Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: bobcat on February 20, 2009, 06:30:39 PM

Title: Public Land Open to Bear Hunting in August?
Post by: bobcat on February 20, 2009, 06:30:39 PM: Maybe I'm reading it wrong but it appears they no longer have public lands closed to bear hunting in August ???

Quote
a Aug. 1-31 restricted to private lands only.

It didn't come through in this quote but it is lined out in blue.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/seasonsetting/2009-2011_recommendations/232-28-272_ots-2133.2draft_revised_2-19-09.pdf
Title: Re: Public Land Open to Bear Hunting in August?
Post by: huntnphool on February 20, 2009, 06:38:13 PM: Do you think they originally put it up to see if it would cause much of an uproar, then realized it did so decided they couldnt slide it by?
Title: Re: Public Land Open to Bear Hunting in August?
Post by: bobcat on February 20, 2009, 06:39:18 PM: Maybe...but I'm confused as to why "InsideWDFW" didn't indicate anything about a possibility that the restriction may be dropped.
Title: Re: Public Land Open to Bear Hunting in August?
Post by: ICEMAN on February 20, 2009, 06:59:07 PM: Looks promising? Maybe?
Title: Re: Public Land Open to Bear Hunting in August?
Post by: gasman on February 20, 2009, 07:01:46 PM: Keep your fingers crossed...........................
Title: Re: Public Land Open to Bear Hunting in August?
Post by: Ridgerunner on February 20, 2009, 08:00:21 PM: WOHOO!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Public Land Open to Bear Hunting in August?
Post by: Wea300mag on February 20, 2009, 08:02:28 PM: Great news, we do have a voice!!! :tup:
Title: Re: Public Land Open to Bear Hunting in August?
Post by: PWN Kurt on February 20, 2009, 08:54:18 PM: YEEEHAW!!!

But the funny thing is, I might have had private land lined up for August. It'll be good to have more options.

Kurt
Title: Re: Public Land Open to Bear Hunting in August?
Post by: bobcat on February 20, 2009, 08:58:01 PM: Even if you are hunting private land, at least with public being open, the private shouldn't have as many hunters. Maybe?
Title: Re: Public Land Open to Bear Hunting in August?
Post by: yelp on February 20, 2009, 09:03:40 PM: Good news.. :)
Title: Re: Public Land Open to Bear Hunting in August?
Post by: KillBilly on February 21, 2009, 09:17:35 AM: The way I read it, it was only lifted for 2009. There is no season set for 2010 & 2011.
Title: Re: Public Land Open to Bear Hunting in August?
Post by: yelp on February 21, 2009, 09:24:56 AM: Correct...That is the way I read it too....if you read the wdfw answers on the comment page it give more insight..I of course and glad it was lifted at least for this year.
Title: Re: Public Land Open to Bear Hunting in August?
Post by: KillBilly on February 21, 2009, 09:33:31 AM: Quote from: yelp on February 21, 2009, 09:24:56 AM
Correct...That is the way I read it too....if you read the wdfw answers on the comment page it give more insight..I of course and glad it was lifted at least for this year.

Absolutely, +1, awesome, super, Ya Hoo, okay, I'll quit
Title: Re: Public Land Open to Bear Hunting in August?
Post by: Bigshooter on February 21, 2009, 09:38:59 AM: The way I read it, we will be able to hunt public land in august.
Title: Re: Public Land Open to Bear Hunting in August?
Post by: ICEMAN on February 21, 2009, 09:57:54 AM: :kneel:

So nice to have government give us lowly peon's something....

Oh thank you... Oh thank you....
Title: Re: Public Land Open to Bear Hunting in August?
Post by: yelp on February 21, 2009, 10:02:41 AM: Yeah no kidding.
Title: Re: Public Land Open to Bear Hunting in August?
Post by: rasbo on February 21, 2009, 10:07:05 AM: I hope it opens..Im gonna get drawn for the spring bear.I hope I hope
Title: Re: Public Land Open to Bear Hunting in August?
Post by: billythekidrock on February 21, 2009, 02:46:45 PM: This is good news, but you can bet they will revamp for next year with "low population" data and they will say that it will take a year to let everyone know. I don't trust them. We will have to fight this again for sure.

Here is a quote from a thread I started on another board. Anyone know if this is true?
Quote
From what I understand the state can't "close" federal public lands to activities that are cleared by the govt to occur on that land.
Title: Re: Public Land Open to Bear Hunting in August?
Post by: PWN Kurt on February 22, 2009, 01:51:39 PM: They have their ways around use laws. I'm sure they could control it by closing all GMU's that have a high% of public land, and only open those with a high % of private land.

They also can use the firearm restrictions to contol it: Shotgun, muzzleloader, archery only.
Title: Re: Public Land Open to Bear Hunting in August?
Post by: billythekidrock on February 22, 2009, 02:04:43 PM: Quote from: PWN Kurt on February 22, 2009, 01:51:39 PM

They also can use the firearm restrictions to contol it: Shotgun, muzzleloader, archery only.

The fact that they aren't using the above methods to control harvest (along with permits/quotas/AHE) leads me to believe that the population isn't the real issue. :dunno:
Title: Re: Public Land Open to Bear Hunting in August?
Post by: WDFW-SUX on February 22, 2009, 02:09:27 PM: I still can't believe that they came up with this as an option. :dunno:
Title: Re: Public Land Open to Bear Hunting in August?
Post by: PWN Kurt on February 22, 2009, 02:32:55 PM: We will always be faced with concerns regarding the multiple uses of the land. I think its best that we all do our part to be good stewards and neighbors.

I've only writen a few letters to the government in my life. All of them have been regarding responsible stewardship of the land and recreational use. The government was ready to shut down all access because of the actions of a few knuckleheads.
Title: Re: Public Land Open to Bear Hunting in August?
Post by: saylean on February 24, 2009, 10:50:50 AM: wow...some marginal good news in an otherwise "please shut off the evening news, I cant take it anymore" daily episode...