Six charged with illegally hunting and baiting black bears

[mkcj]

This was in last weeks methow news

http://www.methowvalleynews.com/story.php?id=7803

[boneaddict]

“Baiting of bear, even attracting, is unlawful. The reason for this is that bears brought in by artificial food sources create dangerous wildlife encounters,”

I wonder how close to home this story is to some trail cam photos and hunts we see on this website every year.

[woodman]

“Baiting of bear, even attracting, is unlawful. The reason for this is that bears brought in by artificial food sources create dangerous wildlife encounters,”

I wonder how close to home this story is to some trail cam photos and hunts we see on this website every year.

According to bigtex  it was ok for trail cam pics. His exact words were that it is "perfectly legal". Dated June 8th 2011

I sure would hate to start the false accusations of people taking pictures that they are breaking any laws again. It is so easy to throw people falsely under the bus and it is hard for them to clear their name once falsely tainted.

[Knocker of rocks]

I don't know how this bill ended up
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/2009-HB-1885

[bigtex]

I don't know how this bill ended up
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/2009-HB-1885

That bill didn't pass.

As part of the WDFW Enforcement bill this year there was a section regarding the feeding of cougar, bear, and wolves. Essentially if you are feeding these animals and it is deemed a public safety risk then you will be cited. This is mainly due to those who have been feeding bears off their back porch and so on. So as long as you are not placing your cameras and bait in an area that is frequently used by the public and could be a safety risk you will be fine. This law takes effect in early June.

[Dhoey07]

I wonder how much money was spent investigating this  ?

[Machias]

As part of the WDFW Enforcement bill this year there was a section regarding the feeding of cougar, bear, and wolves. Essentially if you are feeding these animals and it is deemed a public safety risk then you will be cited. This is mainly due to those who have been feeding bears off their back porch and so on. So as long as you are not placing your cameras and bait in an area that is frequently used by the public and could be a safety risk you will be fine. This law takes effect in early June.

This part worries me quite a bit.  Very vague and I may not deem it a public safety risk, but this gives an Enforcement Officer wide descretion.  I could see some folks getting burnt on this new law.

[bucksandbulls]

Thanks for posting this. sounds like a real outlaw. cant wait to see the outcome.

[mkcj]

I have a feeling even if found guilty it won't stop these people,  5 years ago I seen 4 bears in one summer up cub creek! Have not seen 1 since. Wonder why

[rasbo]

As part of the WDFW Enforcement bill this year there was a section regarding the feeding of cougar, bear, and wolves. Essentially if you are feeding these animals and it is deemed a public safety risk then you will be cited. This is mainly due to those who have been feeding bears off their back porch and so on. So as long as you are not placing your cameras and bait in an area that is frequently used by the public and could be a safety risk you will be fine. This law takes effect in early June.

This part worries me quite a bit.  Very vague and I may not deem it a public safety risk, but this gives an Enforcement Officer wide descretion.  I could see some folks getting burnt on this new law.

exactly

[huntnnw]

   There are thousands of deer baits that bring in droves of bears in some places and these people have 0 intention of hunting bears and are close to homes and such. Hell I ve done baits in the summer that i really thought I had 0 chance of seeing a bear and pull the SD and there are 3 bears on it

[mkcj]

I guess it depends on what your feeding the deer! The Bear on my place won't eat the Purina deer chow in my feeder or the crushed corn now maybe if there was wet cob out they might because of the molasses in it but even that doesn't get touched by the bear at my feeder.

[rasbo]

  There are thousands of deer baits that bring in droves of bears in some places and these people have 0 intention of hunting bears and are close to homes and such. Hell I ve done baits in the summer that i really thought I had 0 chance of seeing a bear and pull the SD and there are 3 bears on it

I love to sit and watch elk and deer and other critters in my ladder stand,when the bears find it I move...I cant hunt out of it all without worry

[huntnnw]

thats odd..everyone I know in NE WA gets hammered by bears with apples or sweet mix out

[Machias]

thats odd..everyone I know in NE WA gets hammered by bears with apples or sweet mix out

Yep

[mkcj]

So would it be as simple as not using apples and sweat mix to keep the bears from your deer stand and a possible ticket?

[mkcj]

Bone, I think you hit the nail right on the head.

[woodman]

Bone, I think you hit the nail right on the head.
[/quote

Are you saying that bigtex is wrong?

[mkcj]

What did anything that Bone said have to do with what bigtex said? Now if bone was referring to thing's like "everyone I know in NE WA gets hammered by bears with apples or sweet mix out" and those people use that method to get picture of or shoot bear from that location knowing that the bear are attracted to apples and sweat mix. I think that is what he is referring to I may be wrong though. Like I said bear won't eat Deer chow there are other methods to attract deer without having to use apples which we clearly know brings bear in.

[pianoman9701]

Not sure about the baiting questions that Bone brought up but it sounds from this article like the DFW did a good job catching these guys.

[woodman]

What did anything that Bone said have to do with what bigtex said? Now if bone was referring to thing's like "everyone I know in NE WA gets hammered by bears with apples or sweet mix out" and those people use that method to get picture of or shoot bear from that location knowing that the bear are attracted to apples and sweat mix. I think that is what he is referring to I may be wrong though. Like I said bear won't eat Deer chow there are other methods to attract deer without having to use apples which we clearly know brings bear in.

mkcj, I tried to answer a little while ago from my phone but I just can't make it work. This caught my interest due to the trail cam photos around feed. Bone referred to trail cams early in this thread and I just want it plain and clear that bigtex has said there is nothing wrong or illeagle about it more than once on this site. Also bears do eat deer feed. I use cob for deer and elk, then bears sometimes come in a clean it up. The tree companies also put out grain to help keep the bears from barking their trees.

[huntnnw]

Sorry when u can legally bait deer and elk in WA people will not stop using apples or COB.. it works and with the prices of Fuel, tags and etc it would be highly expensive to not use apples when u can get them for free around here.

I would venture to say that there is a possibility that 50% of the bear harvest around here is bears going to a deer bait and such and a unsuspecting hunter kills the bear thinking all was right. So how does this pan out if your gutting your bear and a gamie shows up and comes to check you and 150 yards away is a pile of apples and COB and its not yours and neither did u have any idea it was there? Its a mess to me..there are deer baits everywhere in NE WA thousands of them..I would say at any given time a hunter is near one while hunting bear and doesnt even know it!!