Kapowsin Bear?

[skipper]

In the letter we got from Hancock it says bear hunting is open until June 15 but on the dfw website it says May 15 anyone know which is accurate?

[bigtex]

It's May 15. Last year was June, and WDFW shortened the season for this year and there is a proposal to change next years season back to June again. But for the 2011 season it is May 15.

[rasbo]

In the letter we got from Hancock it says bear hunting is open until June 15 but on the dfw website it says May 15 anyone know which is accurate?

if you have that letter from this year and they close it earlier I would want my money back....

[skipper]

In the letter we got from Hancock it says bear hunting is open until June 15 but on the dfw website it says May 15 anyone know which is accurate?

if you have that letter from this year and they close it earlier I would want my money back....

I already have a Kapowsin rec permit but they sent out letters saying that you could buy a pass for a $100 if you don't have the permit and the date on it says it closes June 15th

[rasbo]

In the letter we got from Hancock it says bear hunting is open until June 15 but on the dfw website it says May 15 anyone know which is accurate?

if you have that letter from this year and they close it earlier I would want my money back....

I already have a Kapowsin rec permit but they sent out letters saying that you could buy a pass for a $100 if you don't have the permit and the date on it says it closes June 15th

I see,they went the wrong way for a short season..I would want the point for later than these dates

[bodangles]

Same here, I just recieved my letter and it also says June 15 th.  Not sure if we will ever hear from WAFW.

[kibber]

bigtex where did you find that info on the wildlife website. I to have a letter from Hancock say June 15 and spoke with a person that said hancock told the state they would not be doing spring bear if the season ended May 15

[Alan K]

The regs have it as May 15th, that was the main reason I didn't even put Kapowsin as an alternate choice on my application.  That early of a season really cripples the hunt. 

http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/00766/wdfw00766.pdf

Page 57 of the pdf, 61 of the hard copy.

[funkster]

My letter also says June 15. The 2010 regs say May 15 but I will call the wdfw and see if it was changed. This is why we need the 2011 regs out sooner before the hunting season actually starts.

[Alan K]

It is in the 2010 regs but the spring bear section there has 2011 all over it. 

[bigtex]

Ok guys here is how the Spring Bear regs work. For the 2011 Spring Bear regs the rules are in the 2010 regulations (makes sense huh  ). According to the 2010 regs the season for the 2011 bear season ends on May 15th. The 2012 spring bear season which will be in the 2011 regs coming out this month will list the season as ending in June.

[bigtex]

bigtex where did you find that info on the wildlife website. I to have a letter from Hancock say June 15 and spoke with a person that said hancock told the state they would not be doing spring bear if the season ended May 15

It normally (in the past) ended June 15th but WDFW changed the season for 2011 to May 15. Next year it will be back to June.

[funkster]

Ok guys here is how the Spring Bear regs work. For the 2011 Spring Bear regs the rules are in the 2010 regulations (makes sense huh  ). According to the 2010 regs the season for the 2011 bear season ends on May 15th. The 2012 spring bear season which will be in the 2011 regs coming out this month will list the season as ending in June.

bigtex where did you find that info on the wildlife website. I to have a letter from Hancock say June 15 and spoke with a person that said hancock told the state they would not be doing spring bear if the season ended May 15

We all know how the regs work but it was also written over a year ago and things change.  Maybe the wdfw and hancock worked it out and maybe they didn't.  A simple phone call to the wdfw should solve the answer to the question.

[bigtex]

Ok guys here is how the Spring Bear regs work. For the 2011 Spring Bear regs the rules are in the 2010 regulations (makes sense huh  ). According to the 2010 regs the season for the 2011 bear season ends on May 15th. The 2012 spring bear season which will be in the 2011 regs coming out this month will list the season as ending in June.

bigtex where did you find that info on the wildlife website. I to have a letter from Hancock say June 15 and spoke with a person that said hancock told the state they would not be doing spring bear if the season ended May 15

We all know how the regs work but it was also written over a year ago and things change.  Maybe the wdfw and hancock worked it out and maybe they didn't.  A simple phone call to the wdfw should solve the answer to the question.

