Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: rebal69972 on March 28, 2012, 09:04:29 PM

Title: bear bombs
Post by: rebal69972 on March 28, 2012, 09:04:29 PM: Ive read till my eyes hurt are they legal or not
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: bearpaw on March 28, 2012, 09:06:49 PM: I don't think you can use them in WA. :sry:
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: rebal69972 on March 28, 2012, 09:09:53 PM: that really sucks i am the new owner of 6 of them
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: nailbender on March 28, 2012, 09:34:51 PM: since when is a "scent"... bait?
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: bobcat on March 28, 2012, 09:38:00 PM: The way I read the law, they would be legal, but I've heard from good sources that enforcement's interpretation of the law is different than mine.

But, if you use them I won't turn you in! :tup:
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: huntnnw on March 28, 2012, 10:17:09 PM: So what if you wash your clothes in bacon grease? they going to hammer u for that? :chuckle:
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: rebal69972 on March 28, 2012, 10:27:47 PM: thanks for that bobcat. i do believe i will hold off on washing my cloths in grease till a last resort i want to see a bear but im not sure i want to see 1 that close :chuckle:

i wish the laws where alittle more clear
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: JCKILLSHOT on March 28, 2012, 10:49:49 PM: It says in the regs no hunting over scents or bait.
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: RadSav on March 28, 2012, 11:31:45 PM: The ones I am familiar with are filled with dehydrated meat. Some were meat and anise. That may date me a little. But, if these bear bombs are similar I'd be hard pressed to consider them scent instead of bait.

Are you thinking of using them for spring bear if/where legal? If so meat products are a poor bait choice as black bear rise from their dens. Even on coastal black bears that hibernate in multiple shorter duration they search out much easier to digest foods in those first few weeks. For them sweets and milder fruits are usually better scent choices. We used a lot of clover honey burns with great results back in the day.

That being said I know a lot of guys in Idaho that swear by the "10 Dead Horses".
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: rebal69972 on March 28, 2012, 11:56:38 PM: i was thinking of using them.i only got 2 kinds. the ones i got are beaver castor and sow in heat. 3 of each
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: bearpaw on March 29, 2012, 12:03:36 AM: Just to be sure, you might check with WDFW. :dunno:
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: RadSav on March 29, 2012, 12:34:16 AM: Sure wish it was in a more clear language, but I just read the RCW on this and as I interpret it both scents and bait would be considered "attractants" and thus illegal. Anyone read it differently?

"(d) As used in this subsection, "bait" means a substance placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, scattered, or otherwise used for the purpose of attracting black bears to an area where one or more persons hunt or intend to hunt them."
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: Button Nubbs on March 29, 2012, 12:47:07 AM: "...Purpose of attracting..."

Sounds pretty cut and dry to me. :twocents:
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: nailbender on March 29, 2012, 01:09:44 AM: I think the key word in that was "substance".

that of which a thing consists; physical matter or material: form and substance.

Doen't sound like a fragrance fits that bill...to me :stirthepot:
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: RadSav on March 29, 2012, 01:18:08 AM: What is the source of that fragrance? I'd be willing to bet it's a substance.

But heck, if I were a gamie I'd let you off. I find scent completely unrelated to the law the King Co. voters passed. Oh, I'm sorry the Washington voters passed. Yeah, that's it.
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: Machias on March 29, 2012, 04:59:30 AM: They are illegal, this has been discussed here a few times. They are 100% illegal in WA.
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: MtnMuley on March 29, 2012, 06:00:20 AM: Quote from: Machias on March 29, 2012, 04:59:30 AM
They are illegal, this has been discussed here a few times. They are 100% illegal in WA.
:yeah:
If bigtex would comment, I hope it would end this debate.
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: seth30 on March 29, 2012, 06:28:51 AM: I assume they are ok for the purpose of trail cameras though, otherwise why would they sell them at every outdoor stoor?
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: rebal69972 on March 29, 2012, 07:03:16 AM: thanks everyone i think i will just leave them at home
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: bigtex on March 29, 2012, 09:20:56 AM: Quote from: Machias on March 29, 2012, 04:59:30 AM
They are illegal, this has been discussed here a few times. They are 100% illegal in WA.

:yeah:
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: saylean on March 29, 2012, 09:23:50 AM: Well, they're illegal to use...but legal to sell. :chuckle:

Ebay your stash or head over to Idaho with em.
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: Machias on March 29, 2012, 09:55:54 AM: They sell several things that are illegal to use in this state; leghold traps, mole traps, electronic decoys (although that may be changing). Just because something is for sale does not mean it's legal to use.
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: saylean on March 29, 2012, 10:01:48 AM: Oh I know Machias and I 100% complete agree that it illegal to use in the State. It just always struck me funny that I could walk into sportsmens and see bear bombs for sale, next to the mineral blocks.
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: bobcat on March 29, 2012, 10:23:33 AM: Well, they're not illegal to use, they're just illegal to use if you're hunting. Correct?

