Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on April 13, 2009, 10:53:16 PM
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While I was scouting for turkeys I found a plastic 55 gallon drum hanging from a cable between 2 trees. It was about 1/4 full of dog food. This area is not open for spring bear and I plan on contacting a game warden about it. The main problem is it is down in a deep hole near a swamp and I dont believe that they would go look at it. What do you think I should do?
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Call F&G!
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i think they will go look at it. why do you think they won't? because of a steep hill?
this is the kind of help they need to curtail poaching in our state. report it.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/enforcement/
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I wonder if it could be that food the timber companies put out for bears in the spring that supposedly gives them whatever nutrients they need so that they do not have the desire to peel trees in order to eat the cambium layer? What area was this and was it owned by a timber company such as Weyerhaeuser?
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A Google search turned up this:
SUPPLEMENTAL BEAR FEEDING
PROGRAM
A common concern among ADCP members is
the need for a socially acceptable means to prevent
bear damage to forest resources. Historically, lethal
removal was commonly used to eliminate bears
that damaged timber. Professional agents were
hired to identify and remove problem animals. The
ADCP began investigating non-lethal approaches
during the early 1980s. Providing bears with an alternative
food source appeared feasible and a supplemental
feeding program utilizing 10 feeders was
implemented during the spring of 1985.
The supplemental feeding program proved
to be an effective tool to reduce bear damage to
timber. Within the first year, damage on timber
stands that had been extensive in previous years
was reduced to an acceptable level. Interest and
participation in the program has increased
dramatically over the past 10 years (Table 1).
Participants in the supplemental feeding program
placed over 400,000 pounds of pellets this past year
in 700 feeding stations established across western
Washington and Oregon.
Supplemental feed is provided only in the
spring and early summer when bears are foraging
on trees. Feeding stations are installed in sites, as
close as possible, to current or anticipated damage.
Preferred sites are close to roads to facilitate
stocking feeders with pellets, but hidden from
public view to avoid poaching and away from high
public use areas to avoid bear-human conflicts.
The supplemental pellets are produced by
the Washington Forest Protection Association.
Sugars are considered the most important
ingredients to alleviate damage to trees. Pellets also
contain fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals to
provide a balanced diet for bears. A low moisture
content (<10%) enhances bear acceptance and
increases the viable shelf life of pellets. Individual
pellets resemble a greyish colored dry dog food and
are 0.25 inches in diameter and about 0.5 inches
long.
Bear feeders are securely fastened to trees
approximately 10 inches off the ground to avoid
water and rodent problems. Bait (e.g., beaver
carcass) may be used to initially attract bears to
stations, but is not necessary once bears begin
feeding. Each station holds approximately 200
pounds of pellets and active stations need to be
restocked once a week. Wet or powdery feed is
removed before a station is restocked with new
pellets. At the end of the damage season all feeding
stations are removed from the forests.
Self-feeders are constructed from 55 gallon
drums (Figure 2). Bears can obtain pellets from an
opening cut in the lower front portion of the barrel.
The feeding plate is separated from the storage
compartment by a metal sheet inserted diagonally
within the barrel. Pellets taken from the feeding plate
are automatically replaced as pellets fall through a
narrow gap beneath the metal sheet. This self-feeding
mechanism permits a continuous supply of pellets, but
prohibits bears from spilling or playing with the food.
A heavy roof insulated with foam keeps the pellets dry
and limits bears to feeding from the front entrance.
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senior horse feed is what they used to use,the barrels are put in the stands of trees they dont want girdled.chained tight around a tree.I dont think hancock is feeding,wih a spring hunt in there.thay will go down there.If they dont raise hell.
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Kind of strange if it is someone baiting. Seems far to early. call wdfw
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I have come across those before. Keep in mind just because you see a bait barrel doesn't mean there is illegal activity all the time. I would look for a trail camera to see if a guy is trying to get pictures of the bears in the area. It is only illegal if they harvest a bear off of it. Even then I don't think it is illegal if it is on private timber property and the guy doing the shooting has a depredation tag.
