Fish and Wildlife Commission Future Meeting Agendas - *Spring Bear*

[andersonjk4]

I try to keep myself up to date with the goings-on of the Fish and Wildlife Commission and while looking through the documents presented on the WDFW website I came across a summary of the topics for upcoming Commission meetings.  One thing that jumped out at me was a meeting regarding Spring Bear and then a subsequent meeting with a decision being made on the Spring Bear topic.  It is unclear at this time what the topic(s) relating to Spring Bear are, but the last time there was discussion of Spring Bear hunting during a Commission meeting the Anti's showed up in full force against it.  They have slated these two meeting right in the middle of hunting season, but hopefully we can have a strong showing from the hunting crowd.  Mark your calendars.

Link to the Agenda:

https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-07/year_at_a_glance_-_updated_73021.pdf

[Karl Blanchard]

Tagging

[Boss .300 winmag]

🤔

[KNOPHISH]

Are they taking written comments? I didn’t see it in the link.

[andersonjk4]

This is just my assumptions, but I would guess the spring bear discussion will be about any proposed changes to the 2022 spring bear season.  I would assume that those proposals would go out for a public review comment period sometime around when the meetings are held.  If I see anything, I will try to remember to update this post. 

[Special T]

I would place a healthy wager they will attempt to torpedo the spring bear, and im wondering what the current years submission data is regaurding  the sow harvest levels and those lactating are. That will determine a lot, and if the numbers for hunters are good you will see a different tactic by the Antis to get rid of ir prevent the expansion of Spring bear.

I would also add that lots of proposed changes to hunting in general were scrapped at the last moment. Some of the changes had broad support.   I found this to be quite strange, however the 2 new unconfirmed Comissioners  could be part of the reasoning. RCW 77.04.030 states the requirements for the comissioners and how each region and user group needs to be represented.  https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=77.04.030

Perhaps its just wishful thinking that all the changes were tabled because that RCW is not bei g followed and something is in play.  Since i have not read any justification for delay in the previous rule changes my hope is that what ever nonsense Lorna and Koontz  have or will vote on will be vacated as its obvious  these appointments are not legal... This hypothesis is bolstered by the fact that they were not confirmed.  I find this strange since Van De Wege the chairmain of the natural resource Comittie in the senate is both a Democrat and a several time recipient of legislator of the year from HSUS.

[andersonjk4]

I would place a healthy wager they will attempt to torpedo the spring bear, and im wondering what the current years submission data is regaurding  the sow harvest levels and those lactating are. That will determine a lot, and if the numbers for hunters are good you will see a different tactic by the Antis to get rid of ir prevent the expansion of Spring bear.

I would also add that lots of proposed changes to hunting in general were scrapped at the last moment. Some of the changes had broad support.   I found this to be quite strange, however the 2 new unconfirmed Comissioners  could be part of the reasoning. RCW 77.04.030 states the requirements for the comissioners and how each region and user group needs to be represented.  https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=77.04.030

Perhaps its just wishful thinking that all the changes were tabled because that RCW is not bei g followed and something is in play.  Since i have not read any justification for delay in the previous rule changes my hope is that what ever nonsense Lorna and Koontz  have or will vote on will be vacated as its obvious  these appointments are not legal... This hypothesis is bolstered by the fact that they were not confirmed.  I find this strange since Van De Wege the chairmain of the natural resource Comittie in the senate is both a Democrat and a several time recipient of legislator of the year from HSUS.

Regarding the proposals that were scrapped, I spoke with a WDFW employee who was very involved in the process, those proposals were not scrapped altogether.  The department basically got called on a technicality that they are not allowed to make rule changes outside of bag limits and season lengths (ie method of take) without going through the formal SEPA process.  So the department has put together a plan to go ahead with the formal SEPA process for those proposals they tabled in the last go around. There will be another round of public comment on those proposals and if they get adopted will be implemented for 2022. 

[andersonjk4]

Back to spring bear...

I did find where the spring bear pre-proposal (CR-101) has been submitted and you can provide public comment on it here.  I have not been able to find any specifics regarding any upcoming proposals.

Links:

https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/regulations/development#

https://publicinput.com/2020SpringBear
 

[KFhunter]

This is just my assumptions, but I would guess the spring bear discussion will be about any proposed changes to the 2022 spring bear season.  I would assume that those proposals would go out for a public review comment period sometime around when the meetings are held.  If I see anything, I will try to remember to update this post.

Thank you for keeping us up to date 

[andersonjk4]

One more update on this topic.  The spring bear season setting proposals are currently being formulated.  If you would like to make a comment or suggest something to be included in the upcoming proposals use the link in one of my above posts (and below).  The department will use these public comments to help formulate the proposals which will be presented formally for public comment.

I would urge everyone to at least comment to show general support for our spring bear seasons.  I am sure the department gets hammered with anti bear hunting comments, so lets try and offset them.

Link to public comment:

https://publicinput.com/2020SpringBear

[slowhand]

Thank you
tagging in 

[jrebel]

Tagging and will comment.  Thanks.

[Special T]

Some thoughts on comenting.  Only 2 BMU bear management units were over sow harvest according to the Game Management Plan. And they were the N cascases and the Puget sound region where all the people live and even that was just barely 3 of the 10 years.

Secondly we have had one yeaar of  mandatory spring bear pelt/tooth/sex checking to  make decisions off of. Considering that all past recomendations  from the Carnivore division has restricted hunting it would be my assumption that we will see more of the same.

I do think showing up in force comenting is important however i think some details should be known so we can make better arguments.  While I personally think we have several Animal Rights activists on the Comission, some are quite good.

I have heard Mc Isaacs  ask many great questions from testifiers looking for insight.  Additionally Thornburn has stood up for sportsmen and the wdfw mandates quite well despite not being a hunter herself.

[Skyvalhunter]

They still haven't earned my trust or confidence in their decision making

[Rainier10]

tag