear hunting and limiting it to private lands only was the shooting. After all the letters D. Mortorello changed his statement to low densities and female mortality. Then they changed it to a few GMUs.

I made a couple records requests for specific data files and F&W said they didn't exist. (go figure)

They said that eliminating the second bear tag would not help because not very many people harvest two.

If this is truly the case (low density and female mortality) then I would support a change for the next couple years. BUT I would rather they take off the "opportunity" is reverse of how they gave it.

1. Remove the second bear option.
Yes, I know you can only kill one on the eastside, but having a second option makes some feel that we have an abundance of bears.

2.Shorten the season from the end. (Used to end two weeks earlier)
Many incidentals are taken during deer and elk seasons. Yes, the whole eastside used to start in Sept so maybe the season ("opportunity") is longer but if they need to shorten it further then let the season run from August 1st to October 15th.

Let the bear hunters have their own season. If they move it up to Sept like they want, I can see a rush that affects  the archery deer/elk guys.

Or F&W will change bear hunting to the same new (crappy) cougar rules with specific weapons during specific dates.

[billythekidrock]

 

The change isn't because of low total population, it is because to many female bears are taken in the spring in those areas. Data shows that more females are taken early in the spring season than at any other time. So they want to shorten the season in those areas that are affected instead of the whole state. This wouldn't be as much of a concern if baiting was still allowed so you could have a chance to see if the bear was male or female.

 If it were due to "to many female bears are taken in the spring in those areas" then they would/should cut back on permits or close it during season.