Here is the most recent corrections to last year's regs:
http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/00766/huntregs2010_errata.pdf
No mention of the Kapowsin hunt

[kibber]

Funkster, I sure hope they have changed there mind and the info I got about hancock not playing unless they extend the season is correct. If you get an answer please post. Thanks

[funkster]

I just spoke with Walt at the WDFW and he said they ARE going to extend the Kapowsin tag to June 15th. He also said they are putting together the packets and they should be out in about a week.
 
To answer skipper's question, the hancock letter is accurate!

[skipper]

that is great news

[kibber]

You just made my day, thank you

[powderbounder]

I know they extended it. But read your letter close. It says from April 15 June 15 2010. Maybe typo. lol PB

[Alan K]

Good news for those of you who drew.  For those of us who left it off the application because of the printed advertised dates, it's *censored*. 

[archer31]

I'm from longview,wa and drew the kapowsin bear tag.  Is the bear hunting good in that unit and is the unit large and whats the terrain like?  Will you get in trouble if you bring a buddy with you instead of your spouse like letter says?

[Alan K]

I'm from longview,wa and drew the kapowsin bear tag.  Is the bear hunting good in that unit and is the unit large and whats the terrain like?  Will you get in trouble if you bring a buddy with you instead of your spouse like letter says?

You will get in trouble for bringing ineligible people in. 

The hunt is good if in fact the dates were changed.  I wouldn't start hunting until May at the earliest.  Lots of bears and it's rugged.

[rasbo]

I'm from longview,wa and drew the kapowsin bear tag.  Is the bear hunting good in that unit and is the unit large and whats the terrain like?  Will you get in trouble if you bring a buddy with you instead of your spouse like letter says?

you will be checked in there many times,so watch your speed,no alcohol...lotta No's in there

[funkster]

This is why priority #1 should be get this years regulations out before any special permits are due, even spring bear. Most states have 2011 regs out and all their special permit hunts already drawn so you can actually plan a hunt. Instead we get our hunting permit and packets a day before your hunt start date    It is really not the wdfw fault either,they are understaffed and the budget is just not there.

[Alan K]

That's the thing.  The coming year's spring bear permits and information has always been listed in the prior year's regulations (at least as far back as I can remember). This year wasn't anything new.  We've known what 2011 spring bear permit numbers and dates would look like for the last 11 months.

Being that it is a spring bear permit there probably won't be as much outrage, though I'm personally pissed.  Imagine if they listed a quality bull hunt as a 9 day November rifle hunt, then after the drawing tacked on 5 days of rut hunting in September.  The quality of the hunt changes dramatically! And that's exactly what has happened here.  The season went from about 2 weeks of good hunting to 6 weeks.

Bunch of crap for those of us who didn't put in for it under the impression that what they printed in the regulations were the actual dates. 

[funkster]

You have every right to be pissed,I would be pissed too! Maybe good luck is in your near future though with multi season tags, elk and deer tags!

[jason4429]

The spring bear tags are different than a quality bull hunt.The timber companies can choose to have a season or not.I have seen bears all times of the year,sure you will see more from june-october than you would from nov-may but they are always around.

[bodangles]

Thanks Funkster! Thats good news.

[Alan K]

Timber companies can shut down their land for quality bull hunts in September too due to fire danger.  There is always a risk that the land owners will cripple hunts, it's just a risk you have to consider going into it. 

It's the principle of completely changing the hunt's dynamics POST draw that is a bunch of crap.  And I hope people who drew aren't taking this as a shot at them, you guys lucked out and I'm happy for you because the hunt would have been mediocre at best as it was published.  Those of us who didn't put in for but would have knowing it were going to last until June 15th got shafted out of having our names in the running for an additional 150 spring bear permits. 

I just hope someone from the WDFW reads this and DOESN'T do anything about it this year (as to not be an indian giver to those who's hunt just went from average at best to great), but for the future realizes that you can't change hunts after the drawing!

[jmyweed]

I just got off the phone with Hancock, Per them, WDFW IS going to honor  the 60 day season there. We (sucessful draw candidates) should be seeing a letter and tag soon confirming this

[sakoshooter]

I don't know what he weighs but he's big enough that even I could hit him.
That is if he was real close.