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Sounds like it might be a forest management deal, but it doesn't take time to make a phone call so I would report it just in case.
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Here is something you need to think about.
1. If you found this it and it is an illegal baiting. YOu have an opportunity for 10 preferrence points per hunter that is nailed.
2. If you turn them in via the line you get scewed out of your points.
3. Do a little more work and see if it is truely a poaching operation.
If you do not care about the points then call the line and flush them down the toilet. Or contact someone who lives near your who wants the points to take it over for you.
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hmmm if I found one,I would back track the bear and get em,piss in the bait
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Odds are it is not a bait from hunters. Right now and for the next 2-3 months the tress are starting to grow and the bears will start peeling the trees. I am sure it was put out by a timber company for this reason. If they can keep them fed the hope is that they will not peel the trees. Usually they are around water because the bears will need it after eating the food in the barrel. Almost every timber company does this due to the rise in the bear population and the amount of $ lose a bear can do in a few months.
Turn it in if you need to but I am sure they will tell you the same thing.
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Green Diamond (Simpson) Timber Co., Weyerhouser, and Raynior all do this feeding. I have come across many of them. Sometimes if you contact the company they will give you locations and access to the areas in Aug. They will feed right up until season opens and then pull the feeders, bear still wander in looking for the food.
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Green Diamond (Simpson) Timber Co., Weyerhouser, and Raynior all do this feeding. I have come across many of them. Sometimes if you contact the company they will give you locations and access to the areas in Aug. They will feed right up until season opens and then pull the feeders, bear still wander in looking for the food.
if you rattle a chain against a garbage can lid they will come :chuckle:
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Green Diamond (Simpson) Timber Co., Weyerhouser, and Raynior all do this feeding. I have come across many of them. Sometimes if you contact the company they will give you locations and access to the areas in Aug. They will feed right up until season opens and then pull the feeders, bear still wander in looking for the food.
if you rattle a chain against a garbage can lid they will come :chuckle:
Ahhhh, sounds from experience!!! ;)
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hey rasbo, they are feeding in kapowsin, just not in the area open for spring bear. the bridge gate side has a bunch of feeders, so this may not be a hunter with a bait.. but i know the bait barrells in kapowsin are all real close to the road. :twocents:
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A Google search turned up this:
SUPPLEMENTAL BEAR FEEDING
PROGRAM
A common concern among ADCP members is
the need for a socially acceptable means to prevent
bear damage to forest resources. Historically, lethal
removal was commonly used to eliminate bears
that damaged timber. Professional agents were
hired to identify and remove problem animals. The
ADCP began investigating non-lethal approaches
during the early 1980s. Providing bears with an alternative
food source appeared feasible and a supplemental
feeding program utilizing 10 feeders was
implemented during the spring of 1985.
The supplemental feeding program proved
to be an effective tool to reduce bear damage to
timber. Within the first year, damage on timber
stands that had been extensive in previous years
was reduced to an acceptable level. Interest and
participation in the program has increased
dramatically over the past 10 years (Table 1).
Participants in the supplemental feeding program
placed over 400,000 pounds of pellets this past year
in 700 feeding stations established across western
Washington and Oregon.
Supplemental feed is provided only in the
spring and early summer when bears are foraging
on trees. Feeding stations are installed in sites, as
close as possible, to current or anticipated damage.
Preferred sites are close to roads to facilitate
stocking feeders with pellets, but hidden from
public view to avoid poaching and away from high
public use areas to avoid bear-human conflicts.
The supplemental pellets are produced by
the Washington Forest Protection Association.
Sugars are considered the most important
ingredients to alleviate damage to trees. Pellets also
contain fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals to
provide a balanced diet for bears. A low moisture
content (<10%) enhances bear acceptance and
increases the viable shelf life of pellets. Individual
pellets resemble a greyish colored dry dog food and
are 0.25 inches in diameter and about 0.5 inches
long.
