lincoln a

[Ghost Hunter]

Plans changed, I have to work Thursday, but will still plan on a 3 day weekend.  Keep your fingers crossed, they might have info sent out before the week is out.  Seems they're scrambling to come up with something for us, now that the season is here   Anybody get a different story   Good looking call, how's it sound?

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Thank you for contacting the Wildlife Program.  Due to the large volume of e-mail messages we are currently receiving, our expected response time will be 5 business days from the date of receipt.

If you need immediate assistance, please contact our customer service desk at (360) 902-2515.

We appreciate your patience.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Just to stir the pot a little, if Weyerhauser is allowed to hunt bears in the unit during our "Spring Damage" season, why cant we ?
Or use bait ?
as the law reads....
RCW 77.15.245
Unlawful practices — Black bear baiting — Exceptions — Illegal hunting — Use of dogs — Exceptions — Penalties. 

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 77.12.240, *77.36.020, 77.36.030, or any other provisions of law, it is unlawful to take, hunt, or attract black bear with the aid of bait.

     (a) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the killing of black bear with the aid of bait by employees or agents of county, state, or federal agencies while acting in their official capacities for the purpose of protecting livestock, domestic animals, private property, or the public safety.

     (b) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent the establishment and operation of feeding stations for black bear in order to prevent damage to commercial timberland.

As permit holders we are "agents of the state" and are "protecting" private property, and preventing damage to commercial timberland.....

Not that I have any desire to bait, but I am a little P.O.ed about this whole thing....

Got the mail today, no packet....

[bobcat]

I agree. Hunters should be allowed to bait, in this case because the hunt is soley on private timber company land, and supposedly is for the purpose of "protecting private property." I think if the WDFW wanted to, they could set up some spring hunts in which hunters would be allowed to bait and it would be perfectly legal according to the way the law is written. Since they have hound hunters in there it would only make sense to allow guys who aren't using hounds to use the next best method and that is bait.

I have other questions about the spring bear hunts and I think either a letter or a phone call to the manager of this program is in my near future. Biggest question.... why is state land in the Lincoln GMU not open for the spring bear permit hunt No hound hunting is allowed on state land, so non-hound hunters should be on the state land while the hound hunters are on the private. But I guess that would make too much sense. 

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I don't know who is in charge of the program, but have sent e-mails to...
director@dfw.wa.gov; publicaffairs@dfw.wa.gov; wildthing@dfw.wa.gov; teamvancouver@dfw.wa.gov; scott.brummer@dfw.wa.gov
Not that I think it will do any good, but I am getting my shorts in a bunch...

[bobcat]

I believe this is the person you should be contacting about this:

Donny Martorello, Ph.D., Carnivore, Furbearer, and Special Species Section Manager, Wildlife Program

The other email addresses you used are good too, but be sure to include Donny as well.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I cannot find an e-mail address for him..

[bobcat]

donny.martorello@dfw.wa.gov

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Thank you, e-mail sent...

[bobcat]

Don't expect to hear back from him though. I sent him an email a couple weeks ago and didn't get a response.

[bearmanric]

I've made to waverly iowa. close to minasota. the call is killer. I have 7 left. yellerdog is cnc more tonight for me. they will be there this coming week. Rick

[billythekidrock]

Just to stir the pot a little, if Weyerhauser is allowed to hunt bears in the unit during our "Spring Damage" season, why cant we ?
Or use bait ?

As permit holders we are "agents of the state" and are "protecting" private property, and preventing damage to commercial timberland.....

Not that I have any desire to bait, but I am a little P.O.ed about this whole thing....

Got the mail today, no packet....

I agree and have posed this question to the board here and to the old AHE about allowing AHE/MH bait during a permit season. F&W said no, and the huntwa board did not like the idea of allowing AHE/MH the opportunity to bait.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

It is all just sounding off, I am sure we will have more information before the 15th, I went scouting again and got to look around, I think maybe the dogs might get them moving for us....
Snow up high, no tracks or sign, other than near where I already found some...(Still looks like elk to me, but I am new)
Looked around some swamp land near Doty, couldnt see anything to excite me, Skunk cabbage and green grass everywhere.....
Now that I have calmed down, I really don't care what they decide, I get to hunt bear until June 15th, and last year I could have gotten one on April 17th, They probably had dogs after them then 7 days a week....

[Ghost Hunter]

15th is getting close.   Decided to drive up today and scout a  little.  No maps available at 2 locations in Chehalis where 800# says available   No packets of info yet   Marked a couple potential campsites.  Jumped a turkey beside the road, it flew strait uphill gaining elevation like a fighter pilot   Guess I'll be hitting it cold.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I have been looking for turkey, and only finding crap, unfortunately not turkey either, I did see 15 head of elk this morning....