thx for the legwork.
No problem. Unfortunately, I could not get a solid yes or no, but below is what I could dig up.
DNR conversation summary:
DNR does not manage the actual hunt, they manage the land/timber areas, and the DNR will make recommendations to WDFW if they need bears removed in the spring (damage control). The private land owners also make recommendations to WDFW if they need bear control to happen. The larger land owners (i.e. Tacoma Power), manage their own lands and will ask WDFW to open certain areas up for spring bear damage control. WDFW conducts studies in the area and determine how many tags each unit should receive based off of the damage, the number of bears, and the number of bears taken in the past (if/when it is/was open).
WDFW usually sets seasons in 3 year increments. 2017 is the end of the seasons that were set for the past three years (2015, 2016, 2017), and 2018 is the start of the next three years (2018, 2019, 2020). It is very possible that the Monroe spring bear hunt will be closed because the past three seasons did not prove to assist with the damage control, and the number of bears harvested during the spring season, in the Monroe unit, is relatively low on a percentage basis.
However, at this time, the season is not 100% determined to be closed. There will be opportunities for the public to make recommendations during the 2018-2020 hunting season setting process.
I was then referred to the following information on the WDFW website.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/seasonsetting/2018-2020 Hunting Season Setting Process
As outlined in the timeline below, there will be several opportunities for you to provide your input throughout the process. Your first opportunity to participate will be in late-June. The Department has asked for your help identifying the major issues that are important to you for the next three-year hunting season cycle.
Watch this website for regular updates on the season-setting process! We will also be communicating via email throughout this process to hunters that have purchased a license within the last couple of years. If you have not recently purchased a hunting license, but would like to receive email notifications of news and upcoming events we encourage you to subscribe to our e-mail distribution lists.
Season Setting Timeline:
Regions Submit 3-Year Hunting Season Setting Ideas: May – June 2017
WDFW Regions submit 2018-2020 three-year Hunting Season Setting ideas. Regional ideas will be incorporated with ideas received from the public since the last 3-year hunting season setting process. The public will have an opportunity to submit new ideas through the public survey in mid-July through August.
Formulate Recommendations and Alternatives: July – August 2017
Members of the public will have an opportunity to give comment that would help shape the 2018-2020 hunting seasons at a series of public "open house" meetings planned by the WDFW in July and August. Public can also provide comment online from July 14 2017 through August 31,2017. Public comments received at the meetings and through the survey will help the Department understand the level of support for the proposed hunting regulations for 2018-20. The Department wants to hear people's concerns, especially those that address a significant conservation or management issue.
Public Comment Period: July 14, 2017 – August 31, 2017
Public Meetings will be held from 7-9 p.m. (sign in begins at 6:30 p.m.) at the following locations:
Date City Address
July 25 Spokane Valley Center Place Regional Events Center, Conference Room 110, 2426 N Discovery Place, Spokane Valley, WA 99216
July 26 Wenatchee Wenatchee Convention Center, Fuji Rooms (lower level), 121 N. Wenatchee Avenue, Wenatchee, WA 98801
July 27 Yakima Fair Bridge Inn, Suites & Conference Center, 1507 N. 1st Street, Yakima, WA 98901
Aug 1 Everett Lynnwood Convention Center, 3711 196th Street SW, Lynnwood, WA 98036
Aug 2 Olympia Red Lion Hotel, 2300 Evergreen Park Drive, Olympia, WA 98502
Aug 3 Vancouver Heathman Lodge, Howard/Marshall Conference Room, 7801 NE Greenwood Dr., Vancouver WA 98662
Following public comment, Department staff will develop recommendations for consideration by the Fish and Wildlife Commission in March and adoption in April 2018. These recommendations will be based on the biological needs of a species and the social need of the public gathered through the comment period.
I called WDFW back and confirmed that the information I received from DNR is accurate. So, it is WDFW that manages the actual hunt and number of tags and seasons, and it is DNR and private land owners that ask for the spring seasons to be open.
What I got out of this is there is a possibility that the spring bear season will end in the Monroe unit, and there is a possibility it will not. After the conversation I had the GW, the studies that have been conducted, discussions with DNR and WDFW, and the end of the 2015 – 2017 set seasons I would not be surprised if it is closed. I recommend hunters voice their opinions at these meetings.