Bear feeders are securely fastened to trees
approximately 10 inches off the ground to avoid
water and rodent problems. Bait (e.g., beaver
carcass) may be used to initially attract bears to
stations, but is not necessary once bears begin
feeding. Each station holds approximately 200
pounds of pellets and active stations need to be
restocked once a week. Wet or powdery feed is
removed before a station is restocked with new
pellets. At the end of the damage season all feeding
stations are removed from the forests.
Self-feeders are constructed from 55 gallon
drums (Figure 2). Bears can obtain pellets from an
opening cut in the lower front portion of the barrel.
The feeding plate is separated from the storage
compartment by a metal sheet inserted diagonally
within the barrel. Pellets taken from the feeding plate
are automatically replaced as pellets fall through a
narrow gap beneath the metal sheet. This self-feeding
mechanism permits a continuous supply of pellets, but
prohibits bears from spilling or playing with the food.
A heavy roof insulated with foam keeps the pellets dry
and limits bears to feeding from the front entrance.
Sure sounds like exactly what bobcat posted above. It certainly would not hurt to make a call to the game department just in case but the article spells out almost exactly what you posted/found.
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Yes, they do and are feeding in the Kapowsin unit.
Yes, it sounds like part of a feeding program.
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hey rasbo, they are feeding in kapowsin, just not in the area open for spring bear. the bridge gate side has a bunch of feeders, so this may not be a hunter with a bait.. but i know the bait barrells in kapowsin are all real close to the road. :twocents:
good area for pics...I checked a couple of places Ive seen them at before but there wasnt any,been a few weeks..Good way to find a big bear
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Yes, they do and are feeding in the Kapowsin unit.
Yes, it sounds like part of a feeding program.
if the barrel hes talking about is hard to get to I doubt its legal,they are close to the roads and damage areas,Ive never seen one in a swamp.them guys are not going to pack those bags of horse feed very far,if he looks at whats inside it should tell,if its pellets most likley legal
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The Barrel is difficult to get to, is on DNR land in the Lincoln Creek area up behind some private (farm) land. The dog food seems old and the 2 empty bags on the ground kind of rotted.
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The Barrel is difficult to get to, is on DNR land in the Lincoln Creek area up behind some private (farm) land. The dog food seems old and the 2 empty bags on the ground kind of rotted.
I say illegal all the way
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The Barrel is difficult to get to, is on DNR land in the Lincoln Creek area up behind some private (farm) land. The dog food seems old and the 2 empty bags on the ground kind of rotted.
I say illegal all the way
C'mon...How did you forget that in the original post? You need to give all the details before we force an opinion on you.
If there is garbage around I would have to say poacher as well.
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Seriously. :dunno:
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The timber companies keep most of there feeders within a short walk of the road. They do not want to pack anyfurther than they have to. I would say if it is more than a couple of hundred yards off the road to get ahold of the WDFW and collect your points. They put them close to roads so when they have hunters come in the bears have usualy crossed the road or they are on the bait. This makes it more productive for the hunters they hire.
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YOU will not get any points unless you hand the poachers on a silver platter. So do your homework and fingure out when they come in etc. Pictures from a far would be good. THen tell the Fish and Game.
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The Barrel is difficult to get to, is on DNR land in the Lincoln Creek area up behind some private (farm) land. The dog food seems old and the 2 empty bags on the ground kind of rotted.
I say illegal all the way
C'mon...How did you forget that in the original post? You need to give all the details before we force an opinion on you.
If there is garbage around I would have to say poacher as well.
I am sorry I didn't mention it on first post, but an empty dog food bag did not seem as significant as the barrel......some people shoot coyotes. a barrel hanging 4 ft off the ground is what I noticed, unfortunately in this area there are slobs that dump garbage also.
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YOU will not get any points unless you hand the poachers on a silver platter. So do your homework and fingure out when they come in etc. Pictures from a far would be good. THen tell the Fish and Game.
or you could not worry about the points, not worry about risking your safety and not risk blowing the authorities chance at ridding the world of a potential poacher. file the report and let them handle it.