Help me out, comment link added

[bearpaw]

There already is precedence for dual status. Bobcats and raccoons both are small game/furbearer.
Rabbit trapping is coming about because some people asked for it. Not trappers, I believe it is coming from the survivalist types. I see no reason to oppose it.
So why ask for bear and cougar. You only get something by asking and the rabbit status is a good opening to bring the subject up. Are they going to adopt the idea. No but if we keep talking about it we get them used to the idea of it and that maybe helps down the road.
Maine has a bear trapping season. Who wouldn't like to catch a bear? Texas allows cougar trapping. NM did last year but I'm not sure about its status now.
It could also open up WCO work on these animals. Will we replace hound guys? Absolutely not but maybe there are places where hounds are not feasible.
There are some guys right now permitted to trap bears but it seems to be a secret club. I would like to see it opened up to anyone who wanted to do the work.

How about a 48 hrs trap check on land traps

I was just in a conference call Friday defending the language we have now. There is interest in making the trapcheck laws more restrictive so I think that is not doable. We are keeping the current language for three more years.

  I completely agree 100%, this is the type of forward thinking the outdoor community must learn to use!

[Humptulips]

How would "trapping" bears effect spring bear season.
Would spring bear hunting be erased so timber company's can hire trappers.
Just asking................

Timber companies already hire trappers. The only thing that would change there is maybe it would open up to anyone interested. Right now it is a secret club and nobody gets admittance unless you know someone. Heck, I am President of the Trappers Association and I don't know the secret hand shake.
I would hope that this Special Permit trapping would be secondary to recreational hunters and trappers.

All I'm trying to imply is be careful what you ask for.
Why can't we get padded foot traps,WDFW uses them to put collars on.

In a way making cougar and bear furbearers would open the door to padded jaw traps. On a legitimate complaint the department can issue a Special trapping permit for furbearers on private land. With that permit you can keep the animal but you cannot sell it.

[wags]

Does anyone now where this proposal came from? An individual, or a group?
I could imagine it coming from someone/group who wants to practice survival training exercises. Don't really have a problem with it. 

[wags]

I'm with you on it Humptulips,It makes sense(thats why they wont do it)and its time we hunters and trappers started making noise like the antis in every way we can with as many as we can.

SQUIRREL NEEDS TO BE PUT ON THAT LIST ALSO IMO.

Squirrels; that can be a fun topic. eastern gray squirrels are an invasive species and you can pretty much do with them whatever you like.
An interesting subject is Douglass squirrels. Ask the WDFW why they are on the state protected species list, they have been for at least 40 years that I can remember. They (the Department) have no clue why they are protected. I have asked them the question many times over the years and I always hear the same thing; "We will get back to you on that", which by the way is their standard answer to most difficult questions. Of course you never hear back.

[hunter399]

What is required to get special trapping permits.

Hasn't spring bear permits been reduced in recent years due to this secret club trapping.

[Ghost Hunter]

Would trapping cougars and bears even be feasible with Washington's trap limitations? I don't know anything about it, I'm all for any expansion of take of predators if it's helpful.

Man, I would dig a pit for that opportunity.  Private property of course.

[hunter399]

No need to answer my two questions above .
I looked it up on WDFW site and ..........   
I do believe every timber company in the state would apply for special trapping permits and a serious reduction in spring bear tags would occur .
Just my opinion,not worth much.

I realize your upset that trapping is happening of bears and you can't be apart of it.
Every spring bear hunter should be upset.
It's the reason we can't have an OTC spring bear or Alot more permits.

[Grizzlybuiltcontracting]

On February 11th you will be able to comment on the second round of Hunting Season Proposals. Among them are a couple items related to trapping. One of them is changing rabbits and hares status from small game to dual small game/furbearer. It might seem unrelated but I would like you to urge the Commissioners to also change the status of Bear and Cougar to dual status big game/furbearer.
I will  post a link here when it is opened for comments.

No, this will not happen but down the road a lot of comments asking for this may help us get a change in status at some point in the future.

Im All In!
Where and How do we comment on Feb 11?

[Humptulips]

On February 11th you will be able to comment on the second round of Hunting Season Proposals. Among them are a couple items related to trapping. One of them is changing rabbits and hares status from small game to dual small game/furbearer. It might seem unrelated but I would like you to urge the Commissioners to also change the status of Bear and Cougar to dual status big game/furbearer.
I will  post a link here when it is opened for comments.

No, this will not happen but down the road a lot of comments asking for this may help us get a change in status at some point in the future.

Im All In!
Where and How do we comment on Feb 11?

I'll post a link to comment on the 11th.

No need to answer my two questions above .
I looked it up on WDFW site and ..........   
I do believe every timber company in the state would apply for special trapping permits and a serious reduction in spring bear tags would occur .
Just my opinion,not worth much.

Timber companies can do that right now and some do.

[Skyvalhunter]

On February 11th you will be able to comment on the second round of Hunting Season Proposals. Among them are a couple items related to trapping. One of them is changing rabbits and hares status from small game to dual small game/furbearer. It might seem unrelated but I would like you to urge the Commissioners to also change the status of Bear and Cougar to dual status big game/furbearer.
I will  post a link here when it is opened for comments.

No, this will not happen but down the road a lot of comments asking for this may help us get a change in status at some point in the future.

Make sure you remind us when the time comes so we can address your request.

[Goshawk]

How would "trapping" bears effect spring bear season.
Would spring bear hunting be erased so timber company's can hire trappers.
Just asking................

They can and do already hire snare trappers for bear; with proper permits of course...

[hunter399]

How would "trapping" bears effect spring bear season.
Would spring bear hunting be erased so timber company's can hire trappers.
Just asking................

They can and do already hire snare trappers for bear; with proper permits of course...

And give that option to every trapper in the state,and tell me spring bear permits will continue to stay the same.

[hunter399]

I'll tell ya what.
I'll support your cause and comment and help you out.
Then when bear trapping is exposed through the many permits given out ,just maybe we can get more recreational permits.

[Humptulips]

I'll tell ya what.
I'll support your cause and comment and help you out.
Then when bear trapping is exposed through the many permits given out ,just maybe we can get more recreational permits.

There very well is likely to be more bear snare permits issued as a result of the hammering hound guys have seen from the anti-hunting groups regardless of any actions that may benefit trappers in general.
If bears were listed as furbearers, which is a longshot at best, I do not think there would be more bear snare permits issued because of a change in status. We might see a change who gets them though.
 

[hunter399]

I'll tell ya what.
I'll support your cause and comment and help you out.
Then when bear trapping is exposed through the many permits given out ,just maybe we can get more recreational permits.

There very well is likely to be more bear snare permits issued as a result of the hammering hound guys have seen from the anti-hunting groups regardless of any actions that may benefit trappers in general.
If bears were listed as furbearers, which is a longshot at best, I do not think there would be more bear snare permits issued because of a change in status. We might see a change who gets them though.

Like said I will go change my comments for trapping rabbits for ya . all though I do think trapping bears would be a long shot in this state . look at what the anti"s are trying to do to the recreational hunt. Alot of my negativity stems from that I think.