Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: Chet43 on December 09, 2016, 07:24:16 AM

Title: First Spring Bear Hunt Maybe in 2017
Post by: Chet43 on December 09, 2016, 07:24:16 AM: Never have hunted for spring bear and only hunted fall hunt as an incidental to deer & elk hunting. But next year my grand-kids want to try hunting for spring bear. I know we probably won't be drawn but does anyone have any suggestions as to the best 3 or 4 units be to put in for a public land bear hunt? thanks for the help.
Title: Re: First Spring Bear Hunt Maybe in 2017
Post by: h20hunter on December 09, 2016, 07:29:47 AM: Put in close to home. Tag is no gimmie. You need to be out there hunting.
Title: Re: First Spring Bear Hunt Maybe in 2017
Post by: notellumcreek on December 09, 2016, 08:36:10 AM: Some west side tags you can easily get drawn with one point but they are also on private timber land so you will have to buy some sort of pass on top of that. Like H2o said it's no gimme find a lot of grassy side roads start looking for sign and put the time in. Early on they will be hard to find but good time to just learn areas and find sheds :tup:
Title: Re: First Spring Bear Hunt Maybe in 2017
Post by: fireweed on December 09, 2016, 08:47:56 AM: Quote from: notellumcreek on December 09, 2016, 08:36:10 AM
Some west side tags you can easily get drawn with one point but they are also on private timber land so you will have to buy some sort of pass on top of that. Like H2o said it's no gimme find a lot of grassy side roads start looking for sign and put the time in. Early on they will be hard to find but good time to just learn areas and find sheds :tup:

This burns me up! I personally know the forester that pushed for spring bear hunt to address timber damage instead of the contracted hound hunters that the timber companies used before. He was a bigtime hunter and thought it was a waste to not have sportsmen utilizing the bears. This whole spring program was to address damage to timber--it even says so in the hunting regs. And now companies like Hancock are CHARGING access fees for hunters to come kill their problem bears. Outrageous.
Title: Re: First Spring Bear Hunt Maybe in 2017
Post by: millerwheeler on December 13, 2016, 03:50:03 PM: Quote from: fireweed on December 09, 2016, 08:47:56 AM
Quote from: notellumcreek on December 09, 2016, 08:36:10 AM
Some west side tags you can easily get drawn with one point but they are also on private timber land so you will have to buy some sort of pass on top of that. Like H2o said it's no gimme find a lot of grassy side roads start looking for sign and put the time in. Early on they will be hard to find but good time to just learn areas and find sheds :tup:

This burns me up! I personally know the forester that pushed for spring bear hunt to address timber damage instead of the contracted hound hunters that the timber companies used before. He was a bigtime hunter and thought it was a waste to not have sportsmen utilizing the bears. This whole spring program was to address damage to timber--it even says so in the hunting regs. And now companies like Hancock are CHARGING access fees for hunters to come kill their problem bears. Outrageous.

100% agree
Title: Re: First Spring Bear Hunt Maybe in 2017
Post by: cooltimber on December 13, 2016, 04:27:13 PM: Don't pay the fee,,sooner or later they will have to open the gate for free..yeah I know they will have paid hunters in there.to keep the bears at bay...But they are losing money,and then the game dept will have to act,in our favor.. liberal money grubbing %^&&&
Title: Re: First Spring Bear Hunt Maybe in 2017
Post by: dmoua on December 14, 2016, 09:29:07 AM: Look at the kill reports to determine which units have more success. I drew a tag last year being my first time putting in for Spring bear. However it was my 4th option which required a ton of scouting but in the end it paid off. If I don't get selected in WA, I will be hunting for Spring bear in Idaho.