bear dogs?

[dc]

Went out today to check my trail cameras to see if any bear are wondering around.  I run into a turkey hunter who tells me that werehauser has contracted hound hunters to run and shoot all the bears they can.  I later heard the dogs barking and howling as if a bear was on the run.  If there are so many bears causing damage, than why doesnt the state just open up an early general season to help with the tree damage.  No draw, just general season.  Not sure how long the hound guys will be at it, and I know its to keep the bears from peeling the trees.  Cant we the hunters do that?  I would help, and wouldnt even need for them to ask me please.  Kinda madning, to know hounds are outlawed but the big timber companys can use them anyway.  Just a rant.

[MtnMuley]

I hear what you are saying dc.  Just one of the many depressing issues that face us.

[bearbaito6]

It is because the boot type hunters are not effective enough, Look at the spring bear hunts 100 plus tags for an area and only a handful of bears die. The timber owners have the right to protect there investments, as the law allows.

[quadrafire]

Can they do that----Is it legal??  Doesnt' sound right.

[rtspring]

Don't know all the facts here but this sure sounds like a bad deal.... 

[Machias]

It's legal, drives me crazy...yes I'm jealous!!!!

[bearbaito6]

Yes in the 1996 initiative where hound hunting was taken away from us, there was a clause attached that allows hound hunting for depredation

[bearbaito6]

Don't know all the facts here but this sure sounds like a bad deal....

Why is this a bad deal? The timber industry is losing thousands upon thousands of dollars annually to bear damage. Wouldn't you use the most effective method to target the bears that are causing the damage, If it was your land and money?

[Special T]

Hmm sound to me like if your a hound hunter you need to make some contacts with timber co... Get paid to hunt or pay... Hmmm

[rtspring]

So if I own a hay field, corn field, apple orchard etc.  Am I allowed to chase  down the Elk and Deer with dogs?  NOPE SURE CAN"T !!!

All I am saying is there is a better way I would think.  This is no different than the elk that destory crops around the hanford area, but when the hunter trys to get onto the pricvate land to hunt them, we usually get a big no. But these farmers are the first ones standing in line with there hands out for compensation for their loss..  I raise the BS flag as high as it can go ...

[bigtex]

Yes in the 1996 initiative where hound hunting was taken away from us, there was a clause attached that allows hound hunting for depredation

Another thing is that the hound hunters cannot keep the bears (for example they cannot take them home and butcher them for eating)

[JimmyHoffa]

So what do they do with them?  Let them rot?  Seems like a lot of people like bearskins and bear meat. 

[bearbaito6]

The hound hunters are not being paid. The meat goes to different charities, and I believe the hide is auctioned and the money is used for charity.

[Deep Forks]

I wonder if it's Washington hound hunters?

[Jerome]

Bearbait06 is nailing this pretty much dead on.  The only thing the hound hunters get out of the deal is that they get to run their dogs.  The meat will also go to shelters.  I think the timber companies are smart for using hound hunters.  In 2009 harvest report only 5 bear were reported taken out of North Skagit and 9 were reported in Monroe.  Thats only 14 tags filled out of 45 permits issued between the two damage hunt permit areas.  With numbers that low it wouldnt suprise me if Sierra Pacific went to using hound hunters in the future.