Post by: Rickyrebar on June 25, 2012, 09:14:01 PM
As I mentioned before this is an area I have hunting in for a few years. I have hunted bears not more than 100 yards from where this barrel is. Had a close encounter last fall with a bear near this area.
I hiked 2 miles or so past the barrel and found skat everywhere along the road, fresh peels everywhere.
My curiosity regarding the barrel also becomes a concern should it still be around during the regular bear season, if you get my drift... I know there are bears in this area (as does someone else obviously), I also know the bait barrel is there (as does someone else). I'll obviously keep a close watch throughout the summer, but should the barrel still remain come general bear season, what do I do...? I'd hate to get busted hunting off a bait barrel, mine or not I wouldn't be able to talk my way out of it.
Post by: wraithen on June 25, 2012, 09:15:47 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on June 25, 2012, 09:17:17 PM
Post by: Goshawk on June 25, 2012, 09:18:19 PM
If it's WDFW, then the baiting will be over with before bear season rolls around. There is a "person of interest" in my area who runs feeding stations for timber management during the spring/summer then guides just out of sight of them in the fall.
Call and know for sure.
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on June 25, 2012, 11:28:10 PM
Those pellets (if it is the same) are ground up dried chicken, seems the bears love it !
usually the guy I know quits feeding in the summer, wont go into some of the stories he tells of WH employees hunting over his baits, but he did tell me they are not allowed to keep anything.. :dunno:
Post by: ellensburgpo on June 26, 2012, 08:28:25 AM
It could be anything from a WDFW approved feeding station to limit the amount of damage being done to the trees to a poaching operation. Call the WDFW and find out. The numbers makes it sound legit, it would also be a great way to look legit when it's not.
I agree with goshawk. If its a legal bait at least you will know once wdfw gets involved. If its not, wdfw should have delt with it by bear season. As stated above, you didn't put it there, but you now know its there, dont put yourself in jeopardy for someone else's problem.
Post by: Wenatcheejay on June 26, 2012, 08:55:13 AM
Post by: 75johndeere on June 26, 2012, 09:03:03 AM
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Post by: johnr060 on June 26, 2012, 12:08:09 PM
Post by: pianoman9701 on June 26, 2012, 12:50:35 PM
I saw four different ones in gmu 520 like two weeks ago. I looked to see if there was a trail cam and there wasnt. After looking closer i saw that they were numbered. they had pellets in them, and were placed on nice game trails.might be a good place to sit and watch for a bear come august :chuckle:
Or a bad place to lose your hunting privileges.
Post by: ellensburgpo on June 26, 2012, 01:20:52 PM
Post by: arees on June 26, 2012, 02:13:39 PM
Post by: Ripper on June 26, 2012, 05:59:37 PM
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on June 26, 2012, 06:13:32 PM
Post by: Rickyrebar on June 26, 2012, 08:03:42 PM
I have passed this particular location many times over the years just never ventured off the trail in that particular spot. In years past whenever I pass that particular spot, when I have my dogs with me, they always would dive off into the brush and disappear, there is always a lot of evidence of elk traveling across the road @ that point, so I always figured it was a spot back in the thick stuff, where they would loaf or bed down, which is why the dogs would would investigate. I suspect, like some of you have suggested, that this is an annual feeding station to keep tree damage to a minimum, let me tell you it ain't working too good, they are tearing the trees apart. I am going to call WFWD and check it out with them.
Post by: dreamunelk on June 26, 2012, 08:17:25 PM
Post by: Moose22 on June 26, 2012, 08:36:44 PM
Post by: xXLojackXx on June 26, 2012, 10:01:48 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on June 27, 2012, 06:22:30 AM
A question for those that know much more than I do. If the bait barrel is removed, say two to three weeks before the fall bear season, would it still be illegal to hunt the that particular area? What if you had no knowledge of the bait station, could you still be a subject of illegal hunting?
They way I understand this issue is this; If you know the bears are attracted to and frequent the area because of a man caused bait, you are at risk of being cited for hunting with bait, and need to relocate your efforts a distance great enough that bears would not logically be affected by the presence of the attractant. Sound vague? It is...
Post by: jackmaster on June 27, 2012, 06:31:24 AM
You can check with them if you like, but I know for a fact that it is a bear feeder. They use them to try and prevent tree damage.you hit right on the head, especially this time of year when bear ring the hell out of trees to get to the cambiam, it should be legal for those who draw a spring bear tag to hunt over those bait barrels, its private timber land so i dont see what the issue is, as long as it aint on state land who gives a rip..... another thing is baby cubs are real hard to see this time of year, it would make it to where a fella didnt accidently shoot a sow with young cubs... :twocents:
Post by: pianoman9701 on June 27, 2012, 10:03:34 AM
A question for those that know much more than I do. If the bait barrel is removed, say two to three weeks before the fall bear season, would it still be illegal to hunt the that particular area? What if you had no knowledge of the bait station, could you still be a subject of illegal hunting?
Ethics time. You do have knowledge. They may not know that you have the knowledge, but you do. I would go to the local DFW office, explain the situation with the location of the barrel and ask them what your specific responsibilities are in this situation.
Post by: jackmaster on June 27, 2012, 12:20:55 PM
Post by: Moose22 on June 27, 2012, 09:55:34 PM
Post by: pianoman9701 on June 28, 2012, 05:55:45 AM
Great responses, thank you. Diffenitl,y if you know the existance of a bait barrel is in the area it is not ethical to hunt. I was just thinking about the situation that Richyrebar was in. If he did not know the bait was there, harvested a bear and bam! the "gammie" came upon him, how would or could the situation turn out?
If the barrel is out of his sight and there's nothing to tie him to it, he definitely could beat any charges in court. The pain in the butt is having to do so. The other pain in the butt is that baiting is against the law to begin with. But there you go.
Post by: notellumcreek on June 28, 2012, 04:35:00 PM
Post by: rasbo on June 28, 2012, 06:11:58 PM
Post by: Hooked On Chrome Guide Service on June 30, 2012, 09:17:40 PM