Kapowsin Bear?

[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