So a guy could use a "bear bomb" or any kind of beat bait, if all he was doing was trying to photograph bears.
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: h20hunter on March 29, 2012, 10:25:32 AM: I would suppose so. I would also suppose if you had a bear bomb and touched it off to use as a cover scent while bowhunting deer it would be legal. Of course it is your word against the gamie that you are not hunting bear.
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: RadSav on March 29, 2012, 01:37:56 PM: You can hide them in the car engine compartment of some teacher you don't like :chuckle: That's always good fun! You might get in trouble, but I don't think that is illegal :dunno:
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: Houndhunter on March 29, 2012, 01:48:14 PM: Quote from: bobcat on March 29, 2012, 10:23:33 AM
Well, they're not illegal to use, they're just illegal to use if you're hunting. Correct?

So a guy could use a "bear bomb" or any kind of beat bait, if all he was doing was trying to photograph bears.

depends on the gamie. if your in pursuit, aka trying to get pics, he can say your in the terms of hunting therefore it would be illegal and he'll write you up.

so many laws depends on a game wardens personal interpretation its ridiculous, how often do you run into that problem with real cops? i don't know why they cant follow clear regulations so we know exactly what we can and cant do, its very very frustrating when your in the right by the regs but a game warden tickets you :bash:
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: bowhunter851 on March 29, 2012, 06:05:39 PM: theres nothing wrong with "eating" a raw steak sandwich, raw steak and eggs, either ;)
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: huntnnw on April 02, 2012, 04:53:47 AM: I sure would be interested in how many bears every year are harvested going to someones bait pile for deer or elk and a unsuspecting hunter had no idea the bait was there and blasted the bear and thought he shot one just out and about. There are thousands of deer and elk baits in the hills by september and they bring bears in and alot of them as I have them on cams every year in great numbers. I would venture to say there is a high percentage killed that way.
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: cryfowl on April 03, 2012, 08:36:59 AM: 100% Illegal. Bear bombs contain a cake icing that is sweet to the smell and attracts the bear in. But, Any scent or bait used to lure in a bear is illegal. I trully don't believe a scent is bait or what was intended in the law, but WA doesn't see it that way. You can convince yourself that you can bait anything you want and claim to be doing it for photography purposes. But if you do it during a Bear hunting season, you can bet you will have to convince a Jury/Judge of what you were really trying to do. You want to gamble with your possessions then good luck, but I don't know many people who would see it from your perspective. :sry:
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: pianoman9701 on April 03, 2012, 08:38:38 AM: Just call your local DFW office and ask.
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: Instinct on April 07, 2012, 03:25:54 AM: Last year i called and asked wdfw and they said it was considered as baiting
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on April 09, 2012, 08:07:38 AM: Two years ago I got the same answer when I contacted WDFW about Bear Bombs, the language about a substance used or distributed to attract a bear makes them fall under their defination of baiting.
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on April 09, 2012, 08:33:49 AM: that is lame ... it is not baiting ...the bear is not coming to eat a can of bear bomb ..its an attractant not baiting ..2 different things here...and good luck finding a can of bear bomb and accusing me of baiting :bash: :bash: :dunno: :rolleyes:
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: JCKILLSHOT on April 09, 2012, 08:52:00 AM: If you read the regs atractants are considered baiting.
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: BULLBLASTER on April 09, 2012, 10:28:58 AM: As far as the bear knows he is coming to eat whatever it is that smells tasty... in this case it is that can of bear bomb... and I think if given the chance the bear would.try and.eat the can as well.
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on April 09, 2012, 01:30:52 PM: I know what your saying but we are so stretched out in this state that somewhere a guy needs to draw the line ...Like they mention previous , we allow baiting of deer and elk and everyone know that bear will be coming to these sites and I guess everyone lets them walk off ...I doubt that ...and another thing if someone is walking threw the woods and sees a bear and whacks it and it is lying on a pile of apples what ya going to do call the wardens ...I am sure they will forgive you :rolleyes: :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: BULLBLASTER on April 09, 2012, 02:12:48 PM: I hear ya. I think there is a very high percentage of archery killed bears in September that came off deer baits. I have even seen bear kill pics with apples and salt blocks in the background at sporting goods stores. It is really a joke!
Title: Re: bear bombs
Post by: rebal69972 on April 09, 2012, 05:19:57 PM: i wonder if they would buy that i was using sow in heat as a cover scent :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: i know :bdid: